Flat Car No. 473567
Why it's listed
A flat car built for the Pennsylvania Railroad, numbered 473567, survives in Strasburg, Lancaster County. It measures 61 feet 3 inches in length, a size typical of modern flat cars of its era. The car belongs to a type that began in 1881 with the Class FA, which was 34 feet long and carried 15 to 20 tons. Later flat cars grew to between 50 and 70 feet, with capacities of 70 tons or more. Its importance lies in showing how rolling stock developed alongside the railroad itself. New functions, demands for higher speeds, and heavier loads drove constant refinement of locomotives and cars. Within the wider Pennsylvania Railroad rolling stock group, the car is regarded as an important survivor, and it is recognised as a genuine original rather than a replica. Its listing reflects the value of preserving examples that document this change in railroad technology.
Significance in brief: The nomination describes the car as a typical modern flat car and an example of a type that began in 1881 with the Class FA. It argues that the development of locomotives and railway cars was as important to the Pennsylvania Railroad system as the system itself. The nomination states that the cars in the group are rare survivals and important examples of motive power and railroad car development, and that all are genuine rather than replicas.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 79002267, listed December 17, 1979. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | E of Strasburg, Strasburg |
|---|---|
| County | Lancaster County |
| Listed | December 17, 1979 |
| Reference number | 79002267 |
| Resource type | Structure |
| Areas of significance | Commerce, Transportation, Invention |
| Level of significance | National |
| Acreage | 0.1 |
| Coordinates | 39.98242, -76.16077 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 79002267.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.