3DP Train HO-Scale Pressed Steel Car P&LE Gondola Kit (Jan 1911)

This car  ran on the P&LE and the PMcK&Y. They were built in 1901 and 1902 by Pressed Steel Car Co. and ran until about 1925, with a handful lasting a couple years after that.

Riding on the success of the designs of its predecessor, Schoen Pressed Steel Company, the Pressed Steel Car Company of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania began building some of the first universal steel freight cars in 1899. A standard 37-foot hopper-bottom gondola was designed in 1901, and so far as we can tell, three railroads purchased this design: Pittsburgh and Lake Erie, its affiliate, the Pittsburgh, McKeesport and Youghiogheny, and the Rio Grande Western. These cars rode on Pressed Steel’s distinctive Diamond arch-bar trucks. The hopper bottom gondola was quickly phased out by the PSC Company’s next development, the 36-foot steel drop bottom gondola introduced in 1906, which was the basis for the USRA “General Service” gondola standards.

1,000 units were split evenly between the P&LE and the PMcK&Y during 1901 and 1902. They held P&LE numbers 5900-6399 and PMcK&Y numbers 15000-15499. These cars featured cushioned striker plates that later disappeared from Pressed Steel’s offerings. Photos suggest these were deemed unnecessary and removed as the cars were shopped at some point prior to 1911, so our safety-appliance version doesn’t have these features.

These cars were probably painted black. The “New York Central Lines” herald was to be applied to self-clearing hoppers, gondolas and double deck stock cars, effective January 31st, 1905 (Link). At this time, the “R.R.” stenciling was removed from the reporting marks. In addition, the road number was placed underneath the reporting marks. At some point prior to 1915, a block of updated weight, capacity and build date stenciling was placed under the road number; it probably remained there until these cars were retired. Official Railway Equipment Register entries indicate that the P&LE either retired or sold off most of its fleet during 1924. In May 1925, 5 cars remained on the P&LE. 2 cars remained in April 1926. On the PMcK&Y, 5 cars remained in January 1925 and 2 cars remained by April 1926. All were off the roster by 1930.

Trucks are include with the kit.

Couplers and Wheels Available Separately and Must Be Selected!!

May take up to 6 weeks as each order is made on demand.

MSRP $45.00 NYCSHS Member Price $40.50 and that is 10% off MSRP.