lettering for NYC’s 50’ automobile cars - 1939-1955 scheme

Beginning in December, 1939, the NYC’s Despatch Shops (Despatch Transportation Corp) built 1,100, 50’ double-door automobile/furniture cars for the NYC. With the maximum approved AAR height of 10’-6”, the cars had 5/5 Dreadnaught ends with the new stronger round (W) corner construction, Universal Power hand brakes and wood running boards. Unique to a small group of cars produced at this time were the additonal edge under the Murphy raised panel roof, creating double-lapped edges as a further step to prevent moisture seepage.

Series 62000-62299, 300 cars, Despatch Shops order #764. NYC Lot 678-B - delivered December 1939 (renumbered to 74000-74299 in 1958)
Series 62300-62599, 300 cars, Despatch Shops order #772. NYC Lot 694-B - delivered April 1941 (renumbered to 74300-74599 in 1958)
Series 64000-64499, 500 cars, Despatch Shops order #777. NYC Lot 701-B - delivered August 1941 (renumbered to 83000-85000 in 1947)

Paint & Lettering: Cars painted with NYC red-brown: TCP-221. Underbody and truck side frames coated with black car cement. Wheels and axles left unpainted and allowed to rust and gather road grime. Lettering all white stencil paste.

Note: Up until mid-1944 to 1945, cars were stenciled without the black background in the 48-3/8” x 32-1/2” NYC oval. At the end of this period and up until the modernized scheme was adopted in 1955, NYC went back to having a black background in the oval.

Decal set designed and created at Protocraft Decals
Printed by Microscale Industries