Lionel MP54 Paoli Local questions

I can't answer your questions, but there's a photo of the RPO car on this page, which may be of some interest or help to you:

http://www.railcitymuseum.com/...road_Top_Mounta.html

I lived in Huntingdon for much of my childhood, and spent many hours playing down there at the HBT/PRR station(s).  Unfortunately, the HBT went out of business when I was barely six years old, and I don't think I ever saw any of their trains in action.

They are listed as "traditional" 15 inch cars.

http://www.lionel.com/products...neID=&CatalogId=

not certain if the width/height is correct but these cars were MP-54, meaning 54 feet over the passenger compartment which didn't include the vestibule. So that would make them approximately 60 feet over all which is about 15".

Scotie

Sounds like the Lionel car body is likely full scale length.  When I measured a brass NJCB P54  the length of the body from corner post to corner post was 15 1/4".  The width at the corner was  2 1/2", and the height of the side from base to roof 1 3/4". 

P54's and MP54's make ideal O scale models for modest sized layouts as the prototypes were quite short. In this case "traditionally sized" may very well be 1/4" scale sized.  The non-motorized variant (P54's) saw extensive use in steam hauled commuter service out of Pittsburgh and Chicago. 

Would the Lionel parts department stock a body shell??

Balshis

  The RPO in your link is the very car I'm going to build.  On my railroad I've loosely modeled the HBT interchange with the Pennsy at Huntingdon.  HBT trains #2 and #3 rain daily between Bedford and Huntingdon, PA.  The three car train was powered by a light Baldwin 2-8-0 and trailed a Supplee milk tank car (see photos under the Lionel REA milk tank car post), a former BM62 RPO (same length as a P54), and a converted Brill gas electric combine #27.

Appreciate the responses

Ed Rappe

Ed -  You may be in luck.  The roofs pictured and the fact they were "K-Line" may mean that the width might be OK.  Nicholas Smith is offering the set for $199.  I doubt that shells if sold, would be that much less.