Bruce,
There is a photo in UP Modeler Vol 1 showing Pennsy 2248 on a UP Mail Train. No windows. Can you tell me a bit about this car?

Mike Brock

Bruce,
There is a photo in UP Modeler Vol 1 showing Pennsy 2248 on a UP Mail
Train. No windows. Can you tell me a bit about this car?

Mike Brock

Mike,

You didn't give me a date for the photograph, but since you're interested,
I'll assume that its in the early '50s <G>. The January 18, 1953 Official
Register of Passenger Train Equipment (for PRR see Jerry Britton's site:
http://kc.pennsyrr.com/passops/index.html) lists #2248 as AAR class BX,
Express (Box), Steel, 40' 6" inside length, 45'3" over buffers, 493 cars in
class. This is an X-29 boxcar modified for express service (High speed
trucks, steam line). Interestingly, the coupled length of the X-29 from
the equipment diagram is 44'9", so the extra 6" probably comes from draft
gear modified for express service. As you may know, an excellent express
X-29 is available from Red Caboose in 12 different road numbers (reweigh
date 1941). Every passenger train modeler in the country should have at
least one of these (to go with their H21 hoppers <G>)!

Happy Rails
Bruce

Bruce F. Smith V.M.D., Ph.D.
Scott-Ritchey Research Center
334-844-5587, 334-844-5850 (fax)
http://www.vetmed.auburn.edu/~smithbf/

"Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy" - Benjamin Franklin
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