LGB AMTRACK CARS

[Mike Dorsch CJ&M r.r.]

     Hello to all out there ! This last Christmas my wife got me a couple of LGB's new Amtrack passenger cars and a MTH B40-8 locomotive . I love it all but the cars and locomotive are two different scales. The locomotive is 1/32nd and the LGB cars are bigger than 1/29th. On there own they look great but together the size difference is real noticeable . I do use 1/29th USA TRAINS passenger cars with my other MTH locomotives ,and though they aren't exact in size they are acceptable . I wanted to lower the LGB cars but modifying the trucks that came with the car seemed daunting. So I tried some USA passenger trucks and am happy with the height now . I had to build a new set of truck bolsters and body mount the couplers but that is going pritty easilly. I'm not sure if there is a prototype for this conversion but it doesn't really matter that much to me . I think the older style trucks give the car a "classy" look . Here's some pictures . The first picture shows the MTH loco with a "stock" LGB car .   The second picture is the loco with a USA passenger car . Notice the height is even with the top of the locomotive. I know that in real life the engine most likely towers over the car but.....oh well . Here is a USA and LGB car together in the third picture .Now in this picture below is the LGB car with its new trucks . I think it made a big improvement .Anyway thought i'd share one of my winter projects with you all .Can't wait to try this train out but the C.J.andM. is under a foot of frozen snow right now.I still have a little work to do on the cars such as adding underbody detail that I removed to allow the trucks to swing properly and a coat of weathering to the undersides and ends . Will post more pictures of this train outside when the weather breaks .

[Southwest Chief]

Interesting modification.  I'm liking the lowered look.  A bit strange to see Amfleets without those distinct Pioneer trucks, but I never really cared much for the design.  Your modification seems to add some class to the Amfleets.

Nice job

With your Dash-8 and the modified Amfleets, you've got a good start for an excellent early 1990s San Diegan.  All you need now is a heritage baggage, and a converted Metroliner cabcar