Description

In 1945, PFE constructed the R-50-5 class starting with 75 cars with 50 ton capacity. These cars had an interior length of 38-3” inside the bunkers. This was about 5’ longer than the bulk of their fleet. They rode on cast steel trucks with Barber lateral motion devices and featured a fishbelly underframe. They followed up with an additional 100 cars in 1946 and completed another 109 more in 1947. The car sides were plywood sheathed, had solid steel roofs with integral hatches and improved dreadnaught ends. The cars were adorned with the alternate UP Medallion, where the white stripes are swapped with the usual location for the red stripes.

In 1940-1942, PFE rebuilt over 3000 cars pulled from various classes and assigned the R-30/40-16 class. The wood bodies were completely rebuilt with new steel superstructures, while the underframes were reused. They retained tongue and groove ends and side sheathing. Solid steel roofs were fitted with integral hatches. The cars were placed in the 73001-76554 Series. This set includes the alternate UP Medallion where the white stripes are swapped with the usual location for the red stripes. Many examples exist of the R-30/40-16 cars where the shop screws mistakingly painted the stripes in the reverse configuration. For cars painted with the normal UP medallion, please see our sets D209-D211.

Includes two of the artwork shown, lettering up to two cars.  Suggested models are R-50-5 Sunshine; R-30/40-16, (Red Caboose R-30-9 Kit with solid steel roof) or Sunshine.