When the Pennsylvania Railroad was incorporated in the early part of the nineteenth century, it was the first U.S. railroad to do so. By the 1880s, the PRR's rail lines radiated into all parts of Pennsylvania and well beyond, reaching west to Chicago and later to the Mississippi and even as far as Texas, while spreading along the eastern seaboard and the important ports of Baltimore, New York, Erie, Buffalo and Wilmington. The "Pennsey" seemed always at the forefront of railroading and freight handling in the U.S. by establishing the first American railway tunnel in 1834, the first direct-drive turbine locomotive in 1944 and the "piggyback" service for trucking in the 1950s. Although the Pennsylvania Railroad merged with its chief rival, the New York Central to form Penn Central in 1968, Pennsylvania Railroad is still the name that brings back memories of railroading at its best. To keep a railroad great, the company had to stay on top of its stock - its cars, track and engines. This 1954 Ford pick-up truck is fitted out to make sure those repairs are done right away. Carrying a selection of railway ties, spikes, rails and running boogie wheels, the Ford pick-up is able to get to any section of track in need of repair. Marked with authentic logos and precision-engineered with exciting details, the Pennsylvania Railroad's Ford service truck has been re-created in a richly detailed replica by Matchbox Collectibles - the greatest name in die-cast.

(1997)

Scale: 1:43