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Photo by Kermit Geary Jr

Lehigh Valley X65 50 ft boxcars

The Prototype

The Valley's first 50 ft exterior-post boxcars were PRR X58's, acquired in 1965 and painted white with black lettering and a red flag logo.  LV 7100-7139 were insulated RBL's while LV 8200-8259 were uninusulated XL's.  In 1969, the Valley added more 50' exterior post boxcars, but this time they were built by the former NYC's Despatch Shops, arrived in PC green paint with white lettering, and were designated X65 by the Penn Central, which controlled the Lehigh Valley.  Following the pattern of the X58's, LV 7140-7189 were RBL's and 8300-8399 were XL's. 

While the X58 and X65 had a similar appearance, there were a number of differences besides the paint schemes.  The X58's had 8 posts on either side of the centered 10'-6" plug door, while the X65's had 7 posts.  The X58's were delivered with running boards and high mounted brake wheels, had Stanray roof panels with stamped diagonal reinforcements, and improved Dreadnaught ends.  The X65's were delivered without running boards and had low mounted brake wheels and Despatch roofs and ends.  There were no exterior differences between the RBL's and XL's in each class other than the stenciling indicating their type.

The Proposed Model

For years the Athearn "50' outside braced plug door boxcar" has been available painted as both the white LV X58 and the green LV X65, but it is not accurate for either.  Rail Yard Models offers a very accurate and finely detailed model of the X58, with resin body and photoetched brass details, but there is still no accurate model of the X65. 

We are working with Modeler's Choice to have laser-cut styrene sides produced for the X65, to be used with Branchline Despatch roof and ends (included in their 50' undecorated AAR plug door boxcar kit), and an Accurail 50' underframe.  We will try to package all the parts together as a kit, but we may have to offer only the car sides and decals and leave the modeler to obtain the Branchline and Accurail parts.  Timing is unknown, since Modeler's Choice is a small part-time operation, and has new kits of their own to produce.