PRR Class F30 - 50' all steel flat cars

F30, Photographer PRR Photo, Image from online auction, used by permission of seller.
PRR 470132F30PRR Photo

General information:

Types of trucks used

ClassCarNumbersTruck ClassTruck NameQty cars:
F30  2E-F4  
F30  2F-F4  
F30a  2E-F10  
F30a, 1 car  2E-F13Double Truss  
F30c  2E-F10Double Truss  
Truck data is from PRR documents circa 1940's. Other truck classes may also have been used.

Cars on the PRR roster (as listed in the Official Railway Equipment Register (ORER)):

ClassCarNumberAAR ClassPRR Oct 44PRR Oct 48PRR Apr 52PRR Oct 53PRR Oct 58PRR Oct 63PRR Apr 68
F30470100470199FM94939292928612
F30470300470309FM10------
F30a473765475265FM FMS1500150015001499145612721203
F30c470299-FM1111111
F30d475300475549FC FM FMS--250250164164164
F30e475550475749FC FM--NEWNEW200200199
F30f473765475265LP----333
F30h473765475265LP-----1919
Roster data compiled by Rich Orr

Modeling Information:

Bowser
F30aHO55950PRR F-30a 50' Flat car - undecoratedplastic kit w/ molded on detail-
F30aHO55951PRR F-30a 50' Flat car - Pennsylvaniaplastic kit w/ molded on detail-
F30aHO559541PRR F-30a 50' Flat car - Pennsylvania 1950'splastic kit w/ molded on detail-
F30aHO55955PRR F-30a 50' Flat car - Pennsylvania 1960'splastic kit w/ molded on detail-
Sunshine
F30aHO30.650' F30a 50' cast steel flat car w/ wood deck, leaf springs, revenue decals (1934-1950's)resin kit w/ decals-

F30e Construction Photos:

I purchased a set of original PRR builders photos showing the showing the F30e in various stages of construction at Altoona:
E20368,E20369, E20371, E20373, E20375, E20376

Photos online:

Report MarkClassDescriptionLocationDatePhotographer
PRR 470132F30---PRR photo (B&W)
PRR 475371F30-Enola, PAMay-90John Caples
CR 59503F30aMOW - with crawler crane??Rob Schoenberg
PRR 474265F30A---PRR Photo (B&W) from Modern Locos & Cars 1939
PRR 475462F30dF30d TOCF flatcar w/ trailer (E20506)Altoona, PAcirca 1954PRR photo (B&W) collection of Stephen J. Agostini
PRR 475749F30eBuilders Photo, side view (E20446)Altoona, PA-PRR Photo (B&W), collection of Rob Schoenberg
PRR 475749F30eBuilders Photo, 3/4 view (E20447)Altoona, PA-PRR Photo (B&W), collection of Rob Schoenberg
PRR 475749F30eBuilders Photo, end view (E20448)Altoona, PA-PRR Photo (B&W), collection of Rob Schoenberg

Photos in print:

