If your local dealer cannot provide you with the materials and products you need to produce a 1950's PRR TrucTrain, Merchandise Service, benefactor of this web site, would be more than happy to meet your needs...
- Alan Curtis Models - F30a and F30d Flat Car Kits
- Microscale Decals
- Classic Metal Works - Trailers
This page is intended to provide information to assist the modeler in completing their Alan Curtis Pennsy F30d (and F30a) flat cars per the prototype.
The F30d's are a variant of F30 flat cars. They were built in 1951 and were of a cast frame design. There were 250 cars in the class, of which 115 were converted for TOFC service, later known as TrucTrain, in 1954. In December the first F39 75' flats began arriving. The F30d held one trailer while the F39 held two. Most of both classes of cars were transferred to TTX when it was created (early 1956).
Of the 86 F30d's that went to TTX, a check of the Official Railway Equipment Register (ORER) shows that they remained in quantity for some time: still 86 in Jan. 1965, 83 in Jul. 1976, 81 in Oct. 1981, 70 in May 1983, 2 in 1989, and they were all gone by Apr. 1994.
A TTX employee once told me that some F30d's, once removed from rail service, became bridges. Think about it... 50 feet long with side rails... nice! And think of the modeling opportunity that provides!
Due to the similarity of the F30a to the F30d, Alan Curtis is producing it as well. The F30a was used for general service. They were built in the mid-1930's and also featured cast frames. The dimensional differences are indiscernable in N scale. Painting and lettering information below is valid for the F30a, but it was not used in TOFC service.
Overview of Pennsy's TOFC Service
F30d before TOFC conversion (click for larger image):
F30d after TOFC conversion (click for larger image):
F30d with trailer (click for larger image):
Body is painted Freight Car Color. Lettering is White. Deck is weathered wood.
The appearance of Pennsy's Freight Car Color varied over time. The PRRT&HS Paint Committee published their recommendations in the September 2005 issue of The Keystone Modeler. For a 1950's representation, they recommend Poly Scale Zinc Chromate Primer.
Suggestions from other PRRT&HS member/modelers include:
Badger: Modelflex Light Tuscan Red Oxide (Douglas Nelson)
Scalecoat II: PRR Freight Car Red, S2081 (Steve Hoxie)
Poly Scale: Special Oxide Red (Bruce Smith)
PolyS cale: Zinc Chromate (Greg Martin)
Lettering is White.
The lettering diagram for flat cars was revised as of January 24, 1955. The following are relative excerpts from the "as built" and "revised" lettering diagrams:
"As Built" Lettering Diagram
"Revised" Lettering Diagram
Microscale has produced a new decal set for PRR F30a and F30d flat cars (60-1262). For the road numbers, included are a prefix of 474 (for F30a's) and 475 (for F30d's) and ten different suffix numbers which may be used (as valid road numbers) for either F30a or F30d cars. This will minimize splicing to create a variety of road numbers.
For those wishing to model the F30d in TTX service, Microscale decal sets 60-552 or 60-578 appear to have the requisite parts (unconfirmed).
F30a cars were numbered 473765-475264. F30d cars were numbered 475300-475549.
| F30d Flat Cars Converted for TrucTrain Use | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 475300-01 475303 475308-13 475318 475320-22 475324-26 475331 475333 475335 475338 475343-44 475347 475349-50 475357 475359-60 475362 475364 |
475366 475368 475374-75 475379 475381-83 475385 475387-88 475390 475392-94 475396-97 475400-01 475403-04 475406 475408 475410 475412-15 475418 |
475420 475433-34 475436 475440 475443-44 475447-49 475454-55 475458 475462-65 475468-69 475471-72 475474 475476-77 475479 475482 475484 475490 |
475492-94 475496-97 475499 475504-05 475508-10 475515 475517-18 475523 475527 475529-31 475535-36 475538-40 475542-43 475546 475548 |
| Examples of F30 Sub-Class Lettering Variations as observed in builder's photos | ||
|---|---|---|
| F30a (1950's) | F30d (Std) | F30d (TOFC) |
| L 49-5 |
L 49-5 |
L 49-5 |
| CAPY. 140000 LD.LMT. 157100 |
CAPY. 140000 LD.LMT. 157500 |
CAPY. 140000 LD.LMT. 151900 |
| LT.WT. 52900 P57 6 54 |
LT.WT. 52500 NEW 5 51 |
LT.WT. 58100 P57 6 54 |
| F30A BLT 5 34 |
F30D BLT 5 51 |
F30D BLT 6 51 |
The F30d's that were converted to TOFC service had Pennsy class 2E-F25b trucks. I was afraid this would be a compromise for this model, but in October 2005 Atlas announced an N scale Hart Ballast Car with "new 70 ton trucks". These are, in fact, National C-1 70-ton friction bearing trucks -- a very close match for the 2E-F25b! Atlas will be offering the truck as a parts item (#22052). Pricing and availability have not yet been established. (The ballast cars are due in March 2006.)
