Lettering for UP’s B-50-19/21 boxcars - as delivered scheme 1936-1939 Roman

From August 1936 to July 1937, the U.P.’s Omaha Shops constructed 688 Class XM class B-50-19 all-steel boxcars, as Series 182812-183499. During the same period, U.P.’s Grand Island shops built 500 B-50-19 boxcars (Series 183500-183999) .

 

From November 1937 to August 1938, the U.P.’s Omaha Shops constructed 1,000 additional Class XM cars as class B-50-21 and asssigned Series 184000-185899. 900 cars within this Series (184900-185799) were constructed at U.P.’s Albina Shops.

 

These cars closely followed U.P.’s rst all-steel design of the one-o B-50-18 test car - UP 182500. Both B-50-19 and B-50-21’s were constructed with conventional side construction and did not employ the light-weight alternate rivet side design while the B-50-22 through B-50-27 cars did.

 

These cars closely followed U.P.’s rst all-steel design of the one-o B-50-18 test car - UP 182500. Both B-50-19 and B-50-21’s were constructed with conventional side construction and did not employ the light-weight alternate rivet side design utilized with the B-50-22 through B-50-27 cars.

 

Paint & Lettering: Cars were painted with UP’s red oxide (TCP-180) including underframe and truck side frames. As-built lettering, until June 1939, was Roman style in white stencil paste. Slogans, initially white, were soon applied in Armour Yellow with the thicker S in Streamliners. The S in the slogan changed somewhat over the years but the wider S was the most common of the two varieties applied in the Roman lettering period: 1936 through May 1939. “Road of the Streamliners” was always on the right side, with “Serves all the West” on the left side. (all lettering on repaints (from June 1939+), were in Gothic Armour Yellow)

 

Decal set designed and created at Protocraft Decals with artwork by Dick Harley

Printed by Microscale Industries

 

The modeler should refer to Terry Metcalf’s “UP Freight Cars:1936-51” to more fully understand the UP’s many lettering variations. For photos and detailed lettering drawings see Dick Harley’s website: https://harley-trains.smugmug.com/UP-PLN-FRT/B-Box-Cars/