PRR Class F39 - 75' TrucTrain flat cars
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| F39,F39a |
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General information:
Designed for 35' trailers
- F39:
- Built Dec, 1954 by Bethelhem Steel, Johnstown
- 200 cars, numbered 470400-470599
- F39a - Identical to F39
- Built by PRR, Holidaysburg Car Shops
- 150 cars, numbered 470600-470749
- 100 cars, numbered 470800-470899
- F39b -
- 50 cars, numbered 470750-470799
- F39c - Built as Trailer Train cars.
Note, all cars were sold to Trailer Train in early 1956."Pennsylvania" was painted over and TTX markings added.Some modeling notes from Elden Gatwood....
The Walthers version is close but not exact for any subclass. More generic of the class. The F39, F39A and F39C were all welded, with a shallower fishbelley center sill, while the F39B was cast and had a deeper center sill with lightening holes in it. The F39, F39A, and F39B all had drop staff hand brakes, on the ends, unlike the F39C which had a side-mounted hand wheel brake, which I think the Walthers model has. Unfortunately, all F39C were built directly for Trailer Train by the PRR, so the Walthers model with side hand brake in PRR lettering, is wrong, but you can remove the side brake and add an end one and be accurate.
Cars on the PRR roster (as listed in the Official Railway Equipment Register (ORER)):
There were no members of class F39 on the PRR freight interchange roster in 1944, 1948, 1952, 1953, 1958,1963, or 1968.
Modeling Information:
| Overland |
| F39 | HO | OMI 3033 | PRR F39 Tructrain Flat Car | brass - rtr | #470400-470599 Bethlehem Steel |
| Walthers |
| F39 | HO | 3953 | 75' Piggyback car-PRR | plastic | wrong brake wheel-can be kitbashed to make subclasses |
Photos online:
| Report Mark | Class | Description | Location | Date | Photographer |
| PRR 470833 | F39a | unrestored | St. Louis Museum of Transportation | Aug-98 | John Caples |
| TTX 471108 | F39c | Builders Photo, side view (E21270) | Altoona, PA | - | PRR Photo (B&W), collection of Rob Schoenberg |
| TTX 471108 | F39c | Builders Photo, 3/4 view (E21270) | Altoona, PA | - | PRR Photo (B&W), collection of Rob Schoenberg |
| TTX 471108 | F39c | Builders Photo, end view (E21270) | Altoona, PA | - | PRR Photo (B&W), collection of Rob Schoenberg |
Photos in print:
Equipment Diagrams online:
Plans and diagrams in print:
| Applicable Classes | Type | Publication | Page | Description | Tracing Number |
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| F39,F39b | Arrangement of Lettering | PRR Compendium Vol 1 | 104 | Shadow Key - F39, F39b shown
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| F39a | Plan | Mainline Modeler-7/90 | |
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References:
- KEY 9/92 - Pennsy's TrucTrain Service (Nesladek, Mike)
History, Photos, description of service
There is an extensive article on the PRR truck trains in the Autumn, 1992 issue of the Keystone (Vol 25, No. 3).
