PRR Class X51 - 50' auto parts boxcars and subclasses
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| PRR 83100 | X51 | PRR Photo (E21213) col. of Bill Lane |
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General information:
- X51, X51a, X51b, X51c - X51 new builds
- Built: Sam Rea Shops - 1956
- Riveted construction
- Doors: 15' double door opening - 7' & 8' doors
- Underframe: welded with diagonal crossbearers.
- Ends: 4-3-1 Improved Dreadnaught ends (subclasses also)
- Side sill: straight w/ 13" channel w/ notch at stirrups. (X51, X51a, X51b, X51c)
- Subclasses differed based on installed equiptment as follows:
- X51 - wood floors protected w/ perforated steel plate, lined ends, Evans DF loader w/ 19 belt rails
- X51a - entirely wood lined. nailable steel in doorway
- some had racks for engines & axles.
- Later conveted to X51c for auto parts
- X51b - Evans DF loader w/ 18 belt rails. Wood lined ends. Nailable steel floors.
- X51c - Racks for Universals, wood lined ends. Nailable steel floors.
- X51e, X51f, X51g, X51h - X51 rebuilds - 1000 cars
- Rebuilt in 1958 - new bodies on X32 & X33 underframes
- Body: Riveted - same as new built X51's
- Underframe: riveted, built up centersill, 3 stringers, crossbearers relocated.
- Trucks: 2D-4038 - 40'8-1/8" between truck centers
- Side sills: 15" channel at centers, tapers to 10" at car ends.
- Subclasses differed based on installed equiptment as follows:
- X51e - 674 cars - plywood lined for general service - some had racks for engined & axles
- X51f - 207 cars - Auto Parts Service
- X51g - 118 cars - Evans DF loaders
- X51h - 1 car - Sparton Easy Loader
- X51k -
- X51l -
- X51m -
Cars on the PRR roster (as listed in the Official Railway Equipment Register (ORER)):
| Class | Car | Number | AAR Class | PRR Oct 44 | PRR Oct 48 | PRR Apr 52 | PRR Oct 53 | PRR Oct 58 | PRR Oct 63 | PRR Apr 68 |
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| X51 | 82100 | 82497 | XML XL | - | - | - | - | - | 34 | 34
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| X51 | 83100 | 83599 | XAP XP | - | - | - | - | 500 | 497 | 494
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| X51 | 83315 | - | XM | - | - | - | - | - | - | 1
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| X51a | 82100 | 82497 | XAP XP XM XML XL | - | - | - | - | 397 | 250 | 228
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| X51b | 83600 | 83801 | XAP/XP | - | - | - | - | 202 | 201 | 200
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| X51c | 82100 | 82497 | XAP/XP | - | - | - | - | - | 70 | 70
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| X51c | 83802 | 84301 | XAP XM | - | - | - | - | 500 | 500 | 499
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| X51e | 607950 | 608623 | XAP XP XM | - | - | - | - | - | 608 | 616
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| X51f | 608624 | 608830 | XAP | - | - | - | - | - | 207 | 207
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| X51g | 608831 | 608948 | XML | - | - | - | - | - | 116 | 116
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| X51h | 608949 | - | XML | - | - | - | - | - | 1 | 1
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| X51k | 607950 | 608623 | XAP | - | - | - | - | - | 53 | 53
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| X51k | 608593 | - | XM | - | - | - | - | - | - | 1
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| X51l | 82100 | 82497 | XAP XP XM XML XL | - | - | - | - | - | 37 | 69
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| X51m | 82100 | 82497 | XAP/XP | - | - | - | - | - | 5 | 3
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| Roster data compiled by Rich Orr |
Modeling Information:
| Athearn |
| X51 | HO | - | 50' Auto Box | plastic | - |
Railworks imported a brass model of this car.
JM Johnson in his handout (PRRT&HS convention 1997) suggests kitbashing a X51 (or subclass) car from a Front Range 50' car. He replaces the ends with CB&T car shops, and the roof with one from a Walthers Golden Spike 50' reefer (out of production.)
Ed Bley at the 1994 PRRT&HS convention modeled an X51b from a Details West #BC700 Insulated 50' Plug Door Box Car. A summary of his procedure from the convention handout follows:
- Side sill: remove & fashion new from 0.030" x 0.188" styrene strip
- remove cusioned underframe cylinder & extended coupler pocket. Mount Kadee #5 coupler box to underframe flush w/ car ends.
- remove door, low brake housing, tack boards, end platforms
- Fashion new doors from Athearn Railbox doors. 8' door in center, 7'door to left.
- Make new door guides (bottom-0.030x0.040 styrene, top 2x2 strip styrene)
- Add new stirrups (A-Line style C), Drop Grabs, Cut levers, Roof Walk, high brake platform, and ladders.
