What is a K7 Stock Car?

[bearman]

And how is it different from your regular old every day, run-of-the-mill stock car?

[dti406]

K7 is the class given to a stock car that is made to a certain plan of the PRR. Other railroads may have a car built to that same plan, but it may have that railroads class designation or no class designation.

As another example the PRR had X48 boxcars, that were actually Pullman Standard PS-1 40' boxcars, but to the PRR they were X48's.

Rick Jesionowski

[bearman]

Then that begs one final question, when was it first produced.  I have a line on a 4-pack but if it is post 1960 it won't work for me.

[dti406]

The first plans were issued in 1912, as of 1944 there were still around 1,400 still in service with 117 still in service in 1958, all were gone by the PC merger in 1968.

Rick

[dknelson]

I found a photo of a K7A class stock car in the book "The Cars of the Pennsylvania Railroad" by Wayner Publications.

It looks rather like a single sheathed box car in that there are verticle and diagonal metal supports on the outside (sometimes called "outside braced"), wood slats inside.  PRR 135499.  Blt date is 7-13 and it shows it has the old 'K' brake system.  It is a direct side view so I cannot see the ends but my bet is they are wood ends.  What is interesting is that the trucks (similar to the so called Bettendorf, not arch bar or Andrews) have one leaf spring and one coil spring.  

This particular example of the K7A is a double deck stock car so presumably suited for hogs, sheep and other smaller animals.  The notes say that both types had the same general exterior appearance.

The Pennsy also had K9 stock cars ... but they weren't for carrying dogs.

Dave Nelson

[doctorwayne]

it looks like Rick and Dave have answered your question, and the cars are appropriate for a pre-'60s layout.
Another choice might be Bowser's K-9 and/or K-11 stockcars.  I liked the look of them, and had intended to buy a couple, but discovered that they're too modern for my late '30s-era railroad.  The earliest of the prototypes appear to date from the very late '50s.

Wayne

[dehusman]

K7 is a PRR class designation.  That is a code that describes a certain design of a car.  Most railroads had class codes, but there were no standards between railroads.

K is the PRR code for "stock car".  

7 is the 7th order of stock cars, the seventh design.

For example the PRR used "X" for boxcar classes and X29 was the 29th design, X31 was the 31st design or order.  

Railroads might also put sub-letters on the codes so a X31a is a variant of an X31 design.

Other railroads used other code patterns, like the length and the design.  A B50-6 might be the sixth design of a 50 ft boxcar.

[wjstix]

I suspect you're looking at the BLI stockcars. As noted, Broadway Limited (BLI) based their HO stockcar model on the Pennsylvania RR K-7 stockcar, but also offer it in a number of other roadnames. Although it's a specific PRR design, many railroads had cars that were somewhat similar.

 

[bearman]

Yes, Wjstx, I have my eye on the CP 4 pack.  And Doc Wayne, absolutely, my questions were answered and the K7's will work on my layout.  

I did a google search but did not come up with the era or the reason why the car was labeled K7.

[dknelson]

bearman

I did a google search but did not come up with ... the reason why the car was labeled K&.

Heh - look at your keyboard and the answer becomes more clear.  Someone hit the shift key.

Dave Nelson

[bearman]

Dave, that someone was me.  

[BEAUSABRE]

BLI advertises they come with "Cattle" and "Hog" sounds (presumably the later is a double decker car). I don't want to be around when the next great leap in model railroading comes about, "authenic stock car smells". BTW, my dad's first job after graduating high school was as a laborer for the L&A in Greenville, TX. His first assignment was to clean out a bunch of empty stock cars left baking in the summer sun of Texas. Grandma wouldn't let him back in the house, he had to strip and wash himself down with a hose in back yard. 

[doctorwayne]

BEAUSABRE

...I don't want to be around when the next great leap in model railroading comes about, "authenic stock car smells...

