PENNSYRR.COM by Jerry Britton

X41b MS A34 color BillLane

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:

ClassCarNumbersTruck ClassTruck NameQty 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

Truck data is from PRR documents circa 1940's. Other truck classes may also have been used.
Source: prr.railfan.net.

 

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
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

X41 box car 84805 auto parts service for auto panels side view

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

X41b MS A34 color BillLane

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).

X41B car 118753 34 view X41B car 118753 side view

 


The X41C

PRR X41c 84945 34view

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.