I found this old Penn Central OS-12 40 foot boxcar, complete with Friction bearings, how ever, one end of the car has had a wall removed and the draft gear cut off. Heres a photo of the actual car, full shot Penn Central OS-12 213110, Side and here are all 12 photos that I snapped of the car, Penn Central OS-12 Boxcar Photos.
Would this car be worth presereving?
I don’t know how many of those cars are left.
Someone on here from the east coast might know, but i would say that it would be a great and worthwhile project to undertake.
The “A” end seems to be just a sheet metal replacement for the original which renders its historical value as nil. Dollar value would be the current per=ton price for scrap times 35 less the labor cost of cutting it up and transportation.
Opinion? As much as I believe in preserving RR history, i’de say scrap.
I agree with doghouse, As much as I’d like to see ALL older railroad items like
this preserved, there comes a common sense decision as to "know when to hold,
them and know when to fold them"; unfortunately, I’d say better scrapped.
[#ditto] Also, are sure it is a 40ft car? From the pics it looks like a 50ft car, and I would think that there are still a couple of those running around that are in much better shape than this example.
Bert
It’s “worth preserving” if the sacrifice in time, effort and materials is a “labor of love.”
But as for any market value, I doubt it.
So unless you have a specific use for it, like a party room or storage, probably best to leave it alone.
You documented it in slides – that is more than what other vintage rolling stock in that condition usually gets.
Maybe it’ll be like learning a new word and then happening to hear it two or three times the following week – maybe you’ll develop a talent for spotting these orphans. If you do, eventually you’ll probably luck onto something nicer. What you have is not truly much of a candidate for restoration; probably the best to hope for is rehabilitation.
Just hang loose in the meantime. There are better ways to develop preservation skills: volunteering at a railway museum, say.
Good luck wherever the hobby takes you!
For the record, the “OS-12” was probably more indicative of the auto-parts (or other) pool that the car was last used in. Its class was X51F (visible on one of your shots), which sounds like a former PRR class. Look in the upper right corner of the side and its original (PRR, no doubt) number may still be stencilled.
The current owners of this car, who have apparently appended it to their building, might not appreciate any “preservation” efforts. Preserving it in photographs is probably the best one can hope for, and you’re well on your way to doing that.
Looks like it’s not just preservation. You’re going to have to find/fabricate some replacement parts including an end. Even if the current owners are willing to sell, it doesn’t look like it can be just put back on the tracks and hauled to wherever you’re going to restore it. I think the cost on this will be excessive. My opinion is pass on it.
Enjoy
Paul
[#ditto]
I would pass on that one. Way too much work.
YES, preserve it at some other site.
What is easier, build a reproduction or restore the original?
It can be used as storage or house a historical exhibit.
Andrew
Based on the information on the car, it appears to be a PRR X51F 50’ boxcar, once equipped for autoparts service. IAW the site below, it was likely built in the early 60’s.
http://prr.railfan.net/freight/classpage.html?class=X51
Getting a “new” end shouldn’t be a serious problem - although I’m not one that can tell the different brands of car ends apart. Very possibly the same would be true of the draft gear.
Whether it’s worth it to restore it depends on your motive. Boxcars aren’t as ‘sexy’ as locomotives and cabeese. The idea of using it for a classroom or a display area deserves merit, but you would also have to include applicability in your decision. Would this car, or one like it, have been seen on the rails in the area in its heyday?