lettering for Union Pacific’s B-50-19/27 Armour Yellow Gothic 1947/56 schemes (3 options)

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 first 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. From June 1939 to November 1939, the U.P. received 1,200 class B-50-24 cars as Series 187000-188198, the O.W.R.&N. received 700 cars as Series 188300-188999 as B-50-24 class built in the UP’s Albina shops. In 1940, 1,500 B-50-27 cars were divided between O.W.R.&N. 189000-189299; O.S.L. 189400-189899 built in UP’s Albina shops; and U.P. 19000-190699 built in UP’s Grand Island and Omaha shops.

 

(This decal sheet contains enough lettering to be able to letter all of the above classes of boxcars - see over for B-50-24/27)

 

Paint & Lettering: Cars were painted with UP’s red oxide (TCP-180) including underframe and truck side frames. Beginning in July 1947, and through 1956, for new cars and repaint cars, the white Gothic lettering was replaced with all Armour Yellow stencil paste lettering. Slogans were Armour Yellow. Road of the Streamlines was always on the right side, with Serves all the West on the left side. In November 1949, the “Be Specific” slogan in the original close separation replaced “Road of the Streamliners” on the right side . In January 1951 the “Be Specic -” seperation changed to 18”. In November 1953, the “Be Specic” slogan replaced “Road of the Streamliners” on the right side. (See decal set Protocraft Decals UP B-50-19d/21d for this later scheme)

 

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/