Bashed X-42 Box Car

What are you doing with the trucks for this car?

great project!

 When /where/why would these have been used? ("head end" car, ? )

Generally they were mail storage cars.

Imported by Dick Bregler.

Scratch built by Dick Bregler.

John, Looks really great.  Looking forward to seeing the finished product.

Adriatic,  The passenger-equipped X-42s were built after WW2 when express traffic greatly increased.  It's dimensions and door spacing were close to the B60 baggage car that were used for express and mail storage, and the X-42 was cheaper to build than new B60s.  The Pennsy built ten X-42s in 1950 in freight car red and circle keystone, then repainted them to passenger colors as shown in John's post above in 1951.  Not sure when they were repainted back into freight car colors.

Painted but not yet lettered. On an 0-72 curve, hence the inside overhang.

Bashed X-42 next to a Williams 17" baggage car.

 Dateline - CHICAGO. January 15, 1951.  The United States Mail has announced fourth morning delivery service for letters and packages weighing less than 45 pounds between New York and Los Angeles.  Monday afternoon to Friday morning in each direction.  The Pennsylvania Railroad and the Santa Fe will handle one car each Monday in this test service.  Both cars will be PRR X-42s painted Pullman Green and lettered in gold for Railway Express Agency service. 

Above news release is not factual, but its my railroad............... John in Lansing, ILL

Nice project John. Good use of those old box cars that don’t get much track time. 

Thanks for sharing John. It looks great, can wait to see it lettered and decalled.

russ

Great idea!!!  I have a few of those Weaver box cars in NASCAR schemes that I was going to repaint....now I need to bash them!!! Good project.

Really nice, keep up the great work on this unique project.

I removed the trucks and submerged the body in water for twelve hours.  One nice feature of Aleene's glue is it returns to liquid state allowing the body to be taken apart, even lifting out the walk way.  Next step is to make six cuts to correct the distances from the ends to the doors and between the doors.  3/4" from between the pieces of tapes near the ladders and 3/4 from the open end.  That should shorten the car to 60 scale feet.  Next message will be when I get the items to a band saw.   John in Lansing, ILL

John,

   Real nice work on the Box Car project, great looking stuff!

PCRR/Dave

Rattler 21 posted: "Waiting for the Aleene's glue to dry."

I hope your not relying on Aleenes glue to hold your body and frame together permanently? If you are, you've got more guts than I do. Aleenes is great stuff, but not what I would use hold that  massive car together. Good Luck. The car does look great BTW.

Curious if the inside was a wood paneling or steel?

Side by side with an American Standard 60' heavyweight baggage car.  Door placement is a little off but it will have to do.

Opposite side doors are not completely closed.  Next step is touching up the exterior paint and placing the vertical posts.  I think I can paint small dowel rods, drill holes in the floor, insert the cut to size rods and glue them in place.  This has been a relaxing project which I think is one of the nice benefits of our hobby. 

Mark, the joined floors are secured to the sides and ends with Plasti-Weld.

John in Lansing, ILL