1941 AAR 50-ton 53′ 6″ Flat Car

O Scale Models:
Chooch #674 Pullman Flat Car – Ultra Scale line of resin cars.
Wiseman Model Services appears to be producing a similar kit.

The History:
The American Association of Railroads (AAR) Committee on Car Construction established a standard for 53’ 6” flat cars based upon a 1941 Pullman-Standard Company design. The earliest users of this design were the Chicago Great Western, Monon, Soo and UP. The design established a new standard for deck height of 42” which was lower than previous car designs. This feature would permit taller loads without exceeding established clearance limits. It also had a much wider deck extending beyond the fishbelly sides. Twenty railroads built 2532 cars to this basic design.

The car spanned a long period of operation ranging from 1941 to the 1980’s. Some roads converted these cars into piggyback carriers or fitted them with bulkheads for building materials. Many of the cars ended up in maintenance of way service after a long revenue life.

Following chart from Chooch website:

Roster of 53′ 6″ Flat Cars
Owner Number Series # Built Year Built Builder
Atlantic Coast Line 77000-77099 172 1943 Greenville
77172-77471 300 1943 Pullman
Chesapeake & Ohio 80625-80724 100 1944 Ralston
Chicago Great Western 3800-3899 100 1940 Pullman
3900-3999 100 1944 Pullman
C I & L (Monon) 7000-7059 60 1941 Pullman
7201-7250 50 1944 Greenville
C&NW 44001-44599 300 1946 Mt. Vernon
45601-46099 250 1942 Pullman
46101-46599 250 1944 Pullman
Clinchfield 10100-10149 50 1946 AC&F
D&RGW 22000-22199 200 1944 Mt. Vernon
22200-22249 50 1951 RR Shops
EJ&E 6375-6574 200 1942 Ralston
6575-6774 200 1947 AC&F
I-GN (Missouri Pacific) 8500-8599 100 1943 AC&F
Illinois Terminal 100-1149 50 1945 AC&F
Kansas City Southern 1000-1199 200 1954 AC&F
Louisville & Nashville 21000-21099 100 1943 AC&F
2100-21399 300 1947 Greenville
Minneapolis & St. Louis 23501-23799 150 1945 RR Shops
23801-23999 100 1952 GATC
Nickel Plate Road 3000-3049 50 1942 Pullman
Northern Pacific 62000-62299 300 1943 AC&F
Rock Island 91100-91599 500 1951 Pullman
Soo Line 5201-5399 100 1941 Pullman
St. L SW (Cotton Belt) 8500-85074 75 1955 Greenville
85075-85124 50 1957 Greenville
Union Pacific 57000-57299 300 1941 Pullman
Western Maryland 2301-2325 25 1943 AC&F

* Information off of the Chooch website