Lettering for UP’s A-50-14/15 50’ autocars - as delivered scheme 1936-1939 Roman

In September/October 1937, the U.P.’s Grand Island Shops built 100, 50’ autocars as Class A-50-14. This class did not have end doors, and were assigned road numbers as Series 154100-15199. These were renumbered into 454000-454099 series when Evans Auto Racks were installed.

 

In April 1938, the UP’s Grand Island shops built 200, 50’ autocars with end doors as Class A-50-15, as Series 15200-154399 , and in September 1938, 100 cars as Series 16100-16199. When modied for Evans auto loading racks - indicated by the white strip on the right door - , cars were renumbered into 454400-454799 series . These cars were unique in that the thinner light-weight sides were constructed with a twin-alternating rivet pattern to give it the required shear strength.

 

Paint & Lettering: Cars were painted UP red-oxide including truck side frames: TCP 180. Underbody was either red-oxide or coated with black car cement. Be sure to add some TCP-179 gray to replicate normal oxidation after the car has been exposed to the elements for a period of time. Wheels were unpainted and allowed to rust and gather a coating of axle grease and road grime.

 

Slogans were introduced in 1936. Lettering was white stencil paste and initially including slogans. Reporting marks for the B end are 4”; A end with doors 3”. Two inch are for truck bolsters facing towards ends. Within 2 years, slogans were Armour yellow. The slogan “Serves All The West” was on the left side, and “Road of the Steamliners” on the right. 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.

 

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/