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Pennsy's 1954 Freight Fleet

The information presented following was cumulated from the January 1955 edition of the ORER (Official Railroad Equipment Register). The data pages for the Pennsylvania Railroad indicate that the data is current as of October 1, 1954.

Subclasses are tallied separately, with the exception of H21a, H21b, and H21e hopper cars which which were listed in different combinations, but combined here as "H21a & variants".

The list only takes into account equipment available for interchange, so does not include miscellaneous and maintenance of way equipment. I suspect it also does not include the cars dedicated to "Merchandise Service" service, which was on online-only LCL service. I can't be sure, however.

The referenced N and HO scale models are based on how ready-to-run cars are lettered... not what they best represent. Some cars show comments as to their appropriateness, while cars that have not been evaluated are followed by a "(?)", particularly in N scale.

My compilation shows a total fleet of 183,689 cars available for interchange, broken out by Box, Gondola, Stock, Coke, Hopper, and Flat car types.

Makeup of 1954 Freight Fleet
Car TypeQuantityPercentage
Hopper Cars71,75639.06%
Box Cars66,09935.98%
Gondolas41,72622.72%
Flats2,7671.51%
Stock Cars1,320.72%
Coke Cars21.01%


Hopper Cars
Class Quantity Comments HO Model
H21A & variants 35,815 * 40'
* 70 ton
* Bowser
* Westerfield
GLA 25,433 * 30'
* 50 ton
* Bowser
* Westerfield
GLCA 3,304 * 32'
* 50 ton
* Funaro & Camerlengo
* Westerfield
H25 2,500 * 40'
* 70 ton
* Sunset (brass)
* Funaro & Camerlengo
H30 1,325 * 31'
* 70 ton
* Covered
* PRR-built
* Intially constructed for cement transport
* Also used for soda ash, lime, sand, etc.
* Funaro & Camerlengo
* Rail Shops
H31 702 * 32'
* 55 ton
H25A 643 * 40'
* 70 ton
H32 300 * 44'
* 70 ton
* Covered
* Commonly used for transport of lime.
* Funaro & Camerlengo
H34 300 * 29'
* 70 ton
* Covered.
* Many dedicated to transport of glass-making materials.
* Built by Pullman Standard, Butler PA.
H31B 266 * 31'
* 50 ton
H30A 250 * 31'
* 70 ton
* Covered.
* Funaro & Camerlengo
GLA & GLG 244 * 30'
* 50 ton
H31C 228 * 32'
* 55 ton
H33 200 * 29'
* 70 ton
* Covered.
* Funaro & Camerlengo
GLE 150 * 26'
* 50 ton
* Covered.
* Westerfield
* Funaro & Camerlengo
GLH 37 * 32'
* 50 ton
GLD 34 * 31'
* 50 ton
* USRA twin.
* Tichy
* Accurail
H22A 23 * 40'
* 70 ton
* Bowser
H21D 1 * 40'
* 70 ton
* Covered.
H31A 1 * 32'
* 55 ton


