newbie passenger train advice

[Anonymous]

Just reviewed the passenger train offerings in
'05 Walthers catalog. I am in the planning stage of a layout. Unsure as to layout size, radius, etc. I want to include Pennsylvania passenger trains. My era will be 1950's-into early '60's. Any advice on manufacture recommendations, length vs. min radius of cars, type of cars ( stremlined, hvywts.) would be appreciated

[cacole]

Passenger cars, in HO scale, look horrible going around any curve of less than about 30" radius because of their length, even though most such models can negotiate down to an 18 or 20 inch radius. Unfortunately, few modelers have the space to allow for 30 inch or larger radius.

[Anonymous]

Totally Agree with cacole,I have an 18" radius on one curve,they have much hangover, But sometimes there is nothing we can do about this,

[Anonymous]

For great information on PRR passenger trains of the time period, get Harry Stegmaier, Jr's. book "Pennsylvania Railroad Passenger Trains, Consists and Cars - 1952."

In HO scale you're really in luck in terms of model availability. The Bachmann Spectrum series heavyweight cars are all PRR prototypes, except for the 10-1-2 Pullman car. Pennsy P70 coaches, a business car and a combine also are available from Eastern Car Works.

All of the following Rivarossi cars are PRR prototype: the "1930's" observation, the 10-6 Pullman and the duplex roomette Pullman, and the RPO; and the "1920's" duplex room Pullman and the 12-1 Pullman (the latter was used on many other roads as well).

Walthers' new heavyweight Pullman sleepers will be appropriate for Pennsy as are their 10-5 and 4-4-2 streamlined sleepers and their Budd "lounge car" (actually a PRR parlor car.

And then there are the other headend cars available, including B60b baggage cars, express reefers and X29 boxcars.

[Anonymous]

There are two(2) good threads on this topic going on over on the General Discussion forum. Lots of comments on manufacturers, length of car vs. radius of curves, etc.