Getting started

For no real reason I just decided to start working on the trailers first. I was partially inspired by the recent purchase of the Trainworx 40' Drop Trailer in GN and I felt it needed company. I had purchased a few Athearn 40' ribbed trailers since they were on sale, but really I had no plan for them. So with the trailers sitting around I decided to use them. The first step was the scrape off all the ribs and essentially use the shell as a base to build a new skin that better reflects the GN trailer. Along with new sides I also made some modifications to the ends and scratch based a set of landing gear. I need to prime it, to find any more areas that need sanding.

XTRZ Trailer

Here is the XTRZ trailer that will be added to one of the cars along with a GN trailer. It will be pretty plain with just a coat of silver paint and some small identification marks.

Prototype photo

Is there any chance you could share the photo of the prototype with us?

GN Trailer

Here is one similar to the one I am modeling. It is of a different series but has the general same idea with a few difference in construction. Photo is from the collection of GNRHS Cordell Newby Photographer. 

Was train #5 a regular run?

How about a picture of the entire train? Was #5 a daily run train, between which two points? 

Train #5 and #6

Train #5 ran from Spokane to Seattle (Interbay) Washington nightly with a 2115 (9:15pm) departure. The train would stop at Wenatchee and also Everett Washington to setout the Express cars and pickup mail and any cars needing expedited to Seattle.

There was a train #6 that was supposed to operate from Seattle to Spokane, but usually there was not enough traffic to operate it as a separate train and the traffic was added to the Western Star. When it did run the train arrived in Spokane at 0530 (5:30am)

As you can see by the times although the train was technically a freight train it made good time. It was authorized to run Passenger Speeds on Tangent track and had Passenger locomotives assigned to it.

Here is the only online photo I have found of the train. This is from the collection of the Pacific Northwest Railroad Archives from Photographer Dan Perkins.