40' PRR X23 Box Car

Prototype Information

In 1912 the Pennsylvania Railroad built its first 40-foot boxcar, the class X23. This single-sheathed car design utilized Warren-truss bracing and a fish belly underframe. These features, combined with its low roof height, gave the X23 a unique appearance which stood out in any train. PRR had over 7,000 X23s built between 1912 and 1914.

The X23 boxcars served the PRR and its subsidiary railroads very well. Over the years various improvements were made including replacing the original roof with a lap-seam roof, 2D-F8 cast trucks replacing the original arch-bar trucks, KD-Brakes being upgraded with AB-brakes, and the 3-panel Creco door being replaced with a Youngstown corrugated door. The fleet of X23s continued to soldier on into World War 2 with over 90% of the fleet still in service by January 1945. However, their hard use during the war years combined with their age meant that most cars were retired from regular service by the late 1950s. However, many X23s were retained for work equipment service and lasted well into the 1970s in this role.