Walthers 920-902 - Pennsylvania Merchandise Service

Although the Pennsy handled a formidable volume of less-carload-lot (LCL) traffic, increasing competition from nearby railroads and trucking companies led to the formation of a dedicated Merchandise Service after WWII. To handle higher speeds and increase carrying capacity, the railroad embarked on a major rebuilding program converting older X29s into rebuilt X29b boxcars. These moved on dedicated freight trains with expedited schedules, covering the 900 miles between New York and Chicago in as little as 32 hours.