The Greenbrier 7,550-cubic-foot capacity double-plug-door boxcar is the first N scale freight car from Aurora Miniatures North America Inc. The injection-molded plastic model features many separate, factory-applied parts; metal wheelsets; and body-mounted plastic AuroraJanney plastic knuckle couplers.
Prototype history
The Aurora Miniatures N Greenbrier 7550 boxcar is based on the 2016 to present version of the prototype with grid-shaped sides, Titan-series doors, and a combined diagonal- and X-panel roof. Approximately 20,000 of the cars are in service on the North American rail network.
The sample we received is decorated as TTX (TBOX) 644496, part of the freight car leasing company’s 644461 through 644999 series built by Greenbrier between December 2021 and March 2022. The car is assigned to TTX’s XGH61C class. What does that alpha-numeric code mean? X = boxcar, G = Gunderson, H = hydraulic end-of-car cushioning, 61 = car length in feet, and C = subclass. The full-size cars are used to transport a variety of products, including appliances, beer, canned goods, lumber, steel, and wine, among other items.
Model features
The boxcar features a one-piece plastic body with a separate roof. The body has a mix of molded and freestanding details. Molded parts on the sides and ends include the ladders, crossover handrails, route card holders, and hand brake. Separate, factory-applied plastic parts include the door rods, brake wheel, uncoupling levers, and trainline hoses. The crossover platforms are unpainted see-through, etched-metal parts.
Like its HO scale offerings, the underbody on the Aurora Miniatures N Greenbrier 7550 boxcar is loaded with details. The draft-gear boxes are two-piece, screw-mounted plastic castings. The stringer and nailable steel floor detail is molded. The center sills, cross bearers, crossties, and bolsters are a separate, plastic casting. The air reservoir, brake cylinder, control valve, empty/load equipment, and piping are also part of the casting, but have a freestanding appearance. The brake rods and brake pipe are formed wire.
The screw-mounted, 100-ton trucks have separate brake beam detail and feature raised foundry data and crisp spring and roller-bearing detail. The full-size TBOX cars have blue bearing caps. That would be easy to re-create with paint and a fine brush.
All four of the 36” metal wheelsets were tight when checked against a National Model Railroad Association standards gauge. A gentle twist of the wheels on the axle brought them into gauge.
The roof is a separate plastic casting that’s attached to the body. It’s painted to look like fresh galvanized steel. Like the full-size cars, it has three X-panels on each end and seven diagonal panels in the middle.
Model vs. prototype
Our review sample is painted TTX Co. yellow with black doors. Placement of the TTX and Railbox heralds, assorted data, and FRA-224 yellow stripes matches full-size cars from the same number series. The door operating instructions are in English and Spanish. Except for the smallest data, all of the printing is crisp and legible under magnification. Most of the data on the sides and ends is on the upper half of the carbody. This is done on prototype cars to prevent it from being covered with graffiti.
There were a few minor paint discrepancies. The Automatic Equipment Identification tags should be painted gray, the handbrake should be black, and the uncoupling lever handles should be white. These are all quick and easy upgrades if you want to make them. The trainline hoses are molded in yellow, but should be rubber black with silver glad hands.
General dimensions for the 7550 boxcar are listed on The Greenbrier Companies’ website. The Aurora model closely follows published data. I then tested the compatibility of the AuroraJanney couplers with freight cars from Atlas Model Railroad Co., Broadway Limited Imports, Micro-Trains Line Co., and Rapido Trains. I was able to couple the cars in one or two attempts. Since the AuroraJanney couplers lack trip pins, I was unable to use a between-the-rail magnet to separate cars. Instead, I used a Rix Pick uncoupling tool, which worked well in all instances. The manufacturer notes that the draft-gear boxes on the Greenbrier 7550 boxcar will accept aftermarket couplers.
If you have a contemporary N scale model railroad, you’ll want to check out the Aurora Miniatures N Greenbrier 7550 boxcar. The car features a mix of molded and freestanding details, allowing the model to withstand normal handling in an operating layout environment.
Facts & features
Price: $39.99
Manufacturer
Aurora Miniatures North America Inc.
1122 Brimley Rd.
Scarborough, Ontario, Canada
M1P 3G3
na.auroraminiatures.com
Era: 2016 to present (varies based on paint scheme)
Road names: TTX Co. (standard and high reporting markings), Ferromex (six road numbers), GATX (BKTY [six numbers] and Laurinburg & Southern marks), Utah Central Ry. (six numbers), and Union Pacific (BKTY reporting marks). Twelve numbers per scheme unless noted.
Features
• 36” metal wheelsets, out of gauge
• Body-mounted plastic AuroraJanney couplers, at correct height
• Weight: 1.4 ounces, .2 ounce too heavy per National Model Railroad Association Recommended Practice 20.1