Box Cars
Class Quantity Comments HO Model
X29 23,083 * 40'
* 50 ton
* Built 1924-1934
* 8'6 5/8" interior height
* Many fitted for passenger service.
* 800 originally lettered for RAILWAY EXPRESS AGENCY.
* Red Caboose
* Sunshine
* Precision Scale (brass)
X31A 7,197 * 40'
* Built: 1934-1936
* Inset Round Roof
* Double or Single Door
* Sunshine
* Bowser
X29B 4,476 * 40'
* 4500 X29's rebuilt 1940-1950
* New body on old underframe
* 10'6" interior height
* Corrigated Roof & Ends
* Sunshine
* Funaro & Camerlengo
X28A 3,574 * 40' Single Door
* Cars rebuilt from X28's; half door removed
* Sunshine
* Oriental (brass)
X26C 3,451 * 40' Steel
* 3500 cars rebuilt from X26's
* Rebuilt between 1945 & 1949
* New metal sides & roofs, ends & underframes retained.
* Sunshine
* Funaro & Camerlengo
X43B 2,992 * 40'
* 7' 7-panel Superior Door
* 12-panel Welded Sides (or is it 10 panel riveted?)
* Built by Pressed Steel Corp.
* Branchline Trains
* CB&T Shops
X38 1,889 * 50'-6" riveted steel boxcar
* 58xxx: Built in 1940 by the PRR
* 7xxxx: Built in 1941 by the PRR
* 10 panel sides (4 to left and 6 to right of door)
* 58xxx: X29 style roof
* 7xxxx: Rectangular panel roof (Stanray Murphy Panel)
* 5/5 dreadnaught end
* AAR shaped sidesills
* Double doors with 14'6" opening - (7' & 7'6")
* 58xxx: wood roofwalk
* 7xxxx: metal? roofwalk
* Equipped with racks for auto parts
* Life Like Proto 2000
X41B 1,493 * 50'
* Single 7' Youngstown door
* 300 painted in MERCHANDISE SERVICE (phase 1) scheme with Steins load retainers.
* Sunshine
X43A 1,493 * 40'
* Built by ACF, Dec 1950-Feb 1951
* Number series: 602000-6034999, 1,500 cars
* 12 Panel Welded Sides
* 7' Youngstown Door
* CB&T Shops
X43C 1,493 * 40'
* 8' Youngstown Door
* 10-panel Riveted Sides
* Built by Pressed Steel Corp., Feb or April 1951
* Number Series: 85400-86399, 1000 cars
* Branchline Trains
* CB&T Shops
X37B 1,482 * 40' Double Door
* Built 1940-41 by the PRR
* 5/5 dreadnaught ends
* 9 panel sides (4 to left, 5 to right of door)
* Straight side sills from bolster to bolster
* 12'6" double doors (7' & 5'6")
* Wood roofwalk
* 6 rung elevated ladders - grab iron for 7th bottom rung
* X29 Style lap panel roof w/ depressions for end walks
* Equipped with racks for automobile side panels and transmissions
* Sunshine
X44 1,248 * Branchline Trains
X31B 1,181 * 40' Flush Round Roof
* Double Youngstown Doors
* Built: 1936; 1700 cars built
* Bowser
X29D 997 * 40'
* 3100 X29's rebuilt 1952-1956
* New bodies on old underframe
* 500 cars painted with "Don't Stand Me Still".
* WrightTRAK
X37 992 * 40' Single Door
* Built: 1939-1940 by the PRR
* 5/5 dreadnaught ends
* 10 panel sides (5 each side of door)
* AAR shape side sill
* 7' Doors w/ 19 corrugations
* Wood roofwalk
* 6 rung elevated ladders - grab iron for 7th bottom rung
* X29 Style lap panel roof w/ depressions for end walks
* Some were equipped with rack for auto parts
* Sunshine
* InterMountain #45730
X31C 800 * 40' Flush Round Roof
* Double Door
* Bowser
X46 749
X31F 687 * 40' "Turtle" Roof
* Center Section of Roof Raised for Carrying Jeeps
* 690 built
* Bowser
* Sunshine
X32B 642 * 50' Round Roof, Double Door
* Built: 1933
* Bowser
X32A 631 * 50' Flush Round Roof
* Double Door
* Bowser
X38A 594 * 50'
* Built by the PRR in 1940-1941
* Similar to X38
* End doors
* Metal roofwalk
* Some were equipped with veneer flooring for felt loading
* Life Like Proto 2000
X43 500 * 40'
* Number series: 603500-603999, 500 cars
* Built by Greenville (order #549), Dec 1950
* 7 foot door
* 10 panel riveted car
* R+3/4 early improved dreadnaught end.
* Branchline
* CB&T Shops
X45 500
X41C 498 * 50'
* Double Youngstown doors
* Sunshine
X37A 496 * 40' Double Door
* Built: 1940 by the PRR
* 5/5 dreadnaught ends
* 9 panel sides (4 to left, 5 to right of door)
* Straight side sills
* 12'6" door opening; 7 panel double doors (7' & 5'6")
* Wood roofwalk
* 6 rung elevated ladders - grab iron for 7th bottom rung
* X29 Style lap panel roof w/ depressions for end walks
* Equipped with racks for automobile batteries and side panels
* Sunshine
X31 447 * 40' Inset Round Roof
* Double Doors
* Bowser
* Sunshine
X26 421 * 40' Single-sheathed Wood
* Built: 1934
* Funaro & Camerlengo
* InterMountain #T452601 (Tichy)
* AccuRail
* Westerfield
X47 319
X38C 303 * 50'
* Rebuilt, PRR, 1955
* Similar to X38
* Rectangular panel roof
* Metal roofwalk
* Single centered 7' door.
X33A 296 * 50' Flush Round Roof
* Double Door
* End Door
* Bowser
X41 288 * 50'
* Double Youngstown doors
* Sunshine
X32D 249 * 50' Flush Round Roof
* 7' Single Door
* Rebuilt from X32b & X32c
* Bowser
X41A 199 * 50'
* Double Youngstown doors
* End doors
* Sunshine
X40B 100 * Painted in MERCHANDISE SERVICE (phase 1) scheme. * Rail Classics (brass)
X38C 87 * Rebuilt, PRR, 1955
* Similar to X38
* Rectangular panel roof
* Metal roofwalk
* Single centered 7' door.
X32C 86 * 50' Flush Round Roof
* Double Doors
* Bowser
X32 58 * 50' Inset Round Roof
* Single Door
* Bowser
* Nickel Plate Products (brass)
X33 48 * 50' Round Roof w/End Doors * Bowser
X48 20 * 40' Pullman Standard PS-1
* 20 cars
* 8' Superior doors (6 panel)
* Sliding sill Cushioned underframe
X23 12 * 40'
* 1912 PRR design, wood sheathed.
* Westerfield
* Rail Classics (brass)
* Overland (brass)
X29C 6 * 40' * Sunshine
X40 5 * Rail Classics (brass)
* Oriental (brass)
X23B 4 * 40'
* 1912 PRR design, wood sheathed
* Round roof
X40A 4 * Rail Classics (brass)
* CB&T Shops
X25A 3 * 40'
* 9620 cars built
* Built: 1915-1919
* Reverse opening single doors
* Westerfield
X26A 1 * 40'
* USRA design
X29A 1 * 40'
X30 1 * 70'6"
* Built 9/1931
* 2 6' Youngstown doors
* End door
* Built to carry fire engines from Elmira American LaFrance plant
X36 1 * 40'
X38B 1 * 50'
* Single car built by the PRR in Feb-Apr 1942
* 11-panel Pratt truss sides
* Single centered 8' composite door
* 5/5 Dreadnaught ends
* Wood roof replaced by Murphy roof after one or two years
X40C 1 * 60' * Rail Classics (brass)


