Boston & Maine 50500 Series Box Cars

Index

Builder's Photo
Classification Card(s) for series
Specifications
ORER data
ORER Notes
Discussion, General Notes
Paint Schemes
References
Photographs
Renumberings/Conversions/Dispositions
Modeling
Revision History of this page

Builder's Photo

Does one exist?

B&M Rock (CRI&P) Equipment Diagram

Rock Island Technical Society, courtesy of Steve Hile. Used with permission
Click on image to see legible PDF

Equipment Diagram

Spec Value
Builder Pullman Standard Car Mfg Co.
Reconditioned & leased from U.S.Ry.Eq.Co. Prog[ram?] No. E-8
Lot # PS: 8385
Car Numbers 50500-50563 (originally 64350-64449, many reconditioned to other series)
Quantity 63
Build Date 1958
Reconditioned 1976
AAR class XM
Cubic Cap'y 4825 Cu. Ft.
Underframe Welded 2-12 ¹⁵⁄₁₆" 2-26 @ 41.2# Ctr sill
Superstructure Stl Framed .10" O.H.S. Stl Sh'd [Open Hearth Steel?]
Ends O.H.S. Corr. Pullman Design; Pull.-Std
Roof #14 GA. Pullman Riveted Design; Pull.-Std
Doors Welded Steel Pullman Design; Pull.-Std
[Kind-of like a Superior door, but with a "crease" down the middle of each panel]
Brake Step Metal "Weldforged"; U.S. Gyp. Co.
Hand Brake A.A.R. Cert. Vert. Whl.; Universal
Body Brake AB 10-12; W.A.B.
Draft Gear A.A.R. Cert. 24⅝" pocket
Coupler 6¼" x 8" Shank Type E; Rotary
Coupler Yoke A.A.R. C.S. Vert; Key-connected
Coupler Release (Bott. Opening) Rotary
Body Weight 42220 lbs
Truck Weight 14280 lbs
Lt Weight 56500 lbs
Truck Info
Trucks Ride Control A-3
Journals 5½" x 10"
Side Frame Cast Steel Integral Box
Bolster Cast Steel
Brake Beam A.A.R. #18; Unit
Side Bearings Roller
Springs A.A.R. 2½" travel
Wheels 33" dia; 1-W Wrot Steel

Spec	Value
Builder	Pullman Standard Car Mfg Co. Reconditioned & leased from U.S.Ry.Eq.Co. Prog[ram?] No. E-8
Lot #	PS: 8385
Car Numbers	50500-50563 (originally 64350-64449, many reconditioned to other series)
Quantity	63
Build Date	1958 Reconditioned 1976
AAR class	XM
Cubic Cap'y	4825 Cu. Ft.
Underframe	Welded 2-12 ¹⁵⁄₁₆" 2-26 @ 41.2# Ctr sill
Superstructure	Stl Framed .10" O.H.S. Stl Sh'd [Open Hearth Steel?]
Ends	O.H.S. Corr. Pullman Design; Pull.-Std
Roof	#14 GA. Pullman Riveted Design; Pull.-Std
Doors	Welded Steel Pullman Design; Pull.-Std [Kind-of like a Superior door, but with a "crease" down the middle of each panel]
Brake Step	Metal "Weldforged"; U.S. Gyp. Co.
Hand Brake	A.A.R. Cert. Vert. Whl.; Universal
Body Brake	AB 10-12; W.A.B.
Draft Gear	A.A.R. Cert. 24⅝" pocket
Coupler	6¼" x 8" Shank Type E; Rotary
Coupler Yoke	A.A.R. C.S. Vert; Key-connected
Coupler Release	(Bott. Opening) Rotary
Body Weight	42220 lbs
Truck Weight	14280 lbs
Lt Weight	56500 lbs
Truck Info
Trucks	Ride Control A-3
Journals	5½" x 10"
Side Frame	Cast Steel Integral Box
Bolster	Cast Steel
Brake Beam	A.A.R. #18; Unit
Side Bearings	Roller
Springs	A.A.R. 2½" travel
Wheels	33" dia; 1-W Wrot Steel

ORER data and numbers

ORER Size Data
Description 10/1980
AAR Mechanical Designation XP
Inside
Dimensions Length 50'-6"
Width 9'-2"
Height 10'-5"
Outside
Dimensions Length 54'-4"
Width At Eaves or top of sides or platform 9'-4"
10'-6"
Extreme Width 10'-8"
Height
from
Rail To Extreme Width 4'-5"
To Eaves or top of sides or platform 14'-5"
13'-7"
To Extreme Height 15'
Door - Side
opening Width 15'
Height 9'-9"
Capacity Cu Ft. Level Full 4840
Pounds 110000

ORER History
ORER Date
(Year-Mo.) Car
Numbers # of
Cars Description
1980 - 10 50500-50562 5 Box, Steel, Auto Parts
1981 - 01 Not listed

