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

Lehigh Valley (LV) “Delivery 12-1965 X58B” 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: 1965-1985

LV “Original 12-1965 X58B” replicates the Lehigh Valley’s second group of X58 cars (and not yet offered by Tangent, until today!) from the PRR Samuel Rea Shops. These 60 cars were built in early December 1965, classed as X58B and wore the attractive black and white Lehigh Valley paint scheme. The LV scheme is a good example of “classy” as you notice the side grab irons (“ladders”) are painted black against the white sides along with the red LV flag painted across the ten-foot plug door. The models are sharp, equipped with accurate Keystone cushion underframes and Apex-style roof walkways. Tangent Scale Models are releasing twelve (yes, 12!) individual car numbers, with each individual car number researched to include accurate return route lettering as used by the Lehigh Valley. Modelers take careful notice that many of these cars return home to non-LV roads!

• SKUs -01 through -04 are lettered return to Reading Company West Trenton, New Jersey including that distinctive T-diamond mark.
• SKU -05 is lettered return to C&O Midland, Michigan.
• SKUs -06 through -07 are lettered return to LV RR Niagara Falls, New York.
• SKUs -08 and -12 are lettered return to GTW RR, Otterburn, Michigan, with the distinctive “O” mark.
• SKUs -09 through -11 are lettered return to LV RR Oak Island, New Jersey.

These cars will be hot.

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