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Peter's Model Railroading | The PRR Chartiers Branch | Equipment
FM

PRR Class:

FM

Purpose:

flat car

Built:

1902 through 1913

Total Built:

3,500

Length:

40'

Width:

9'3"

Weight:

39,000lbs

Load:

100,000lbs

Color:

Tuscan (freight-car red)

Trucks:

2D-F1 (archbar), later 2D-F2, 2D-F8


(source web site is now gone)

These cars were made out of pressed steel. They had wood decking. The PRR flat car decking was usually made out of unpainted, untreated oak wood. Initially, a vertical brake wheel was found on both ends, but eventually one was removed.

Prototype photos of the plain car are hard to find. There are, however, quite a few photos of the cars modified to carry less-than-carload (LCL) containers. These had brackets installed on the ends, and the stake pockets removed. Starting in the late-1920s, some of these cars were converted into container service. In October 1950, the LCL container service was terminated, and all remaining flat cars were converted back to their original intent.

References