Penn Central Rolling Stock 1980s

[conrail1973]

Good Morning,

I was doing an inventory of my rolling stock, and I noticed I  have quite a bit of PC 50' boxcars and 3 bay covered hoppers.  If I were modeling a time period between 1983-1985, was there an abundance of these cars left in PC paint?  I'm trying to figure out a ratio of the proper amount of CR freight cars vs. PC freight on my layout.

Thanks,

Adam

[Ed Kapuscinski]

There were definitely plenty.

I'm sure you already have, but perusing http://conrailphotos.thecrhs.org/ConrailEquipment/FreightCars might help figure it out.

And once you've got a good idea, it'd be awesome to have a write up for the Conrail Quarterly: http://www.thecrhs.org/contributors

[ai5629]

Good Morning,

I was doing an inventory of my rolling stock, and I noticed I  have quite a bit of PC 50' boxcars and 3 bay covered hoppers.  If I were modeling a time period between 1983-1985, was there an abundance of these cars left in PC paint?  I'm trying to figure out a ratio of the proper amount of CR freight cars vs. PC freight on my layout.

Thanks,

Adam

I model Conrail during a June 1984 era, so we are looking at the same time frame.  With Penn Central equipment, it depends on the class of car as to whether or not you can have many PC representatives or very few.  In your time frame of 1983-1985, there were plenty of freight cars still in PC paint.  Cars like the H56a and X72a had no more than 50% of the class repainted by the early/mid 80’s.  Cars like the X71, X74 and X75 had 90% of the class repainted or painted out by the mid 80’s.  Your best option is to acquire an ORER for the time frame you model.  They show up on EBay, so look there and you will eventually find one.  Thanks.

Jeff

[prr7161]

One car type to consider for PC is open hoppers.  There were tons of them lurking in PC lettering even into the '90s.

[conrail1973]

I appreciate the feedback and answers!  I am watching a few ORER guides on eBay right.  Once I do some research, I could definitely submit a write up for the Conrail Quarterly @Ed Kapuscinski .

[cv_acr]

I have a 1986 ORER and it has about 11 pages of PC listings, plus 2 1/2 pages of PRR and about a page and a quarter of NYC.

Also nearly 2 pages of RDG, 2 1/2 of EL and about a quarter page of LV listings. There'a also precisely 10 cars listed under ERIE, 4 for NH, 12 B&A, 16 CNJ, a single solitary DL&W car in the 18000 series and one remaining RR box.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

I appreciate the feedback and answers!  I am watching a few ORER guides on eBay right.  Once I do some research, I could definitely submit a write up for the Conrail Quarterly @Ed Kapuscinski .

Awesome!!

[cv_acr]

In your time frame of 1983-1985, there were plenty of freight cars still in PC paint.

Of course there's three different variations:

1 - Still in original paint/marks
2 - Previous paint but patched CR
3 - Repainted CR

ORER checks can tell you a lot about #1 (although there could still be stuff painted PRR or NYC and patched for PC....) but not distinguish between 2 and 3.