Operating Era: 1914-1953.
Union Pacific, Grand Trunk Western. The A-50-4 was the first all-steel 50-foot auto car ever built and the first use of outward corrugated
ends known to us. The cars had radial roofs, full A end doors and stringer pockets on the sides
which folded down to carry a second deck. 601 cars were delivered to UP in 1914; 600 were
transferred to Oregon Short Line in 1919. The radial roofs proved unsuitable and were replaced
by peaked ones in 1929. Power handbrakes were applied in 1941. The cars were leased to
Grand Trunk Western during World War II, returned to UP and ran into the 1950's.
Kit 1101 covers the radial roof versions. Kit 1100 is the same kit minus decals. Kit 1151 covers
the peaked versions in white Roman, white Gothic and yellow Gothic lettering schemes. You
may also want to check 5800 series kits, the successor A-50-6 class, and 5900 series kits, the
B-50-20 box car conversions of the A-50-6.
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