Gondolas
Class Quantity Comments HO Model
G22 4,862 * 48'
* Fixed ends w/steel floor
* Straight sides
* 12 side stakes
* Riveted construction
* Westerfield
G31A 4,797 * 52'6"
* Built by Pullman Standard ???
* Fish belly sides
* 13 side stakes
* Welded construction
* Tapered end sills
* Drop ends w/wood floor
G27 4,491 * 52'6"
* Some steel floor w/drop ends.
* Some steel floor w/fixed ends and covered
* Fish belly sides
* 13 side stakes
* Riveted construction
* Tapered end sills
* Sunshine
G31 2,900 * 52'6"
* Built by Altoona
* Drop ends w/steel floorfish belly sides
* 13 side stakes
* Welded construction
* Tapered end sills
* G31 - 456 cars built pre 1949, 944 cars built in 1949 and 1500 cars post 1949
GRA 2,005 * 40'
* Composite sides
* Fixed wnds w/wood floor
* Westerfield
G34 2,000 * 46'
* Fixed ends w/steel floor
* Straight sides
* 11 side stakes
* Riveted construction
* No end sills
G31B 1,999 * 52'6"
* Built by ACF
* Drop ends w/wood floor
* Fish belly sides
* 13 side stakes
* Welded construction
* Tapered end sills
* Tangent Scale Models
G29 1,991 * 46'
* Steel sides
* Fixed dreadnaught ends w/wood floor
* Sunshine
G35 1,900 * 52'6"
* Built by ACF ???
* Same externally as the welded drop-end G31a's and b's, but had a different underframe
* Welded sides
* Some had nailable steel floor
* Drop ends w/wood floor
G28 1,893 * 52'6"
* Some drop ends
* Some fixed ends w/wood floor, covered
* Funaro & Camerlengo
G26 1,649 * 65'6"
* Drop ends w/steel floor
* Built by Altoona
* Fish belly sides
* 12 side stakes
* Riveted construction
* Tapered end sills
* Eastern Car Works
* Precision Scale (brass)
G32A 1,499 * 46'
* Straight sides
* 11 side stakes
* Welded construction
* No end sills
* Built by Altoona Works
G25B 1,449 * 46'
* USRA design
* Westerfield
G31D 1,200 * 52'6"
* Built by ACF
* Welded sides
* Fixed ends w/wood floor
* Some equiped with Standard Railroad Equipment Co. 3-section removable roof sections equiped for sling lift stacking brackets, locking guide pins on sections and four movable bulkheads.
G30A 812 * 52'6"
* Wood floor
G31C 750 * 52'6"
* Built by General American
* Rivited sides
* Drop ends w/wood floor
G26A 699 * 65'6"
* Drop ends w/steel floor
* Built by Altoona
* Eastern Car Works
* Athearn
G32 600 * 46'
* Built by Altoona
* Fixed ends w/steel floor
G31E 500 * 52'6"
* Built by General American
* Rivited sides
* Skids
* Fixed ends w/wood floor
G33 500 * 65'6"
* Built by Altoona
* Drop ends w/steel floor
G24 468 * 40'
* USRA design
* Some steel sides w/fixed ends
* Some composite sides w/fixed ends
* InterMountain #46608
G29C 447 * 46'
* Rebuilt from G29A
* Fixed ribbed ends w/wood floor
G29D 437 * 46'
* Rebuilt from G29B
* Fixed ribbed ends w/wood floor
G22B 425 * 48'
* Fixed ends w/steel floor
* Westerfield
GS 320 * 40'
* Fixed ends w/steel floor
* Bowser
* Funaro & Camerlengo
* Sunshine
G25 266 * 46'
* Drop ends w/wood floor
* Westerfield
* Walthers #7466
G33A 250 * 65'6"
* Built by Altoona
* Fixed ends w/steel floor
G33B 200 * 65'6"
* Built by Altoona
* Drop ends w/steel floor
G30 185 * 52'6"
* Drop ends w/wood floor
* Funaro & Camerlengo
* Tichy
GR 68 * 40'6"
* Composite sides
* Fixed ends w/wood floor
* Funaro & Camerlengo
G29B 62 * 46'
* Composite sides
* Fixed ribbed ends w/wood floor
* Sunshine
G29A 51 * 46'
* Composite sides
* Fixed ribbed ends w/wood floor
* Sunshine
GSH 42 * 40'
* Fixed ends w/steel floor
* Funaro & Camerlengo
* Sunshine
G22A 7* 48'
* Drop ends w/steel floor
* Westerfield
GSD 1 * 40'
* Fixed ends
GSG 1 * 40'
* Fixed ends w/wood floor
Volume 1, Issue 2 of The Keystone Modeler has an extensive listing of HO scale models and kitbashes.