F30a cars had 2E-F10 double-truss trucks, with the exception of #475265 that had 2E-F13 double-truss trucks. Bowser makes a 2D-F8 (#33145) which is very close -- the springs are slightly different and the 2E-F10 wheel base is 2" longer (negligible in N scale).
As of the outset of TOFC service, existing LCL service 24' to 26' trailers were used. These trailers have smooth or ribbed sides, a rounded front end, and a curb side door. The trailers feature the text "PENNSYLVANIA RAILROAD" running diagonally from lower left to upper right. At each end of the text is a keystone logo with the text "KEYSTONE MERCHANDISE SERVICE" inside. Elsewhere on the trailer sides is the text "DOOR TO DOOR SERVICE" and "PICKUP AND DELIVERY". By the early 1950's, over 8,600 tractors and trailers are in service. Currently nobody makes suitable trailers of this type in N scale.
In July 2005, Sylvan Scale Models released Pennsy 26' trailers in HO scale. On Jan. 31, 2006 they confirmed to me that they will be producing an N scale version, with an ETA of July 2006!!!
Also in 1954, the Pennsy leased 150 new 30' Fruehauf trailers for the TOFC service. Lettering was the same, but the text inside the keystone logo is replaced by "PRR". Like earlier trailers, they had one axle. Currently nobody makes suitable trailers of this type in N scale.
In July 2005, Classic Metal Works released Pennsy 32' trailers. It is a single axle trailer and, lacking photographs of the 30' trailer, may be a good stand-in.
In 1955, trailers owned by common carriers began being transported on TrucTrain trains. Some of the participating companies were Cooper-Jarrett, Inc., Iowa-Nebraska Transportation Co., Schreiber Trucking Co., Eastern Motor Express, Spector Freight, and Mid States.
In 2004, Classic Metal Works released reasonably accurate 32' trailers in many of these carrier's names.
In 1955, the Pennsy ordered 32' dual-axle trailers from Freuhauf and Trailmobile.
More information is available in the "Overview of Pennsy's TOFC Service".
The Keystone, Volume 23, #1, The Pennsylvania Railroad Technical & Historical Society.
The Keystone, Volume 25, #3, The Pennsylvania Railroad Technical & Historical Society.
"Quick Facts about the New Rail Highway Trailer Service", brochure, issued by the PRR in June 1954. Introduces PRR's new trailer-on-flatcar service and includes photos.
"New PRR Service: Trailers on Flatcars", The Pennsy, June 1954, Pennsylvania Railroad employee magazine. Includes photos.
"$500 Price Offered for the Best Name for Rail-Trailer Service", The Pennsy, June 1954, Pennsylvania Railroad employee magazine. Includes photos.
"Neither Rain, Nor Snow, Nor Ice, Nor Fog Can Stop PRR's Trailers on Flatcars", The Pennsy, September 1954, Pennsylvania Railroad employee magazine. Includes photos.
"The Winning Name: Pennsy TrucTrain Service", The Pennsy, October 1954, Pennsylvania Railroad employee magazine. Includes photos.
"How to Sell Pennsy TrucTrain Service", The Pennsy, November 1954, Pennsylvania Railroad employee magazine. Includes photos.
Copyright 1996 - 2008
Last modified: November 23 2007.
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