An active maker with a large line of American OO gauge models from 1939-1945 was Graceline Model Railroads, which was run by John Devore of Minneapolis, MN. Graceline was one of the few manufacturers to maintain production through WW II (but apparently with a production gap, late 1943-early 1944). They produced a well designed line of passenger and freight cars in OO gauge, and briefly produced a line of O gauge models as well.

Some years back I was fortunate in a lot purchase to obtain quite a number of Graceline cars. I have a warm spot for the line.

Passenger cars

Their passenger cars featured card sides similar to J-C models but not identical (the doors are separate castings), a wood roof and floor, and cast details. These models were introduced just before WW II except for the wood sheathed cars (1939) and the baggage and troop sleeper (mid-WW II); the latter two were offered as “comprestic kits” only. All of the passenger cars were offered as comprestic kits lacking wood and metal parts and decals late in WW II. They made unique trucks for these cars; the 4-wheel trucks are equalized only and the 6-wheel trucks are sprung. The passenger line included:

• 171 Coach, old time, wood sheathed
• 172 Combination, old time, wood sheathed
• 173 Mail car
• 174 Combination
• 175 Diner
• 176 Pullman; choice of names–Aberdeen, Tonka, Loring, Palm Springs, Topaz, White Bear Lake, Lounge, Observation, Parlor, Tourist
• 176-A Coach
• 177 Solarium
• Baggage
• Troop Sleeper

The cars in the photo above are the Mail car (RPO) and the diner. The RPO has S-C trucks on it but the diner the original Graceline trucks.

Freight cars

The freight car line is extensive and evolved over the years of production in a number of ways. Most of the boxcars and reefers have card sides (but the early production of some cars is stamped brass), a wood body, and cast details (early production of some cars, stamped brass ends and doors). All early production cars were available with hand lettered sides (which sometimes incorporate gummed paper heralds). Cars offered with decals date to early WW II. Some cars were offered only as “comprestic kits” lacking wood and metal parts and decals late in WW II, and others were available in this form only. (This is further described in my book).

Before getting to the long list of models I should also mention that these cars roll on three different designs of freight trucks each in multiple versions. Early period trucks are equalized Bettendorf trucks (very similar to S-C, at a glance, but with a slightly longer wheelbase) and arch bar designs; middle period trucks are more finely detailed equalized Bettendorf, Andrews, and arch bar designs; later period trucks are sprung Bettendorf, Andrews, and arch bar designs. Early production models were also offered custom lettering “for your own road.”

• Utility flat, 40′
• 53 Quad hopper
• 57 Gondola, 40′
• 60 Flat car
• Depressed center flat car, cast sides
• 110 Wood sheathed box car, 40′
• 117 Box car, 40′, stamped brass
• 50′ Box car
• 50′ Horizontal rib box car
• 124 50′ auto car
• 139 Outside braced box car, 40′
• 141 Wagon top box car, 40‘, stamped brass
• 143 Wood sheathed reefer, 40′
• Reefer, 40′
• Express Reefer, 50′, wood sheathed
• Caboose, wood sheathed

The wood caboose in the photo looks to be a custom variation of the Graceline caboose, very nicely built up with hand lettering that matches the other cars. The C&EI boxcar has brass sides and ends with hand painted lettering and early trucks; the New Haven boxcar is the later version with decals and middle period trucks; and the reefer has also the hand lettered sides.

I find the refrigerator sides particularly interesting as the early models all feature the factory painted hand lettering, no printing or decal process was involved. Each side of each car is slightly different! Also note that the boxcar featured below (as advertised in the 5/39 issue of MR) is found with the hand painted sides and to my mind is one of their most desirable models.

By early 1943 Graceline was out of production, but not out of ideas. While Graceline started out in OO, in 1944 they added a line of O gauge freight car kits and retooled production of the OO line. By January of 1945 the price list makes clear they only offered what they called “comprestic” kits in either scale. Comprestic was their name for the material the sides, ends, and roof were pressed from. This was good idea as a wartime product, as it used no critical materials.  Their troop sleeper is the most notable model produced in this style of packaging and material.

Transportation Models and UPDATE: ownership info

Graceline continued in business but dropped their OO line entirely after the war, instead focusing on the line of O gauge kits. In the post war period their OO line was produced with yet another truck design in modified form by Transportation Models. Their freight car kits are reasonably commonly seen, and from the markings on the pressed cardboard parts clearly they used the same dies that had been used to make the same Graceline parts — and had almost certainly recycled these parts from unsold wartime inventory in their “new” kits.

After completing the book I noticed an article by Ed Morlok in the December, 2006 issue of The OO Road. Besides noting the various hand painted sides and other details of their production, he found an article in the January, 1999 issue of The Reporting Mark that had more information on the firm itself. As already noted, the company was founded by John Devore. It was named after his wife Grace. He sold the line to Vic and Mabel Anderson, who changed the name to Transportation Models. Quoting Morlok to close,

Devore moved to California, where he opened a new firm under his name, and produced an HO gauge dynamometer car and a depressed center flat car. He also adapted his working 00 coupler design to HO, and produced that coupler.

Updated 2021-22, for much more see my book