Flat Cars
Class Quantity Comments HO Model
F30A 1,499 * 50'
* Cast steel frame flat car
* Built: PRR Pitcarin Shops, 1934
* 1500 cars built
* Bowser
* Sunshine
FM 383 * 40' * Rail Works (brass)
* Sunshine
* Funaro & Camerlengo
* Red Caboose (generic car)
F30D 250 * 50'
* Same in appearance to F30A but has welded frame
* Built: PRR, 1951
* 250 cars
* Many assigned to TrucTrain service
* Stan Rydarowicz (Bowser mod)
F30E 200 * 50'
* Welded frame
F30 92 * 50'
FGR 63 * 38'
F22 58 * 30' * Rail Works (brass)
* Funaro & Camerlengo
FGRA 33 * 41'
F36 30 * 48' * Rail Works (brass)
F29 20 * 52'6" Depressed Center * Rail Works (brass)
* Funaro & Camerlengo
F37 20 * 39' Well Hole * Rail Works (brass)
F25 17 * 45' Well Car * Rail Works (brass)
F37B 17 * 39' Well Hole * Rail Works (brass)
F33 16 * 52' Depressed Well Car * Rail Works (brass)
* Funaro & Camerlengo
F37A 14 * 39' Well Hole * Rail Works (brass)
F31A 10 * 62'6"
F35 10 * 54' Depressed Center * Rail Works (brass)
FD1 9 * 72'10" Depressed Center * Rail Works (brass)
F25A 6 * 45' Well Car
F23 5 * 30' * Funaro & Camerlengo
F34 3 * 44' Heavy Duty * Rail Works (brass)
F25C 2
F28 2 * 52'6" Depressed Center * Rail Works (brass)
F38 2 * 50' Heavy Duty * Rail Classics (brass)
* Eastern Car Works (kit)
F25B 1 * 45' Well Hole
F25D 1
F30C 1 * 50'
* Welded frame flat car
* Same in appearance to F30A but has welded frame
* Built: Bethlehem steel
* 1 Car
F32 1 * 70'
F40 1 * Depressed Heavy Duty * Rail Classics (brass)
FD2 1 * 72'6" Depressed Center
* "QUEEN MARY"


Stock Cars
Class Quantity Comments HO Model
K7A 806 * Broadway Limited Imports
K8 514


Coke Cars
Class Quantity Comments HO Model
GTE26 20
GTC23 1