lettering set for X29 Merchandise Service boxcars - 1950/54 scheme

Between 1924 and 1928, the Pennsylvania built, or had built, 29,656 Class X-29 boxcars, which made up approximately one third of the PRR’s boxcar inventory. In 1926, 21,000 were rebuilt and renumbered to the 90633-92500, 93995-96126, 97949-99999, 502000-505948 and 566091-574090 series. In 1950, 4,500 X-29B’s were rebuilt and a few hundred assigned to the new Merchandise Service for LCL (Less than car load) service. The all white band in this lettering set was the second MS scheme to be applied.

Many of the cars remained in revenue service up through the 1960’s. The X-29 became a landmark design and copies were delivered to the B&O, W&LE, CNJ, L&NE, B&M and MEC. The cars were painted with the PRR’s oxcide red paint (Floquil Oxide Red), including truck siderames, (wheels left unpainted and allowed to gather road grime) with white stencil paste lettering. Decal sheet created and designed at Protocraft Decals