Description

In 1946 and 1947, the Union Pacific added a total of 3,000 box cars that at first glance appeared to follow the postwar iteration of the AAR box car design.  However, the UP’s cars incorporated two significant design differences: their all-welded UP underframes and sides using thinner sheet steel that necessitated the use of interim stiffeners in the center of the side sheathing panels, resulting in an additional row of “alternate” rivets.  As such, these UP cars were both numerous and subtly distinctive, making them perfect subjects for modelers.

The first 1,000 cars (class B-50-38) were delivered in 1946 by Mt. Vernon Car Manufacturing Co.  They used the prewar style Youngstown doors and Wine ladders, along with two styles of running boards (Apex Tri-Lok and U.S. Gypsum) and four types of hand brakes (Ajax, Universal, Equipco, and Miner.)  These cars were delivered in the scheme that featured white stenciling with Armour yellow “ROAD of the Streamliners” and “SERVES ALL THE WEST.”

The 2,000 members of the B-50-39 class were built in 1947, with 1,500 coming from Pullman-Standard and 500 from General American.  The cars were equipped with improved Youngstown doors and used standard, riveted ladders plus two types of running boards (Apex Tri-Lok and U.S. Gypsum) and six types of hand brakes (Ajax, Universal, Equipco,  Miner, Superior, and Ureco.)  The first 1,500 cars were painted as the B-50-38s were, but the last 500 cars had all Armour yellow stencilling and slogans. 

Letters up to three cars. Includes 1 of the artwork with white lettering and two of the artwork with yellow lettering as shown in the image.