The Missouri Pacific Historical Society is now offering another unique MoPac model. This fine, one-piece resin casting is ready for paint and decals. Gene Semon, a life member, initially did the research and funded this project. Once he was satisfied with the model, he turned the effort over to the Company Store as an additional revenue source for the Society. The HO castings, made by Tom Madden, are some of the finest we have seen. Mask Island decal set 87-445 is included.
While the MoPac embraced TOFC operations, they were also an early pioneer of COFC operations. In the early to mid 1950’s, the MoPac built their own shipping containers that were 32’ long and 8’-6” high. Their reasoning for COFC was simple. Why increase the freight tonnage you had to haul by also shipping the trailer chassis, when it was only the container loaded with goods that needed to be moved. They designed their new contaIners so that they could be transported on flat cars or in gondolas with minimal or no special features needed on these cars. Each corner of the container had a reinforced pocket that contained a clevis that would be used to secure the container to the freight car decking with chains. Some of these containers were also fitted with air conditioning units to provide cooling inside of the container. Later in the mid 1960’s, the MoPac switched from building their own containers to purchasing 37’ long aluminum bodied units built by Trailvan.
The Missouri Pacific COFC service started on the route between St. Louis and Kansas City in the mid 1950’s, and quickly spread throughout their rail system. Each of their main freight hubs had LeTourneau Cranes purchased and installed to load / unload these containers. The COFC concept also migrated to their subsidiary, the Texas and Pacific. In 1956, the MoPac was invited to join Trailer Train operations along with SLSF, the PRR, and N&W. The MoPac containers were carried on TTX 85’ long flatcars.
Model Photos
Completed models by Charlie Duckworth
Prototype photos
