PRR Shops X58 Class Box Car

Between 1964 and 1966, the Pennsylvania Railroad built a large fleet of new multiple-purpose boxcars at their Samuel Rea Shops in Hollidaysburg, PA. Constructed as class “X58,” PRR rapidly produced 2,565 cars, plus another 100 for Lehigh Valley. PRR outfitted the interiors of some cars with “loader” appliances and/or insulation which resulted in PRR designating 4 sub-classes: X58, X58A, X58B, and X58C. Being highly-useful boxcars, X58 boxcars were rampant nationwide roamers during their service life.

Many X58s lasted beyond the Conrail era. Most cars were retired in the mid-2000s.

Tangent offers distinctive phase and era variations with their PRR X58 replicas, including high or low ladders, high or low brake appliances, Keystone or Hydra-cushion underframes and all-new 50’ Stanray diagonal panel roof system with prototype options. Tangent Scale Models PRR X58 includes their “near-scale” extended-length draft sill with beautifully rendered side “key” detail and gorgeous “trombone-style” coupler lift bars, plus accurate ASF 70-ton roller bearing trucks as utilized by PRR. Finally, Tangent Scale Models scale replicas operate as well as they look, equipped with free-rolling CNC-machined wheels and Kadee scale couplers, meaning their models are truly ready-to-run.

Tangent Scale Models studied the prototype to accurately reproduce it with the following features:

– Dimensionally-correct exterior post box car with trademark 1960s design features, produced from actual PRR blueprints and from photos and measurements taken from a real X58 at the Danbury Rail Museum in Danbury CT

– Different roof, brake appliance, side/end ladder, and center door arm variations correct for the era / paint scheme of each paint scheme

– Two different underframe variations: hydra-cushion and keystone

– All-New Stanray 50’ Diagonal Panel Roof System design, tooling and options.

– Separate door rods and door roller detail

– “See-through” running board and crossover platform

– Full “lacy” AB brake detail and train air line

– Highly correct “true to life” colors

– “Hyper-Accurate” lettering including exact fonts and lettering placement

– Durable wire grab irons and “trombone-style” coupler lift bars

– Separate air hoses

– “Near-scale” extended draft gear box with beautifully rendered side “key” detail

– Kadee “scale-head” couplers

– CNC-machined 33” wheels in ASF 70-ton “Ride Control” roller bearing trucks, matching PRR practice

– Replacement 33” semi-scale wheels are available separately from Tangent

– Recommended age 14 years and older

Pennsylvania Railroad (PRR) “PC-Era X58B SL w Green Door 1974+” PRR Shops X58 Plug Door Boxcar

• Product: PRR Shops X58 Class Box Car
• Scale: HO Scale 1:87.1
• Truck: 70-Ton ASF “Ride Control” Roller Bearing
• Wheels: CNC-Machined 33″ Wheels
• Era: 1974-1995

PRR “PC-Era X58B SL w/Green Door 1974+” shows later-era changes for a specific X58B under Penn Central ownership. This 1966-built box car has made it into 1974, wearing its original PRR scheme and reporting marks. However, Penn Central has worked on the car along the way, resulting in changes. The doors have been repainted/replaced by PC. The roof walkway has been removed, and the roof mounted brackets have been torched off. These roof changes are carefully replicated with Tangent Scale Models all-new Stanray 50’ roof tooling and detail options. The brake wheel stayed in its factory-applied, high position after the shop work, correct for this prototype. The paint job details reflect over 8 years of use, including specifically-patched capacity data, the previously mentioned PC green doors, ACI label additions, accurate 1974 COTS data and miscellaneous patches. All of these details on the model are photo specific. This PRR box car is available in one correct road number for the PC 1974+ era.

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