Pennsy Baggage-Express Car?

[wabash2800]

I am modeling a connecting road in the early 1950s at Fort Wayne, Indiana and would like to put a Pennsy Baggage-Express car in my passenger train interchanged with the Pennsy. (Head-end cars on foreign roads were very common.) How correct is the Walthers HO, B60B car in color and lettering for the time period I'm modeling? I'm calling on Pennsy modelers who know their stuff and/or any photographic (color) proof. The last thing I want to find out after spending that kind of money on a car is that it's s a fooby or it needs to be repainted.

Thanks in Advance

Victor A. Baird

Fort Wayne, Indiana

[gmpullman]

Victor,

I cannot qualify myself as an expert of any kind, I defer to others. However there have been articles in the Keystone Modeler if you can get issue #29 pg. 25 there is a review and in issue 31 pg. 21 there is hints on how to add details to the cars.

For a quick overview that may be helpful, look here:

http://www.atsfrr.com/Reviews/HO/Passenger/Walthers/B60B/Index.htm

I have seen the B60bs in many photos and movies and very few have ever looked like they had ever been through a wash rack so color was more of a sooty, rust color rather than clean Tuscan red. 

They had been closeout priced at Walthers in the neighborhood of $30.

There's still three available here for $40.

http://www.modeltrainstuff.com/Walthers-Proto-HO-60-B60B-Baggage-Car-PRR-p/920-17243.htm

To my untrained eye they look very accurate. I have examples from the post War with olive trucks all the way up to Penn-Central with Deep Sea Green body and white lettering. If you would like me to photograph any details for you let me know.

Have fun! Ed

[ndbprr]

Since the b60b cars were mostly mail, rea and other priorities they were cut off before the trains went through washers and were very grungy. The early paint scheme with green trucks is not appropriate for your time frame. The other two schemes are. Also consider the r50b express car which is more of a streamlined box car and appropriate. Check keystone crossings web site which lists which cars have prototypes and which are foobies

[wabash2800]

Thanks for the information and the links. The messsenger star note is helpful. I am going to order two different cars, one with the standard doors and the other with the portholes for variety and weather and paint to suit.

Victor A. Baird

Fort Wayne, Indiana