New York Central had Pullman build 200 flat cars in April 1960. These cars had a 70-ton capacity and were 53 feet 6 inches long. They were numbered 506000 to 506199. The Rochester & Genesee Valley Railroad Museum rosters NYC506102 which was donated by Conrail to the museum in 1999, arriving at the museum in July 1999. The car was last stored by Conrail in Olean, NY where it had been set aside for having a bad wood deck.
The New York Central cars were a redesign of the PS-4 flat which Pullman had designed as a flexible flat car platform which saw cars built from 48′ 6″ to 60′ long made for seven different railroads. Some of the cars even included bulkheads at either end. The NYC cars had 14 stake pockets alternating with Azee lading band anchors every 3′ 8″ on center down the side of the car. The deck was comprised of 2 3/8″ thick by 5 1/2″ wide wood boards except for steel plates from the bolsters out to the end of the car.
The R&GVRRM plans to restore their car to its as built New York Central appearance including a brand new deck since the old deck was rotted and has been removed. For now, the museum has been using the car’s 70 ton capacity to aid in the movement of rail stored near the museum’s restoration shop down to the museum’s new siding west of the LA&L where the rail will be used to build the siding.
Technical Data
- nee-New York Central 506102
- ex-Penn Central ex-Conrail 715424
- Builder: Pullman Standard, Michigan City, Indiana
- Model: PS-4 flat car
- Class: From NYC506000 to 506199(200 cars)
- Capacity: 70-ton
- Length: 53′ 6″
- Built: 4-1960
Modeling info
- Mainline Modeler, May 1999 & June 1999 “Pullman Standard PS-4 Flat Car” by James Kinkaid