Rivarossi 60' Heavyweight coaches from Walthers?

[Kozzie]

I have recently read an ad for the Rivarossi 60' Heavyweight coaches in March edition of Model Railroader (they take a while to come downunder), and was wondering if any of you "up over" folk have bought them yet? Happy with the purchase? [?]

I was thinking that these shorter coaches would better suit my smallish layout. (18 feet by 2 feet - along the side of the garage wall) [;)]

Kozzie
Brisbane, QLD
Australia

[mikebonellisr]

I've had my order in for almost 2 months..I guess they're not shipping yet!

[Anonymous]

What are the prototypes for these cars?

[orsonroy]

Walthers has shipped the four packs, but not the individual cars yet. I've seen the four packs at most of the hobby shops around Chicago.

As to the prototypes, they're mostly freelance. The coack would be useful for a series of C&NW 60' commuter coaches. The baggage car looks like it would be almost perfect for most NYC-clone 60' baggage cars (you'll need four wheel trucks), and the RPO looks like a "standard" design. I'm sure someone can come up with a prototype for the combine. All in all, these look to be very nice cars, with the full baggage and RPO being the most useful for most pre-Antrak modelers. I've got three baggage and one RPO on order, and I can't wait to get my hands on them! Too bad Rivarossi didn't release any undecs tho...

[Kozzie]

Hey orsonroy [:)] I agree with your comment about there being no undecs as an alternative. Undecs are very handy for freelance stuff....

I'll just have to be patient - required skill in model railroading...

When you "up over" lot that are interested have scored them, (quite likely before I will see them downunder), would someone maybe drop us a post here on the thread? Your comments would be appreciated.

Cheers

Dave
(Kozzie)

[Anonymous]

hey orsonray --

Thanks for the info.

[M636C]

Dave,

While 60' cars are convenient for a small layout, they do look very short compared to most prototype cars. The Athearn cars which have been shortened to about 70' from about 80 to 85 feet (both standard and streamlined cars), are less obviously short, but will still take sharp curves.

Frateschi (Brazil) make steel cars generally similar to Queensland cars, based on South American metre gauge prototypes, which are, in fact, about 60' long, and might be suitable for restricted space models.

Peter

[dknelson]

These new cars are quite similar to cars Walthers had in its old kit line -- the punched tin side, wood roof/floor kits. The coach and combine were CNW prototypes, although the CBQ had short cars too.
Dave Nelson

[MudHen_462]

I have had my four car set (Great Northern) for about two weeks now, and I think
they are great. Rivarossi did a good job on this line of cars. I have also ordered the
extra coach (currently on back order....). My layout is a small one (only 7' x 7') and
these cars handle the 22 and 18 degree radius turns beautifully.

IronGoat

[CBQ_Guy]

I've got the set for the Burlington. I model the late 1960's but am planning now and then to pull these behind a steamer as an excursion or just because!

Normally, I'm planning to use the combine on a Burlington "Doodlebug", and the coach with one of the Athearn 72' cars on a local passenger train. Both of the above trains will operate on the branch section of the new layout. Will probably use the baggage and maybe RPO for mail/express service on mainline passenger trains.

Nice looking cars with interiors. The single cars haven't been released yet as I'd like to get another coach or two, and another baggage.

[Kozzie]

We had our annual model railway exhibition a few weekends ago here in Brisbane, and some of the traders had the "4 packs," so I bought a set of UP coaches.
I promptly put them on our club's exhibition HO layour at the show and they ran very well.

Maybe just a little light? I'm not sure if their weight is in line with the formula....

CBQ_Guy and IronGoat, do you think your coaches are heavy enough???

Cheers

Dave