ORER Size Data
Description	10/1980
AAR Mechanical Designation	XP
Inside Dimensions	Length	50'-6"
Width	9'-2"
Height	10'-5"
Outside Dimensions	Length	54'-4"
Width	At Eaves or top of sides or platform	9'-4" 10'-6"
Extreme Width	10'-8"
Height from Rail	To Extreme Width	4'-5"
To Eaves or top of sides or platform	14'-5" 13'-7"
To Extreme Height	15'
Door - Side opening	Width	15'
Height	9'-9"
Capacity	Cu Ft. Level Full	4840
Pounds	110000

ORER History
ORER Date (Year-Mo.)	Car Numbers	# of Cars	Description
1980 - 10	50500-50562	5	Box, Steel, Auto Parts
1981 - 01	Not listed

ORER Notes

Discussion, General Notes

Talk about short-lived car series!
from Neubauer, Eric.Evans Products Company Freight Car Roster Notes
(also emails with Eric)
These cars appear to have started out as Rock Island (CRI&P; RI; ROCK) cars.
As part of USRE lot 1296-10 (delivered 1975?) they were stretched/rebuilt to 50'-6" IL cars in ?1975?
Then as part of USRE lot 1854 (in 5/1980) they were ?refurbished and? leased (or sold?) to the B&M as their 50500-50562.

Original RI Series USRE lot 1296-10 RI series and info B&M series/info
RI 30700-30799 (70 cars) ROCK 50400-50469 (w/ 9' door) n/a
RI 64350-64499 (63 cars) ROCK 50500-50562 (w/ 15' door) B&M 50500-50562 (?)
RI 64350-64499 (27 cars) ROCK 50563-50589 (w/ 12'-3" door) n/a??
I am ASSUMING that only the (rebuilt) car series ROCK 50500-50562 made it to the B&M as
- the numbers match (i.e. the B&M didn't renumber the cars)
- the door width matches
But USRE records indicate:
ROCK 50500-50578, 50575-50589 to B&M 50500-50578, 50575-50589 (63 cars) in May, 1980
It may be these were built for "Incentive per diem" use, but then the IPD was abolished about Sep, 1980, so they may have just been scrapped.
Resolution of what went on may have to wait for B&M records to surface (assuming any exist)

Per Jim Eager (personal email) these were RI 64350-64449 (double door PS-1s built 2-58, Lot 8385, refurbished 1976 by USRE on Lot 1296-10 and renumbered to ROCK 50500-50562.

Original RI Series	USRE lot 1296-10 RI series and info	B&M series/info
RI 30700-30799	(70 cars) ROCK 50400-50469 (w/ 9' door)	n/a
RI 64350-64499	(63 cars) ROCK 50500-50562 (w/ 15' door)	B&M 50500-50562 (?)
RI 64350-64499	(27 cars) ROCK 50563-50589 (w/ 12'-3" door)	n/a??

Paint Schemes

References or other data

Magazine/Book article(s)

Photographs

Page Car # Photo Date
yr-mo-day Visible? Markings Paint
Scheme Herald Notes

Boston & Maine Railway Corporation Group on Facebook
Direct link
You may need to join the group to see the photo?
50548 1980-10-02 Y X BM? ? G N N 2V N N N Rock Rock double (what looks like PS-1) doors, 2 different widths

Page	Car #	Photo Date yr-mo-day		Visible?	Notes

*Boston & Maine Railway Corporation Group* on Facebook Direct link You may need to join the group to see the photo?
	50548	1980-10-02	Y	X	BM?	?	G	N	N	2V	N	N	N	Rock	Rock	double (what looks like PS-1) doors, 2 different widths

Renumberings/Conversions/Dispositions

Models

Revision History

File History for THIS page
Date Who Description
03-Jan-2020 KG Akerboom Initial release
04-Apr-2020 KG Akerboom Re-did references/photos section
05-May-2020 KG Akerboom Moved ORER notes into separate section
21-Jul-2020 KG Akerboom "Photos" table - changed "vertical" text to PNG of "sideways" text; added "Markings" columns
07- thru
16-Aug-2020 KG Akerboom Added ORER data (History only, not dims or notes yet) for 63 more registers, courtesy of James Kinkaid
19-Aug-2020 KG Akerboom Added Eric Neubauer data
20-Sep-2021 KG Akerboom Added Facebook photo
31-Oct-2022 KG Akerboom Verified per [almost] complete ORER data
04-Jan-2023 KG Akerboom Fixed headers and footers...hopefully
22-Sep-2025 KG Akerboom Added Rock Equipment diagram and data.

File History for THIS page
Date	Who	Description
03-Jan-2020	KG Akerboom	Initial release
04-Apr-2020	KG Akerboom	Re-did references/photos section
05-May-2020	KG Akerboom	Moved ORER notes into separate section
21-Jul-2020	KG Akerboom	"Photos" table - changed "vertical" text to PNG of "sideways" text; added "Markings" columns
07- thru 16-Aug-2020	KG Akerboom	Added ORER data (History only, not dims or notes yet) for 63 more registers, courtesy of James Kinkaid
19-Aug-2020	KG Akerboom	Added Eric Neubauer data
20-Sep-2021	KG Akerboom	Added Facebook photo
31-Oct-2022	KG Akerboom	Verified per [almost] complete ORER data
04-Jan-2023	KG Akerboom	Fixed headers and footers...hopefully
22-Sep-2025	KG Akerboom	Added Rock Equipment diagram and data.

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