Photos online:
| Report Mark | Class | Description | Location | Date | Photographer |
| PRR 83100 | X51 | Builders Photo, Side view (E21213) | Altoona, PA | - | PRR Photo (B&W), collection of Bill Lane |
| PRR 83100 | X51 | Builders Photo, 3/4 view (E21214) | Altoona, PA | - | PRR Photo (B&W), collection of Bill Lane |
| PRR 83100 | X51 | Builders Photo, A end view (E21215) | Altoona, PA | - | PRR Photo (B&W), collection of Bill Lane |
| PRR 671813 | X51c | under the wires | Aberdeen, MD | Feb-78 | Dick Leonhardt (from George Elwood's site) |
| PRR 82128 | X51c | broadside shot | North Little Rock, AR | - | George Elwood |
| PRR 82360 | X51c | - | Fullerton, Ca | 10/23/1975 | Ed Martin (Kodachrome 64) |
Photos in print:
| Class | Publication | Page | Car No | Scheme | Location | Date | Comments |
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| X51 | Mainline Modeler | 40 | PRR 83246 | ? | - | - | end view |
| X51 | Mainline Modeler | 40 | PRR 83249 | SK1b | - | - | - |
| X51 | Mainline Modeler | 41 | PRR 83331 | SK1b | - | - | - |
| X51 | Mainline Modeler | 44 | PRR 83105 | PK | - | - | - |
| X51 | Mainline Modeler | 45 | PRR 83241 | SK1b | - | - | - |
| X51 | Mainline Modeler | 45 | PRR 83246 | SK1b | - | - | - |
| X51 | PRR Color Guide Vol 1 | 86 | PRR 86276 | SK1b | - | 12/70 | - |
| X51 | PRR Color Guide Vol 2 | 50 | PRR 83158 | SK1b | - | 12/63 | - |
| X51 | PRR Color Guide Vol 3 | 63 | PRR 83231 | SK1b | - | - | - |
| X51a | Mainline Modeler | 41 | PRR 82177 | PK | - | - | - |
| X51a | Mainline Modeler | 44 | PRR 82177 | PK | - | - | - |
| X51b | Keystone Vol 21, #2 | 25 | - | SK | - | 4/77 | Closeup of Logo |
| X51b | Mainline Modeler | 41 | PRR 83753 | SK1b | - | - | - |
| X51c | Keystone Vol 21, #2 | 31 | PRR 92362 | SK1b | - | - | - |
| X51c | Mainline Modeler | 44 | PRR 82362 | SK1b | - | - | - |
| X51c | Mainline Modeler | 45 | ? | SK1b | - | - | crap paint |
| X51c | Pennsy Power 3 | 413 | PRR 84054 | SK1b | - | - | - |
| X51c | PRR Color Guide Vol 1 | 86 | PRR 83687 | SK1b | - | 9/76 | - |
| X51c | PRR Color Guide Vol 3 | 64 | PRR 84130 | PK | - | - | - |
| X51e | Keystone Vol 12, #2 | 20 | PRR 608068 | SK2a | - | - | - |
| X51e | Mainline Modeler, 10/97 | 40 | PRR 607997 | SK2a | - | 8/59 | - |
| X51e | Mainline Modeler, 10/97 | 41 | PRR 608378 | SK2a | - | 9/77 | Whitelined |
| X51e | Mainline Modeler, 10/97 | 43 | PRR 607606 | SK2a | - | 9/77 | - |
| X51e | Mainline Modeler, 10/97 | 43 | PRR 608378 | SK2a | - | 6/78 | poor paint |
| X51e | PC Color Guide | 42 | PC 212127 | PC | Columbus, OH | 5/72 | nee PRR 60???? |
| X51e | PRR Color Guide Vol 1 | 87 | PRR 608108 | SK2a | - | 2/80 | - |
| X51f | PRR Color Guide Vol 1 | 87 | PRR 6087 | PK | - | 6/79 | - |
| X51g | Keystone Vol 12, #2 | 21 | PRR 608935 | SK2a | - | - | - |
Equipment Diagrams online:
| Class(es) | tracing # | View |
| X51 | E-457477-B | elevation |
| X51a | E-457477-B | elevation |
| X51b | E-456611-B | elevation |
| X51c | E-456611-B | elevation |
| X51e | E-460903-A | elevation |
Plans and diagrams in print:
| Applicable Classes | Type | Publication | Page | Description | Tracing Number |
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| X51 | Class Diagram | Pennsy Car Plans | 74 |
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| X51 | Plan | Mainline Modeler-10/97 | |
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| X51,X51b,X51c | Arrangement of Lettering | PRR Compendium Vol 1 | 24 | Shadow Key - X51 shown
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| X51a | Arrangement of Lettering | PRR Compendium Vol 1 | 25 | Shadow Key - X51a
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| X51a | Arrangement of Lettering | PRR Compendium Vol 1 | 35 | Shadow Key w/ report marks - X51a
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| X51c | Class Diagram | PRR Pass. & Frt. Car Diagrams | 75 |
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| X51e,X51f,X51g,X51h | Plan | Mainline Modeler-10/97 | 44-45 | Side, top, end, underframe plans - X51E shown
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References:
- KEY 6/19 - 1959 Box Car Rebuilds (Burg, Richard)
History, photos, diagrams, roster, bibliography
Mainline Modeler, 8/97, "Pennsy's X51" Prototype information, prototype photos, plans. (Kinkaid, James-photos Rich Burg Collection)Mainline Modeler, 10/97, "Pennsy's X51 Rebuilds" Prototype information, prototype photos, plans. (Kinkaid, James-photos Rich Burg Collection)Handout, 1994 PRRT&HS convention, "Post War PRR Box cars" - proto info, kitbashing instructions. (Bley, E. LaRue, B. McGuire, B. Meacham, T.
Handout, 1997 PRRT&HS convention "PRR Box Cars" - Kitbash info (Johnson, J.M.)