They were actually available at one time, perhaps in the '70s, from a company called Olfactory Airs, I believe, from Micros Corp.

There's some comments on it to be found HERE.

Wayne

[doctorwayne]

dehusman

...K is the PRR code for "stock car". 7 is the 7th order of stock cars, the seventh design....

bearman

I did a google search but did not come up with the era or the reason why the car was labeled K7.

I have heard, from a good source, that the name was derived from the fact that the car could hold 7 Kows at a time, those being quite large, as indicated the capital "K". 

Wayne

[SeeYou190]

I have noticed that resin model kit manufacturers almost always put the class numbers/letters on B&O, PRR, and ATSF freight cars. Not so much on other roadnames.

-Photograph by Kevin Parson

-Kevin

[BEAUSABRE]

doctorwayne

I have heard, from a good source, that the name was derived from the fact that the car could hold 7 Kows at a time, those being quite large, as indicated the capital "K".  Wayne

I call BS on that. PRR already had the letters S, T, O and C assigned, so K was what was left

PRR rolling stock class letters

 

A, TM, TP	Tank car diagrams
F	Flat car diagrams
G	Gondola diagrams
G, H	Hopper car diagrams
K	Stock car diagrams
R	Reefer car diagrams
X, L	Boxcar diagrams
-	Container diagrams
-	Freight car truck diagrams

 

Non Revenue equipment diagrams

Y	Test weight car diagrams
S	Polling car diagrams
-	Crane diagrams
W	Derrick diagrams
U	Side dump car diagrams
H	Hand car diagrams
-	Tower car diagrams
T	Tool car diagrams
N	Cabin car diagrams
-	Miscellaneous car diagrams
-	Wheel and Axle diagrams

 

Locomotive diagrams
      Electric Locomotive diagrams
      Diesel Locomotive diagrams
      Steam Locomotive diagrams
      Tender diagrams
      Tender truck diagrams

Passenger car diagrams

 

-	Passenger car notes
B	Baggage car diagrams
BD	Baggage dormitory car diagrams
BM	Baggage mail car diagrams
C	Parlor car diagrams
D	Diner diagrams
HP	Head end power car diagrams
E	Express car diagrams
M	Mail car (RPO) diagrams
O	Combine car diagrams
P	Passenger (coach) diagrams
PB	Passenger baggage car diagrams
PBM	Passenger baggage mail car diagrams
PC	Passenger cafe car diagrams
PD	Passenger dormitory car diagrams
PDB	Passenger dormitory baggage car diagrams
PLC	Passenger lounge car diagrams
PLB	Passenger lounge baggage car diagrams
POC	Cafe observation car diagrams
POS	Sleeper observation car diagrams
PP	Parlor car diagrams
PS	Sleeper (Pullman) car diagrams
R	Reefer (passenger service) car diagrams
Z	Business car diagrams
MP	Motor passenger car diagrams
MPB	Motor passenger baggage car diagrams
MPBM	Motor passenger baggage mail car diagrams
MB	Motor baggage car diagrams
MBM	Motor baggage mail car diagrams
T	MU trailer car diagrams
OEG,       OEW,       GEW	Gas/Oil Electric Motor car diagrams
-	Passenger car truck diagrams

[cv_acr]

SeeYou190

I have noticed that resin model kit manufacturers almost always put the class numbers/letters on B&O, PRR, and ATSF freight cars. Not so much on other roadnames.

Probably because not all railroads even had class systems for their freight cars. No Canadian roads ever did. CN and CP had detailed class systems for their locomotives though.

[garya]

BEAUSABRE

Wayne I call BS on that. PRR already had the letters S, T, O and C assigned, so K was what was left

Whoosh

[doctorwayne]

garya

BEAUSABRE Wayne I call BS on that. PRR already had the letters S, T, O and C assigned, so K was what was left

Yes, and I do admit that it was a Bad Story.

garya

Whoosh

I take it that that's the royal flush?

Wayne