Would the PRR have had defect detectors in 1953?

If you really want to make an interesting scene, cut out a little pit and put this fellow inside his inspection hooch.

Car Inspector Pit_Juniata Scales 1-17-30 by Edmund, on Flickr

This was at the East End of the Altoona yard. Hump tower in the background. Note the two nozzles that would squirt a splash of white wash on to the offending car to be set out since, It would appear, the inspector couldn’t very well read the car number, although it was usually stenciled on the truck bolster. Still too hard for him to see. These cars would most likely be sent to the RIP track.

There’s an ebay seller that offers LED flood lights very similar to the larger ones shown here. They would have to be reduced in height but I have done this and easily made new brackets for them.

Good Luck, Ed