Scale (or maybe Semi?) PRR Boxcars

There's  a Lot of PRR out there both scale and semi scale, especially in Boxcars.

For scale you have almost every foot of boxcar length decorated in various projects paint schemes.

I like the Atlas O scale USRA 40 foot rebuilt boxcars, item number 6484. These were produced in 2003 I believe and in 8(?) road numbers. They pop up on eBay fairly regularly too or have in the recent past.

I think what I'm referring to is this type of scheme (non-"shadow box")

You should have no problem. Lionel made some nice PRR PS-1 Boxcars, including a Freight Sounds version. There are also some MTH Premier and Atlas O PRR Boxcars. Some of the MTH Boxcars are available in six-packs, each with a different road number. Some of the Atlas O Boxcars have four road numbers. Most of what is available is old new stock. These Boxcars are all circa 1950s. I would recommend Grzyboski Trains, Just Trains of Delaware, the Public Delivery Track, Deichman's Depot and eBay as potential sources. 

The Atlas boxcar I listed is that paint scheme above.

Mike,

Not trying to talk you into anything, but if you really want scale, you might want to consider 2 rail. That said you likely want mostly 40 foot box cars (which meant 40 foot inside dimension) which were common with steam.  Atlas used to offer several different numbers of the same car, and they are as nice as any, barring some brass versions. I would look for them and depending on what type of track you use, you could run 2 rail cars and ditch the lobster claws and pizza cutters. I would recommend you get on you tube and look some of both kinds of layouts before you choose. Here is a good 2 rail video with a real nice 8X16 2 rail layout included:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HAjrZ_t6w28

PS: No such thing as semi-scale....it's either scale or Not.

Simon

I like the Lionel "double sheathed box cars".  I think they offered those in two numbers (at least I was only ever able to find the two numbers).  There are several Atlas "steam era classics" PRR box cars that come around on the bay frequently.  MTH has some too of course. 

That logo is referred to as the "circle keystone" by the way.

Happy hunting.  

Mr. Muffin's Trains just announced a sale of LIONEL O scale Pennsylvania box cars.

Andrew

The Atlas O RR X29 is a good model to scale.    PRR had slightly over 40,000 of these cars at one time.     Also the Atlas O USRA Outside braced car is a PRR X26 which they had close to 10,000.    They converted most of these to Steel rebuilt car.   The Atlas O USRA steel rebuilt car is not as good a model in some respects as the other 2, but represents this class as rebuilt to X26c.

The Lionel Roundroof PRR car is a pretty good model of the PRR roundroof car, X31 I think.   PRR did not have as many of these, but still a decent class.

After that I don't the the models of the more modern 40 ft boxcars are as good for PRR specific cars.    I don't think they had any PS1s but I might be wrong.    The Old Atlas sliding door boxcar was close to a PRR I have heard.    Probablhy the new Atlas trainman sliding door car might be OK since the superstructure appears to be nearly the same as the old one.   

The PRR was a large enough RR, at one time, one of the largest businesses in the country, they could afford to design and order unique cars to their specifications and often did so especially during the steam era.  

Beware, this is an occasional rivet counter speaking.  Truly accurate scale equipment has to be built correctly and painted / lettered correctly (to prototype looks).  Most of the comments above have been directed at building, but I remember some complaining (I think it was about the Lionel round-roof boxcars) about the paint color not being accurate or even close-enough.

Of course, this is model railroading, a hobby, and you should buy and use whatever you choose.

Have fun.

Chuck

Thanks guys. 

prrjim posted:

The Atlas O RR X29 is a good model to scale.    PRR had slightly over 40,000 of these cars at one time.     Also the Atlas O USRA Outside braced car is a PRR X26 which they had close to 10,000.    They converted most of these to Steel rebuilt car.   The Atlas O USRA steel rebuilt car is not as good a model in some respects as the other 2, but represents this class as rebuilt to X26c.

The Lionel Roundroof PRR car is a pretty good model of the PRR roundroof car, X31 I think.   PRR did not have as many of these, but still a decent class.

This is what I was looking for.  I found some website that listed a bunch of different types that PRR had (X29, X31, X37, etc.).   For whatever reason, I've never been too fond of the roundroof boxcars.  Not sure why, but just haven't.  The looks of the X29 and X37 look similar, that's pretty much what I think I want to go for.

Is Atlas the only one that makes these?

The Lionel boxcars that MrMuffins listed, I think they are all roundroof, correct?

Also, I know someone mentioned 2-rail... with my space and current setup (I have a couple hundred pieces of rolling stock and about 12 engines - all 3 rail) that wouldn't work.