Southern Pacific B-100-39

Description

In January of 1977, PC&F built 200 of these 60’9″, 7348 cu ft Plate F boxcars for the Southern Pacific. These boxcars featured DF crossbar loaders, Hydra cushion underframes, and a “door and a half” configuration with a 16′ total door opening. But what separated these cars from the pack was the unique oval pressed panel sides that enabled the interior rack loading systems, giving them the nickname “Popsicles”.

These boxcars were classified as B-100-39 on the Espee and traveled all over North America from 1977 to today. Initially in assigned service, these cars eventually entered general service and could be found all over North American rail network. Most recently they have been used to haul waste paper products to recycling centers in Mexico.

Many of these cars went on to operate under different owners over the years. Up to 45 cars went to GVSR 139000-139044 under the Golden West Service program in the early 1990s. All of these cars were subsequently restored to their original SP number but still in faded blue Golden West paint. One car went to Conrail as CR 222702 in 1995, reportedly in exchange for a car damaged on an SP train to maintain an equipment pool car numbers. Six cars also went to AM numbers 1700-1705 in late 1996 (These cars are now patched to SIRX). Eight cars also went to IOCR as 4000-4006 and 4008 in mid-1998.

Of the 200 cars originally built, only a handful of B-100-39’s remain active as they near their 50th year in service. These remaining cars still roam the system in random assignments in between stints of storage while they run out their final years of service before the FRA-mandated 50 year retirement rule.

Kit includes;

• One piece body with pre drilled holes
• Separate ladders produced from high density resin
• Trainline/air hoses following the prototype design produced in our Flexy resin
• Cut levers to prototype design also made using our Flexy resin
• Coupler draft gear in high density resin. Strength tested over Tehachapi at the La Mesa Club
• Brass threaded inserts for all screw mounts
• 2-56 screws

Not included; trucks, brake wheel and extended shank Kadee couplers.

CAD design by Keystone Prototype Models

Decals by RailTrain Hobbies