40' PS-1

There were several changes made during the 30 years that the 40' PS-1 boxcars were made, which is important to note, in order that the modeler may have an accurate model.

The first PS-1 boxcars were lot 5860, CIL, released in 1947. This particular lot was the only lot made in the 1940's to have a Murphy roof, according to the information we have. Some of the lots made in 1947 and 1948 did have welded roofs which were not used in later cars.

PS-1 boxcars made prior to 1950 had five major differences than those made from 1950 to 1953. First, the roof lacked a stiffener on the roof panel nearest each end of the car. As far as we can tell from the pictures we have at Kadee, the cars in lot 5942 and before did not have the stiffeners while cars in lot 5950 and afterwards did.

The second change is in the truck reinforcing bolster tabs on the side of the cars. From the pictures we have, the old tabs were used on lot 5920 and before and the new tabs on lot 5942 and after. We do not have pictures of lots 5931 GTW and 5936 DL&W.

On the ends of the cars, near the top are six rectangular stiffener tabs. Again, from the pictures we have, these were not used on lot 5919 and prior but were used on 5942 and later. We do not have end pictures of lots 5920 CNW, 5931 and 5936.

On lots prior to 5964 ATSF, the end grab iron is attached to the car by three points. Later grab irons were attached by four points.

On lot 5950 and prior, the end ladder was straight while in lots 5964 and later, ladders were wider at the base than at the top. We do not have end pictures for lots 5955 and 5957 CNW.

Our 4000 and 5000 series of cars would best represent cars made between 1950 and 1953, lots 5964 and lot 8144.

Between 1953 and 1954, there were several changes which were made to the 40' PS-1 boxcars. The first change which we at Kadee®have found occured in lots 8150 Central of Georgia, 8151 Savannah & Atlanta, 8159 Norfolk & Western but not 8156 FCP where the tack boards were lowered on the door and the end of the car.

The second change is found on lot 8160 which has low tack boards and the truck bolster tabs on the sides of the cars were widened. Lot 8160 was a special batch of cars with cushion underframes. The roads which received these cars were C&O (10 cars), Erie (10 cars), Great Northern (15 cars), Western Pacific (10 cars), Pennsylvania (20 cars), NYC (25 cars), BAR (5 cars), and N&W (5 cars).

The final major change is seen on the horizontal seam on the end of the cars. After lot 8160 the seam was welded while in lot 8160 and prior, the seam was riveted. We did find an exception in that lot 8221 SAL did have a riveted seam. If you know of other exceptions, please e-mail us at mail@kadee.com

The 5200 series of cars would represent cars made after lot 8160, with low tack boards, wide truck bolster tabs and welded end seams.

Some of the cars made between 1950 and 1953 as well as many of the cars made prior to 1950 had four rivets on each of the horizontal ribs on the lower half of the ends and two of the ribs on the upper half of the ends. The cars produced between 1950 and 1953 which had these rivets included lots 8039 A&WP, 8009 BS, 8030 CG, 8021 GA, 8039 GA, 5966 L&N, 5988 L&N, 8039 L&N, 8015 NC& STL, 8042 RF&P, 5994 SAL, 8029 SAL, 5995 SLSF, 8046 SLSF and 8021 WRA. Cars in our 4300 Series and 5100 series would represent cars with these rivets.

The C&O cars in lots 5983, 8017, and 8037 have the tack boards displaced to the left of the door. Because of this fact, we have not done the C&O car.

While we have tried to give accurate information, we would welcome any corrections.