{"product_id":"in-stock-mth-o-20-99453-40-usra-single-sheathed-box-car-maine-central-69-99","title":"MTH O 20-99453 40’ USRA Single Sheathed Box Car, Maine Central | 69.99","description":"At midnight on Monday, December 31, 1917, the federal government took control of the U.S. railroad system. Acting under wartime powers granted to him by congress, President Woodrow Wilson had nationalized the railroads when they proved unequal to the task of moving massive amounts of men and materiel for the Great War in Europe. Although hostilities would end in 11 months, government control would last until 1920. The agency that ran the trains was the United States Railroad Administration, or USRA, and one of its chief accomplishments was the building of nearly 100,000 freight cars of five standard designs, to relieve equipment shortages.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eWhat would become the car committee of the USRA had actually started its work in the summer of 1917. Appointed by the Council of National Defense, the committee members were high-ranking executives from Baldwin Locomotive Works, American Car \u0026amp; Foundry, Pullman, and other car builders. Because they had a head start, their finalized car designs were ready within three months of the government takeover. The five body types eventually produced in quantity were a 50-ton steel frame single-sheathed box car, a 40-ton steel frame double-sheathed box car, a 55-ton steel 2-bay hopper, a 50-ton composite drop-bottom gondola, and a 70-ton steel mill gondola.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe twin box car designs reflected the car committee ’s indecision about which design was actually superior, as well as the perception that splitting production between the two types would speed wartime delivery. The use of wooden sides with steel underframe, ends, side framing and roofs reflected common practice of the time, when the steel car era was not yet in full swing. A wartime shortage of plate steel was also an important consideration.","brand":"MTH","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":43565449805887,"sku":"MTH-2099453","price":69.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0269\/7461\/7663\/files\/20-99453_ddd860fe-06cf-4f3b-a28e-d29ab2ada87c.jpg?v=1784678589","url":"https:\/\/factorydirecthobbies.com\/products\/in-stock-mth-o-20-99453-40-usra-single-sheathed-box-car-maine-central-69-99","provider":"Factory Direct Hobbies","version":"1.0","type":"link"}