DECALS: Union Pacific SP B-100-39 "Popsicle Stick" Boxcar

This decal set is designed to letter three complete versions of the UP-repaint SP B-100-39 "Popsicle Stick" cars. This set is designed specifically for the Keystone Prototype Models 3D printed car available directly from Lines West Products:

Southern Pacific B-100-39 – Lines West Products

In January of 1977, PC&F built 200 of these 60'9", 7348 cu ft Plate F boxcars for the Southern Pacific. These boxcars featured DF crossbar loaders, Hydra cushion underframes, and a “door and a half” configuration with a 16' total door opening. But what separated these cars from the pack was the unique oval pressed panel sides that enabled the interior rack loading systems, giving them the nickname "Popsicles".

These boxcars were classified as B-100-39 on the Espee and traveled all over North America from 1977 to today. Initially in assigned service, these cars eventually entered general service and could be found all over North American rail network. Most recently they have been used to haul waste paper products to recycling centers in Mexico.

Many of these cars went on to operate under different owners over the years. Up to 45 cars went to GVSR 139000-139044 under the Golden West Service program in the early 1990s. All of these cars were subsequently restored to their original SP number but still in faded blue Golden West paint. One car went to Conrail as CR 222702 in 1995, reportedly in exchange for a car damaged on an SP train to maintain an equipment pool car numbers. Six cars also went to AM numbers 1700-1705 in late 1996 (These cars are now patched to SIRX). Eight cars also went to IOCR as 4000-4006 and 4008 in mid-1998.

Of the 200 cars originally built, only a handful of B-100-39's remain active as they near their 50^th year in service. These remaining cars still roam the system in random assignments in between stints of storage while they run out their final years of service before the FRA-mandated 50-year retirement rule.  

This decal sheet covers the UP repainted version of these cars. It includes numerous pre-defined numbers as well as 0-9 number blocks that allow you to model any car number of your choice. The set includes a few data variations that appeared on these cars as well.

You can learn more about these cars here: B-100-39 Box Cars