Can't Find Some MTH RailKing Items: Help?

[GBM3000]

Hello!

I recently purchased a MTH Railking 4-6-0 in the P&R Scheme, (Philadelphia and Reading), for cheap off eBay (Protosound 2.0 variant). Im trying to look for some rolling stock for it, but I cant seem to find ANYTHING that matches it. 

The thing that I would like most would be MTH's "O Gauge RailKing 3-Car Overton Passenger Coach Set", (Website: https://mthtrains.com/30-6426). I cant seem to find this anywhere: no online retailers, no luck on eBay, no luck anywhere. Also, I cant seem to find the Railking caboose lettered for the P&R either. 

Does anyone know where I could find some of this rolling stock? I know its a bit old, (2010), but I think some of it would match the loco really nice. I'm considering buying a bobber caboose and simply spraying it and adding reading decals instead of trying to find these items, so I can have something look decent.  

Any help would be appreciated. Thanks! 

 

[Flintlock76]

  aboard!

Oh yeah, finding out-of-production rolling stock can be a problem, we've all been there.  

If you're having trouble finding P&R marked rolling stock you might have to compromise and go with Reading rolling stock, from any manufacturer.  It was the same company after all. 

Have you tried these folks?  http://www.trainworld.com  It's a big place, they may have some MTH, Lionel, or Williams brand Reading rolling stock on hand.

Here's three more to try if you haven't already, big outfits with lots of inventory.

http://www.grzyboskitrains.com  

http://www.justrains.com  

http://www.sidetrackhobbies.com  

Aside from what you're doing, the only other thing would be visit train shows and keep your fingers crossed. 

And if all else fails get some "Pullman" marked Madison cars.  Pullmans will work with any passenger train.

Good luck!

 

[GBM3000]

Thanks for the reply!

You just gave me a good idea about Pullman cars: 

I could buy a couple of MTH's overton cars (roadname doesnt matter), and buy some olive green spraypaint. After painting them and applying some Pullmann decals, voila! 19th century pullmann cars!

Thanks again!  

[Rene Schweitzer]

I've learned from my husband (who is into O gauge in a big way) that patience is key. Set up some search alerts in eBay and they will show up eventually. Hubby had wanted some specific MTH passenger cars and had to wait a couple of years, but he eventually scored them at the price he was willing to pay. 

Do you have a local hobby shop? Make friends there--the big shop here often has older stock, or they'll buy collections from folks and re-sell it.

Keep looking! You'll find them.

[Flintlock76]

Your welcome!

As far as "Pullman Green" paint is concerned if your local hobby shop doesn't stock railroad hobby paints military "Olive Drab" is a good substitute, any brand, Testors, Tamiya, whatever.  It's so close it doesn't matter.  Do an overspray with Testors semi-gloss after the decals are on and you're done.  

I like to buy "orphan" steam locomotive tenders and re-paint and decal them for various 'roads.  Cheaper than buying a lot of locomotives!

[fifedog]

GBM3000 - I, too, am trying to recreate a turn-of-the-century layout.  Imagine searching for Hamshire Southern rolling stock (don't, there ain't none).  I allowed myseld to "proto-lance", using available roadnames, like the W&A RR, and thinking geographically, "Wappacomo & Allegany".  The actual railroad was consumed by the B&O (almost right after its completion), and there's plenty of 19th Century equipment for that.

Don't stop at the P&R.  Gather resources related to your favorite railroad.  Arcadia Press makes great paperback books on local history (and there's actually a couple for the P&R).  I have a host of books on the towns and lines serving them.  Look at the pics, to see what railroad equipment was in interchange with the P&R.  Having foreign equipment helps "extend" your railroad beyond its edges (hey, that L&N boxcar wasn't just plopped down in anthracite country...).

Also, search local historical sites, as they often have vintage pictures.

And my favorite resource, are old linen postcards.  They are done in color, and you get to see what the artist saw during that time.  Don't just search the P&R for postcards, but each county and city that it rolled through.  Often, there are images of stations, trains, and industry along the route, as well as day-to-day life scenes, that can inspire your own little vignettes on the layout. 

[Flintlock76]

"W&A" isn't the only one you can "fudge" a bit.  When most people see "V&T" they think "Virginia & Truckee," but during the Civil War there was a Southern 'road called the "Virginia & Tennessee."

Handy to know if you're modeling the Civil War, especially the Confederate side. 

Fifedog triggered a memory when he mentioned old linen postcards.  Care to take a postcard tour of North Jersey's Pascack Valley Line?  It's still active as an NJ Transit route, and a lot of those old stations in the video (circa 1912) are still there.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IUyd4AbIg_U  

And if you like that, try this one.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SzTAGCUUMtk  

Fifedog's right, there's gold in those old postcards!