Introduction

Lionel 2474110 HO Scale G38B Penn Central 500479

Initially cars were equipped with older trucks traded in from aging H21A hoppers. Beginning as early as 1963, the Pennsylvania began replacing the aging hand-me-down trucks with newer 77-ton varieties. Cars were reclassified G38B with the change. Since the cars were seldom interchanged, most stayed with friction bearings to the end and PC and Conrail trains wore a mix of colors and lettering designs. Although ore and taconite were by far the most common uses, Conrail did press the jennies into coiled steel service on occasion. One of the last uses was hauling contaminated dirt trains from superfund sites to landfills.

Models feature a plastic body and hidden metal weight with separately applied brake system, coupler and safety details. All cars feature metal wheels. Single cars include new operating metal couplers compatible with other brands of HO “scale” knuckles. Knowing you’ll be running these in unit trains, Lionel 4 packs feature these operating couplers on one end of two cars with scale, non-operating couplers in between to improve looks and reduce your coupler slack while maintaining operational flexibility.

Five numbers for converted G38B cars are also available. For later modelers, the Penn Central is available in 2 single cars and 4 four packs. These are split between two of the more common lettering variations seen in the Penn Central years. Likewise for Conrail there are 2 oxide red and 1 black variation represented in single and two 4-packs each!

Of course there were more varieties than Lionel could possibly capture in one release so they’re offering undecorated versions for those who have a special car in mind. Pennsylvania G38 cars will come on PRR 2E-F8 70 ton trucks and G38B and undecorated cars feature later 77 ton trucks.

Looking for loads? New ore and taconite loads feature one-piece molded loads which are a drop in fit for all of these cars. The loads also include a metal insert so they can be just as easily unloaded with the help of a magnet. Or of course you could pick them up and turn them upside down like the real thing…either way it’s a lot less messy! Pennsy, Penn Central, Conrail, steel mill modelers – here is the jennie you’ve been missing.

FEATURES:

• Detailed plastic body with hidden weight
• Separately applied detail parts
• Era-specific trucks w/ metal wheels
• Operating “scale” metal knuckle couplers

SPECIFICATIONS:

• Gauge: HO Gauge
• Dimensions: Length: 18″
• Road Name: Penn Central
• Road Number: 500479