ClassPublicationPageCar NoSchemeLocationDateComments
F30Keystone Vol 23, #114PRR 470132----
F30Keystone Vol 23, #115PC 30367--5/84top view, no deck
F30Keystone Vol 23, #115PRR 470170---End view
F30aCFC vol 636PRR 475247--1/62boiler load
F30aKeystone Vol 23, #113PRR 474?---Huge pipe load
F30aKeystone Vol 23, #116PRR 473765---3/4 View
F30aKeystone Vol 23, #116PRR 473803----
F30aKeystone Vol 23, #117PRR 473765--5/34end view, retainmovto side
F30aKeystone Vol 23, #117PRR 473765--3/34end view, retainer on end
F30aKeystone Vol 23, #117PRR 474265--8/64end view, power hand brake
F30aKeystone Vol 23, #118---8/34construction, no decking
F30aKeystone Vol 23, #118PRR 474798--3/43w/ J1 frame
F30aPC Color Guide84PC 701711PC-1/75nee PRR 474631
F30aPennsy Power 3403PRR 474350----
F30aPennsy Power 3403PRR 474654----
F30aPopular Pict & Plan Book203PRR 474265----
F30aPRR Color Guide Vol 2116PRR 491?91----
F30aPRR Color Guide Vol 288PRR 473891----
F30aPRR Color Guide Vol 288PRR 475026----
F30aPRR Color Guide Vol 289PRR 474399----
F30aPRR Color Guide Vol 289PRR 474533----
F30aPRR Color Guide Vol 289PRR 474775----
F30aPRR Color Guide Vol 290PRR 47????----
F30aPRR Color Guide Vol 290PRR 474151----
F30aPRR Color Guide Vol 389PRR 474124-Columbus, OH9/1967with Morgan crane load (triple load)
F30cKeystone Vol 23, #118PRR 470299--6/35-
F30dKeystone Vol 23, #119PRR 475525--5/83w/ sideboards
F30dKeystone Vol 23, #120---5/51rough underframe casting
F30dKeystone Vol 23, #120PRR 475300--1/51End view
F30dKeystone Vol 23, #121---5/51casting undconstruction
F30dKeystone Vol 23, #121TTX 475084--7/58-
F30dKeystone Vol 23, #123PRR 475462--4/54Truc Train
F30dPC Color Guide84PC 702250PCButler, WI4/7/90nee PRR 475445
F30dPRR Color Guide Vol 1109PRR 475525SK-8/81-
F30dPRR Color Guide Vol 361PRR 475323PK--with wreck damaged X43b #85943
F30eKeystone Vol 23, #120PRR 475749----
F30eKeystone Vol 23, #122----no deck
F30eKeystone Vol 23, #122PRR 475749--2/54End view
F30eKeystone Vol 23, #123----undconstruction
F30ePC Color Guide85PC 702340PCSharon, PA11/80nee PRR 475581
F30gKeystone Vol 23, #122TTX 475094--3/69piggyback
F30gPRR Color Guide Vol 1128TTX475185TTX-5/61w/ PRR15104 piggyback
F30hKeystone Vol 23, #126PRR 474187---F30a w/ bulkheads
F30hPRR Color Guide Vol 139PRR 473901----
F30kKeystone Vol 23, #126CR 54139--5/84tie car
F30kKeystone Vol 23, #127CR 54325--5/86interior

Equipment Diagrams online:

Class(es)tracing #View
F30E89527-Aelevation
F30E-89527-D,C,B,Aelevation
F30a,F30cE99022-Eelevation
F30dE-454452-Aelevation
F30eE-450606-Belevation

Plans and diagrams in print:

Applicable ClassesTypePublicationPageDescriptionTracing Number
F30Arrangement of LetteringPRR Compendium Vol 198Plain Key - F30 shown
F30PlanModel Railroading-3/89
F30aPlanMainline Modeler-7/90
F30a,F30d,F30eArrangement of LetteringPRR Compendium Vol 192Shadow or Plain Key - F30A, F30E shown
F30A,F30EArrangement of LetteringPRR Compendium Vol 199Plain Key - F30a,F30e shown
F30ePlanModel Railroader-11/86

References:

  • KEY 3/90 - F30a and Related Classes (Fisher, Ian S.)
      History, photos, diagrams, roster
  • KEY 9/92 - Pennsy's TrucTrain Service (Nesladek, Mike)
      History, Photos, description of service
  • KEY 9/13 - Pennsy Railcar Restorations (Gardner, Tim)
      Restored PRR equipment w/ photos
  • General Arangement/Plan - Popular Picture & Plan Book or RR Cars & Locomotives, Simmons-Boardman, 1951, pg 202
  • Underbody Drawings - Train Shed Cyclopedia, Vol 17, pg 373.

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©1998-2001 Robert Schoenberg - robs@railfan.net