PENNSYLVANIA RAILROAD X58 50' OUTSIDE BRACED BOX CAR HO Scale
X58 with pre-production etched metal parts. (click image for full size view)
Starting in 1964, the Pennsy started building these unique 50' outside braced, plug door box cars. The majority of parts were supplied by third party contractors: sides, doors and ends by Youngstown Steel, roof by Standard Railway Eq., cushion underframe components from Hydra-Cushion or Keystone and a variety of smaller parts by others. The Pennsy then assembled the "kits" on home built underframes in their Sam Rea shops in Hollidaysburg, PA. A total of 2565 X58 cars were eventually built by the PRR. In addition, 100 of these cars were built for the Lehigh Valley.
The X58 sub-classes (X58, X58A, X58B & X58C) are fairly similar externally. The main difference was the type of loader equipment inside. These loaders changed the car's light weight and internal dimensions considerably.
This long needed model is a signature car for any late era Pennsy or Lehigh Valley modeler as well as all Penn Central and Conrail modelers. Many of these cars still can be seen across the country. Starting around 2003, a few have been spotted wearing full Norfolk Southern repaints.
PRR X58 with Dulux Markings: Kit 109.1
PRR X58 with Medium Yellow Markings: Kit 109.1A
Lehigh Valley X58, Kit 109.2
Penn Central Early Scheme with Red P, Kit 109.3A
Penn Central Late Scheme with Split Lettering & 36" Tall Logo: Kit 109.4
Penn Central Late Scheme with Paired Lettering & 12" Tall Logo: Kit 109.4
Penn Central Light Grey & Black Parts Car: Kit 109.5
Conrail Late Scheme with 48" Tall Logo: Kit 109.9
Close-up of Hydra-Cushion Underframe
Close-up of Keystone Cushion Underframe
Close up of B End detail (pre-production parts shown)
Kit 109 Contents
Click on any of the above images for a larger view.
Features of the Rail Yard Models X58 include a highly detailed single piece body casting with separate roof. Lehigh Valley and Penn Central parts cars will be cast in white plastic to ease paint coverage. Detail parts are included to model cars with either the Hydra-Cushion or Keystone cushion underframe. Etched metal parts are included to model the end ladders, brake platforms, underframe brake details and roof walks for the PRR & LV cars.
As with our other kits, these will include trucks with semi-scale metal wheels, decals and brake details. Full color assembly instructions and prototype history are provided on a mini CD-ROM.
PENN CENTRAL X58 DECAL UPDATE
A few sharp-eyed modelers out there have pointed out that the PRR style numerals applied to the Penn Central cars were 10" tall. The decals provided in all Penn Central X58 kits have 9" tall numerals. In addition, the reporting marks (the "PC" over the car number) on early cars appears to be 10" tall, and not 11" as applied on later versions of the paint scheme. Both of these errors will be corrected when I run through the current stock of PC decals. Until then, an extra decal set with 10" reporting marks and numerals will be included to allow modelers to get the proper sized lettering.
If you own any of the full Penn Central repaint X58 kits and would like to get these reporting marks update decals, please send a stamped self addressed #10 envelope to Rail Yard Models. Please indicate how many sets you need and if any of them are for kit 109.5, which will need the black lettering sets.
The kits affected by this update are: Reporting marks & numerals: 109.3, 109.3A; Numerals only: 109.4, 109.5
Kit 109: Pennylvania RR X58 Box Car
Kit Description
Lettering Diagram
Price
Buy
109.1: Pennsylvania RR with Dulux Markings
$39.95
109.1A: Pennsylvania RR with Medium Yellow Markings
$39.95
109.2: Lehigh Valley
$39.95
109.3: Penn Central Early Scheme (2/68-5/70)
$39.95
109.3A: Penn Central Early Scheme w/Red P Logo (May & June 1968)
$39.95
109.4: Penn Central Later Scheme (5/70-9/75)
$39.95
109.5: Penn Central Light Grey Parts Service Car (10/71-mid 80's)
$39.95
109.6: Penn Central paint-outs (9/75-3/76)
$39.95
109.8: Conrail Large Logo Paint Schemes (4/76-4/79)
$39.95
109.9: Conrail Small & Medium Logo Paint Schemes (5/79-5/98)
$39.95
109.10: Norfolk Southern BP8 Box Car (ex-CR X58, 2000-present)
$39.95
Notes:
Since color matching is highly subjective, the Pennsylvania RR cars are available with the yellow lettering done using two different inks. The "Dulux" option tends to look a bit duller than the Medium Yellow. The nature of yellow decal inks also makes the final appearance variable based on the shade of Pennsy Freight Car Color they are applied over.
The dates listed for the Penn Central and Conrail paint schemes are the approximate start and end dates the paint scheme was applied to the cars. In practice, the schemes could be seen in service well after the end date. The Red P logo was applied to a few cars using the early PC paint scheme for a very limited time.
The decals in Kit 109.4 include the lettering to do one of six variations of later paints schemes. They include "PENN CENTRAL" in single letter per panel format or the paired, condensed width letter formats. This set also includes two logo sizes, one 36" tall and 12" tall logo that fits between the ribs. Cars painted in this time frame had all four combinations of single or paired letters with 36" or 12" logo. In addition, there were cars with no "PENN CENTRAL" and 12" logo and some cars with nothing but reporting marks and numbers.
Penn Central 38600 is thought to be a one of a kind car. This X58 was painted a very light gray and given black lettering. The grey is actually much closer to white and not the grey used on covered hoppers. It was used to transport locomotive parts from the diesel shop in Collinwood to the various maintenance bases around the system. If anyone knows of other X58 cars painted this way, let me know!
The Penn Central paint out options represent the last moment effort to move PRR cars into the Penn Central roster. The PRR Keystone, reporting marks and numbers were covered with either PC Green or Pennsy Freight Car Color patches. White 12" PC logos were applied over the Keystone patch and PC reporting marks & car number applied over the old PRR data. The kit will include a full set of PRR and PC late scheme decals.
Refer to the following prototype images for an idea of the variety of schemes represented by the different decal options:
PRR 114319: Kit 109.1, 109.1A Photo from the Collection of Mark Branibar
LV 7104: Kit 109.2 Photo by Vernon Simpson
PC 208301: Early Red P Logo Scheme, Kit 109.3A, Photo from the Collection of Mark Branibar
PC 361825 with Paired Condensed Lettering and 12" Tall Logo: Kit 109.4. Photo by Craig T. Bossler
PC 38600 in Light Grey Parts Service Scheme, Kit 109.5. Photo by James P. Marcus
PC 164279, a Green Patched Paint-out: Kit 109.6. Photo by Craig T. Bossler
CR 161680, Early Paint Scheme with Large Logo: Kit 109.8. Photo by Jim Eager
CR 362028, Late Paint Scheme with Medium Logo, Kit 109.9. Photo by Gene Fusco
NS 650129, Full NS Repaint, Kit 109.10, Photo by Joe Shaw
