Lettering for B-50-32/33 - WWII Lettering scheme

Between April, 1941, the UP built 2,000 Modi.ed 1937 AAR design box cars in their Omaha shops. These were Class B-50-32. Assigned as Series 191000-192999. The second group Class B-50-33, consisting of 749 cars were identical to the B-50-32, and were delivered in June 1942; assigned as Series 193000-193748. As delivered, lettering was all white with no slogans on the right side. Later, the slogan “Serves All The West” was added on the left side, and “Road of the Steamliners” on the right side, both in Armour yellow. Photos of B-50-32’s are almost non-existant, therefore, follow the placement of lettering for the B-50-33 and 105300 below.

The modeler should refer to Terry Metcalf’s “UP Freight Cars:1936-51 to more fully understand the UP’s many lettering variations.

Paint & Lettering: Cars were painted UP red-oxide including truck side frames: TCP 925. Underbody was either red-oxide or coated with black car cement. Wheels were unpainted and allowed to rust and gather a coating of axle grease and road grime. Lettering designed and sized at Protocraft Decals with artwork by Ted Culotta