For those interested in a PRR thru-sleeper for the Texas Special, Scott has probably realized the dilemma that project creates from a model making standpoint in terms of prototypical correctness.
The PRR assigned the following cars to the Katy/FriscoTexas Special:
Texas Special Thru-Service Assignment Period: May 16, 1948 to 1950
Paint Scheme: Cardinal Red w/ Stainless Steel Silver w/ Shadowline
Cascade Meadow 10-5 Sleeper
Cascade Range 10-5 Sleeper
Texas Special Thru-Service Assignment Period: 1950 to October 25, 1958
Paint Scheme: 1950 to 5/1953 – Cardinal Red w/ Stainless Steel Silver w/ Shadowline
5/1953 to 1960 – Red w/ Silver (No Shadowline)
Swatara Rapids 10-6
Tioga Rapids 10-6
For the 10-5 sleepers GGD produced for the 1939 Broadway Ltd, they were modeled after PRR Class PS105, Pullman Std Plan 4072A same as those built for the New York Central Ltd which makes sense so that these models are prototypically correct for at least two railroads. There were only two PRR 10-5 sleepers built in this class. The other 39 10-5 sleeper cars were PRR Class 105A with two other different floor plans and window arrangements.
For the 10-6 sleepers GGD produced for the 1948 Broadway Ltd, they were modeled after PRR Class 106A, Pullman Std Plan 4129. The two Rapids series cars assigned to the Texas Spl were Class 106, Pullman Std Plan 4140 which have a slightly different window spacing on the isle side.
With the Katy and Frisco 14-4 sleeper car models having such a high degree of fidelity with the originals such as grab irons to access the roof on the car ends and a roof cover/hatch for the air conditioning ice reservoir (the reason for the grab irons), the question would be if modelers would be willing to overlook the slight inaccuracies of a PRR thru-sleeper as well as which sleeper to model, 10-5 or 10-6 and for the 10-6 which paint scheme? Again, these inaccuracies may or may not be important to the modeler depending upon their viewpoint.
I am highly impressed with Scott’s work and always grateful to him for his willingness to do his best to fulfill my special requests from time to time so wanted to share why this particular request involves some complications.
As an aside, the two PRR Cascade series cars assigned to the Frisco Meteor with “PENNSYLVANIA” at the letterboard location were not the same plan as the 1939 Broadway Ltd model cars as well and were only in the Texas Spl paint scheme from early 1948 to early 1950.
In my opinion, Katy / Frisco 14-4 sleeper cars also ran on the PRR Penn Texas so I'm fine with ordering one of those cars.
If those PRR fans with special interest in modeling thru sleepers that interchanged with the Texas Special and Texas Eagle, the car to lobby for is a model of the "Recreation Lounge" cars that were built by AC&F for the PRR Penn Texas train. Now that we have MoPac and soon to be MKT/Frisco sleeper cars to model a PRR Penn Texas train such a train is not complete unless you have a recreation lounge car (PRR Class PLC85R, Car Nos. 7300, 7301, 7302). Better still, add a Falls series 6 bedroom, buffet lounge car. In place of a second run of the 1948 Broadway Ltd, I'd like to buy a set that models "The Pittsburgher" which was mostly an overnight all-sleeper train between Pittsburgh and New York City. Similar to the Texas Special, the Pittsburgher sleepers were re-named after prominent Pittsburghers.
