Tangent Scale Models is proud to introduce our next ALL-NEW freight car replica, the Pennsylvania Railroad (PRR) X58 Class Box Car.
Between 1964 and 1966, the Pennsylvania Railroad built a large fleet of new multiple-purpose boxcars. Constructed as class “X58,” PRR rapidly produced 2,565 cars, plus another 100 for Lehigh Valley. PRR outfitted the interiors of some cars with “loader” appliances and/or insulation which resulted in PRR designating 4 sub-classes: X58, X58A, X58B, and X58C. Being highly-useful boxcars, X58 boxcars were rampant nationwide roamers during their service life. Because of the quality and utility of this large fleet, many X58s lasted beyond the Conrail era, with some being repainted into NS, however most cars were retired in the mid-2000s.
Many X58 cars labored in original PRR paint for 30+ years. Some X58 cars were shopped and painted during the Penn Central era, where PC typically removed the roof running boards and also lowered the brake appliances and ladders. Cars typically shopped during the Conrail era had their roof running boards removed yet retained their high brake appliances. Tangent offers these “time-distinctive” phase variations with our cutting edge RTR models. The Tangent Scale Models HO scale PRR X58 replicas also include one key production variation: either a Keystone or Hydra-cushion underframe. Our PRR X58 includes our “near-scale” extended-length draft sill with beautifully-rendered side “key” detail and gorgeous “trombone-style” coupler lift bars, plus accurate ASF 70-ton roller bearing trucks as utilized by PRR. Finally, our scale replicas operate as well as they look, equipped with free-rolling CNC-machined wheels and Kadee® scale couplers, meaning our models are truly ready-to-run.
Our NEW ready-to-run replicas are available to order NOW at www.tangentscalemodels.com and will begin shipping the week of February 23, 2015. We showed and sold these in limited quantity at the Amherst Railway Society’s “Railroad Hobby Show” in Springfield MA on January 24-25, 2015. Our first stunning release includes the following four RTR paint schemes:
– PRR “Original 1965 X58” Insulated w/ DFB in the attractive “PRR freight car red” scheme wearing yellow “Insulated,” “DFB,” and “Cushioned Car” stencils. Like PRR paint practices, this car has an unpainted galvanized roof and running board, except for the ends that have the characteristic paint spray line as seen in overhead photos of these cars when fresh. Our first run of PRR painted cars has a keystone underframe and represents production from 11-65. These classics are available in six road numbers.
– PC “1973 X58 Repaint” in distinctive PC green with large worms. Our first PC variant is one of the most common PC repaints, shopped in 1973. This series of cars includes a hydra-cushion underframe, and typical of many PC repaints is detailed to accurately replicate a car with a full shopping. This model features no running board, lowered side and end ladders, and lowered brake appliances. Only with Tangent Scale Models do you get this sort of era-specific attention to detail with your boxcar modeling. Additionally, each car has tiny one inch lettering that identifies the former PRR car number each car represents. Our PC replicas are available with 6 road numbers.
– CR “1987 X58B Repaint” in the striking, 1987-correct Conrail repaint scheme. These cars feature a medium-sized “can opener” herald accurately rendered, and represent a former series of PRR cars with keystone underframes. Typical of Conrail shopped cars at the time, the roofwalk has been removed, however the brake appliances were left where PRR originally applied them: up high, with high ladders only at the B-end of the car. The A-end ladders have been lowered in accordance with Conrail shop practices. Additionally, our cars include the third door arm located in the top center of the plug door, ala prototype application. Our gorgeous Conrail scheme is available in three road numbers.
– NS “1999 X58 Repaint Class BP8” in the NS full brown repaint scheme. This series represents cars that survived beyond the Conrail split, where NS repainted some of their cars with full NS graphics starting in 1999. Like the Conrail car above, the car has high brake appliances but lowered ladders at the A-end of the car due to the lack of running board on the roof. See the photos at the Tangent website for more details. These cars lasted in service into the 2000s, and these sharp models are available in three road numbers for the modern modeler!
Additionally, we offer three RTR pre-painted undecorated cars ready for decals:
– Painted RTR “PRR Freight Car Red” cars are immediately ready for decaling! This series of cars include hydra-cushion underframes.
– Painted RTR “PC Green” cars are immediately ready for decaling! This PC variant includes a keystone underframe, and lowered brake appliances and ladders in accordance with typical PC shop practices.
– Painted RTR “Conrail Red” are available as well, ready for a decal project.
A limited supply of undecorated/unpainted kits will be offered in March 2015.
Features for Tangent’s awesome X58 box car replicas include:
– Dimensionally-correct exterior post box car with trademark 1960s design features, produced from actual PRR blueprints and from photos and measurements taken from a real X58 at the Danbury Rail Museum in Danbury CT
– Different roof, brake appliance, and side/end ladder variations correct for era / paint scheme of each paint scheme
– Two different underframe variations, hydra-cushion and keystone
– Separate door rods and door roller detail
– “See-through” running board and crossover platform
– Full “lacy” AB brake detail and train air line
– Highly correct “true to life” colors
– “Hyper-Accurate” lettering including exact fonts and lettering placement
– Durable wire grab irons and “trombone-style” coupler lift bars
– Separate air hoses
– “Near-scale” extended draft gear box with beautifully-rendered side “key” detail
– Kadee® “scale-head” couplers
– CNC-machined 33” wheels in ASF 70-ton roller bearing trucks, matching PRR practice
– Replacement 33” semi-scale wheels are available separately from Tangent
– Multiple road numbers for each scheme
– Recommended age 14 years and older
Pricing for RTR models is $44.95. High-resolution images showing these fine replicas are available at www.tangentscalemodels.com and our site also includes prototype images of each paint scheme for your reference as well.
Don’t miss out on the Tangent Scale Models PRR X58 series box car. These replicas are very useful for modelers from coast to coast and will stand out well on any layout from 1965 to 2005!
That wraps up our update for today, and thank you for supporting the family-owned businesses in our industry!
David Lehlbach