I was flipping through my 1950's issues of Model Railroader this morning, when I found in the Feb. 1950 issue an article on building out of wood coaches to match Lionel's 2600 series. Has anyone ever built or encountered one of them?
There were O gauge kits made back in the 40's and 50's that were wooden, bear in mind those were the days when O gauge meant Lionel and their product line, so if you wanted something different you had to go farther afield. Don't remember the manufacturer but I'll research it and get back to you.
OK, I'm back. There were a number of O gauge kit makers: Walthers, Ambroid, A.J. Fisher, Mi-Loco, Athern, and Lobaugh to name a few.
I referenced my copy of "150 Years of Train Models" by Hal Carstens. The book's interesting, but it's kind of rambling and poorly organized, tough to follow and find what you're looking for. More like a "Hey, remember when?" BS session with model railroaders than a serious study.
I built some when I worked at P & D also made some pullmans with wooden frames and metal sides. They were for display but Pat always sold them pretty quickly. I didn't mind after all I did get to build them
"IT's GOOD TO BE THE KING",by Mel Brooks
Charter Member- Tardis Train Crew (TTC) - Detroit3railers- Detroit Historical society Glancy Modular trains- Charter member BTTS
Thanks for the feedback. Could one of the top guys (Carp or somebody) look and post the article for me, so as to show what I'm referencing? I suspect it would be in the company archives.
I have this baggage car and a passenger car made from a wood kit
No clue who produced them. Would like to know. I would guess late 40s or early 50s from the trucks on them.
Joined 1-21-2011 TCA 13-68614
Kev, From The North Bluff Above Marseilles IL.
Beautiful cars! Whoever built them knew his business.
You're a lucky guy to have them.
Firelock76 Beautiful cars! Whoever built them knew his business. You're a lucky guy to have them.
Firelock. Sorry, did not mean to mislead you. The passenger cars in the picture are RMT I only have a picture of the baggage car posted but I will try to get a picture of the passenger car I have that is a match to the baggage car. These were given to me from a good friend here on the forums.
Okay Firelock, I found the passenger car, Both have like SJ said wood tops and bottoms with metal sides and heavy cast ends. The pick-up trucks look to be late 40s early 50s but seem to fit what we are talking about with the sliding shoe. Note the passenger car has the six wheel trucks where the baggage car has four wheel trucks. I would love to know more. See attached pictures.
That baggage car: what is the roof made of?
Thanks for posting those pictures! Very interesting!
By the way, I've got 6 RMT "Beeps" (don't ask how, it just happened) and am very happy with them. Two or more together will pull anything.
tinplatacis That baggage car: what is the roof made of?
WOOD.
Kev - I do not know what you have but the kits I built many years ago in O and HO were a nice piece of machine cut/milled basswood - milled like wood molding/trim -for the clerestory roof. You had to round the ends to the roof ends profile. Wish I still had those models.
Regards, Roy
One of these days, I'm gonna have to post that article... I suspect some peeps might end up building them if it's posted lol.
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