lettering for B&LE’s 1937 AAR boxcars - as delivered 1940 scheme

The B&LE was founded in 1897 by Andrew Carnegie to haul iron ore in hopper cars from the port of Conneaut, Ohio to Carnegie steel plants in Pittsburg, PA,

and then haul coal back on the return trip. In March 1940, the B&LE acquired 800 boxcars of the 1937 AAR design with an inside height of 9’-11” and 7‘-3”,

7-panel Superior doors. Built by Greenville Steel Car Co in two groups: Series 91001-91500 delivered in March 1940; and Series 91501-91800 delivered in April

1941. (Note: In December 1960, these cars were rebuilt and renumbered by changing the rst digit from 9 to 8. Thicker oors resulted in a new inside height of 9’-9”

with the capacity reduced to 3662 cu ft. The new paint scheme employed the large 6’ round medallion. See Protocraft Decals sheet B&LE-2)

 

Paint & Lettering: Cars were painted in a bright oxide color with a noticable orange tint. Lettering all white stencil paste.

 

Decal set designed and created at Protocraft Decals based on artwork by Ted Culotta