Funaro & Camerlengo Custom PRR Project - Gauging Interest

[prr7161]

One other thought, about quantity.   I voted for the X23 and X29b.   
But really, I'd probably only buy one X23 as opposed to three  X29b kits.
The X23 is very cool, but not nearly as common as the X29b in the era I'm modeling.

That's a good point, and the next stage once we get to a top three based on the poll (looking like the X23, X29b, and one of the gons) is to ask people to PM me with a conservative kit number for each.  The PRR modelers and non-PRR modelers are going to be looking at different numbers, so it will be interesting to see what will draw 150 kit reservations.

[prr7161]

Another good 40’ boxcar for the 1948 era would be the X26C.  These would have been around into the 1960’s.

X26c's are interesting, too - the Atlas rebuilt USRA car is actually not a terrible stand-in, though it can be made better with some frame details and some work on the ladders.

The X29b has that extra cache of making it into Merchandise Service paint, though...

[ai5629]

X26c's are interesting, too - the Atlas rebuilt USRA car is actually not a terrible stand-in, though it can be made better with some frame details and some work on the ladders.

The X29b has that extra cache of making it into Merchandise Service paint, though...

Those X29B Merchandise Service cars are very snazzy.  Microscale 60-972 is the MS set, but it’s out of stock.  If they would rerun it, that could be combined with 60-1510 to get a CK scheme. 

[prr7161]

OK, so the votes are in and the top contenders are the X23, X29b, and the dark horse, B60 clerestory roof baggage!  Thanks for everyone who has participated so far.  Because each of these has a somewhat different appeal, I'd like to see actual kit reservation numbers for the top 3.  Please PM me with your best contact email and the number of kits you would be interested in for each of the top 3 by Sunday, June 5.  I will be keeping a log and updating the totals periodically here.  Please be conservative in your estimates as this will eventually turn into a firm reservation number.

[prr7161]

Why you want an X23:

The X23 was a PRR-designed, outside-braced, single-sheathed boxcar.  It used chunky pressed steel framing members, braced by horizontals across the diagonals:



The horizontals were later found to be structurally unnecessary, and some (but not all) cars were rebuilt without them.  Initially about ~7,000 were built just prior to WWI.  They remained in revenue service in numbers through WWII and then tailed off during the late '40s, leaving revenue service by 1951-2.  Thus, these were a significant interchange class for ~35 years.  Both original and rebuilt configurations were converted to NX23 cabins (total, 75) during WWII and remained in that service until about 1960.  Original and rebuilt configurations were also used as-is in general nonrevenue service, and converted into tool cars with additional windows and doors.

NX23:

https://www.waymarking.com/gallery/image.aspx?f=1&guid=b8300f0b-2931-473e-a43c-91ec6fc5ab78&gid=3

X23 Tool Car:

http://prr.railfan.net/freight/freightphotos.html?photo=prr_499277_X23_ed_martin.jpg&fr=clX23

If this car gets to 150, I'm going to suggest the model be in the original configuration.  There were plenty of revenue and nonrevenue cars in this configuration right up to the end, and it just looks more "signature PRR" that way to me.  Without the braces it gets a little more generic.

Also, I would say that the car should be offered in such a way that it can be 'bashed into some of the gonzo nonrevenue arrangements the PRR used...

[prr7161]

Why you want an X29b:

The X29b was the PRR's first serious attempt to update its abundance of X29 boxcars.  Built to an 8'-7" IH, the X29 was not roomy enough for modern service in the postwar years.  Starting in 1948 and running through 1952, the X29b program upgraded 4,500 cars to approximately 1937 modified AAR standards with entirely new superstructures on the old X29 frames.  The class had some legs, with 2500 going to PC in 1968.  Most were in general interchange service, but 290, or about 5%,  were repainted into the first Merchandise Service scheme with the aluminum band:



Lasting into the '60s as they did, X29bs would have worn their as-built circle keystone schemes, shadow keystone schemes, and plain keystone schemes, plus whatever green horrors were visited upon them after 1968.

[prr7161]

Why you want a B60:

Companion to the more numerous, round-roof B60b, the B60 was the clerestory roof version of PRR's 60-foot all-steel baggage car.  About 360 were built, vs. 500+ for the B60b, so the B60/B60b ratio is roughly 40/60, or 2 out of every 5 cars.  These cars, like the B60b, went all over the country in baggage and express service and were not confined to the PRR.  Long Island Railroad and PRSL also had some.  Here is an in-service photo on the PRSL:



For the PRR modelers, this will add a little variety to your express trains.

[prr7161]

Last note, I was pleased by the interest in gondolas, and if there is a second project it will be a gon.  I'm with @chicken45 , there is more to life than boxcars...

[thomasjmdavis]

Question on the X29B (sorry, I am not a PRR expert)- what roof(s) were used on these cars? A lot of roads had very similar rebuilds of their late 1920s cars, built on the same premise- to put a 1937 AAR body on an older underframe.

I am going to throw in my 2 cents on baggage as a passenger car modeler... If you go forward now or a later date with the baggage car - please consider making the doors separate parts. One of the frustrations in modeling baggage cars is that many have cast in doors- so you find a model car that is quite close to what you want to model, and then have to carve it up to get the right doors for the car you are modeling. The B60 with clerestory roof would be a good example- if the doors are easy to replace, it could be a stand in for a large number of other roads with similar 60' cars.

I note that some manufacturers, like Wheels of Time, see the reason in this idea, but unfortunately, not everyone does. It is kind of frustrating that MTL makes an Erie baggage car "as built", but to get the doors that are correct for the same prototype circa 1950s requires surgery.

[prr7161]

Question on the X29B (sorry, I am not a PRR expert)- what roof(s) were used on these cars? A lot of roads had very similar rebuilds of their late 1920s cars, built on the same premise- to put a 1937 AAR body on an older underframe.

Looks to be a diagonal panel-type.  The key difference between the X29b and other designs was that the PRR used a 7' door on these rather than the more common 6' or 8'.

[prr7161]

If you go forward now or a later date with the baggage car - please consider making the doors separate parts.

This is a good point and I had already thought something might be necessary here.  The PRR itself had inset-panel, rectangular-window, doors and later replaced them with flat, porthole-window doors.

[amato1969]

Some good X29 boxcar info, hosted on Jerry B's site: https://jbritton.pennsyrr.com/index.php/tpm/blogs/latest-articles-blog/latest-articles-blog/580-x29-series-box-car-information-for-modelers

[ai5629]

Railway Prototype Cyclopedia #26 has extensive information on the X29 rebuilds.  There are multiple photos of X29B's in CK, MS and SK paint schemes.  Thanks.

Jeff

[Altoona]

I'm in for 1 X23, 4 X29b, and 2 B60, I would do more X23's if they are MOW.

Judd Barton
PRRTHS 9120

[towl1996]

My take,

The B60, there's a model of this car on Shapeways.

X23, I DEFINITELY want for my PRR H3, probably 5 or 6. BUT I would also want the variants, the camp and cabin versions and the R7, so another 5 or 6. Is that possible with this project? If not, maybe it's better if someone else does this car.

X29, this is the best car for this project, imo. With different decals, I'd be in for 6 or 8.

No matter which car, I'll support the effort.