In 1945, the Pennsylvania created a lightweight 50' boxcar unique in appearance, all welded and with slightly excess height, the X41 series. The use of sheet steel only .07" thick welded to vertical posts every 2' yeilded a car side with a mass of wrinkles. The interior height of 10'8" added to the massive appearance. The X41's were the PRR's last major home design.
Types of trucks used:
| Class | Car | Numbers | Truck Class | Truck Name | Qty cars: |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| X41 | 84536 | 84825 | 2D-F26 | A.S.F. Ride control | 290 |
| X41 | 2D-F26 | A.S.F. A-3 ride control | |||
| X41a | 81890 | 82089 | 2D-F26 | A.S.F. Ride control | 200 |
| X41a | 2D-F26 | A.S.F. A-3 ride control | |||
| X41a | 2D-F26a | A.S.F. A-3 ride control | |||
| X41b | 118491 | 118740 | 2D-F19A | A.S.F. Ride control | 250 |
| X41b | 118741 | 118765 | 2D-F29 | Symington-Gould, Chrysler design | 25 |
| X41b | 118766 | 118790 | 2D-F30 | Symington-Gould, Type "XL" | 25 |
| X41b | 118791 | 119490 | 2D-F19A | A.S.F. Ride control | 700 |
| X41b | 119491 | 119990 | 2D-F26A | A.S.F. Ride control type A-3 | 500 |
| X41b | 2D-F26a | A.S.F. A-3 ride control | |||
| X41c | 84826 | 85325 | 2D-F26A | A.S.F. Ride control type A-3 | 500 |
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Truck data is from PRR documents circa 1940's. Other truck classes may also have been used. |
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| X41 | 84536 | 84825 | XAP XP XM XMP | - | 289 | 288 | 288 | 288 | 285 | 223 |
| X41a | 81890 | 82089 | XM | - | 200 | 199 | 199 | 197 | 195 | 79 |
| X41b | 118491 | 119990 | XM XML XL XMP XP | - | 1500 | 1496 | 1493 | 1483 | 1317 | 217 |
| X41c | 84826 | 85325 | XAP XM XML | - | 500 | 498 | 498 | 495 | 492 | 388 |
| X41d | 97910 | 97974 | XM | - | - | - | - | - | - | 65 |
| X41e | 89100 | 89999 | XM XP | - | - | - | - | - | 155 | 758 |
| X41f | 96117 | 96489 | XM | - | - | - | - | - | - | 340 |
| X41f | 81890 | 82089 | XP | - | - | - | - | - | - | 47 |
| X41h | 84536 | 84825 | XM | - | - | - | - | - | - | 54 |
| X41h | 84826 | 85325 | XM | - | - | - | - | - | - | 77 |
| X41k | 118491 | 119990 | XL XM | - | - | - | - | - | - | 122 |
| Roster data compiled by Rich Orr; source prr.railfan.net. | ||||||||||
The X41
The 300 X41 cars had double doors.
This model has been produced by Sunshine Models (out of business).
The X41A
The 200 X41A's had double doors with an end door to facilitate the loading of automobiles, prior to the advent of bi-level and tri-level rack cars. By the early 1960s half of the X41A's had been rebuilt into X41D's and X41F's.
This model has been produced by Sunshine Models (out of business).
The X41B
The 1500 X41B's had single doors.
Within the second order of X41's in 1947, were 300 cars specifically for less-than-carload (LCL) service. These X41B's got Steins load retainers, an interior rack system that protected mixed cargo from the damage of stacking and of shifting enroute. For advertising purposes, the LCL cars got a board aluminum band, bordered above and below by white stripes. The circle keystone was dramatically enlarged and given a bright red background, aluminum border, a white keystone and red PRR monogram. In the left side band were the words "Merchandise Service".
This model has been produced by Sunshine Models (out of business).
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The X41C
The 500 X41C's with double doors were nearly identical to the X41. Orders were completed in 1948.
The X41D
The X41E
With the loss of LCL and the discontinuance of Merchandise Service, by 1963 the PRR converted over one thousand X41B box cars to class X41E. The single doors were replaced with double doors.
The X41F
Around 1966, many X$1A were converted to X41F. They received veneer subfloors and the roof walks were removed. The corrugated end doors were replaced with sheet metal doors.
The X41G
The X41H
The X41K
One hundred twenty-two X41B cars were converted to class X41K in 1966. Side sills were reinforced to handle heavier loads. The roof walks were removed and the side ladders were shortened.
