Hello,
I have noticed that many passenger trains or roads in the southeast/northeast do not have passenger cars available in HO Scale. If we want a certain car and there is no RTR model, we either have to buy expensive brass or purchase the exact same car sides from Union Station Products, which to some can be a headache to assemble.
What is the reason behind this, are some manufacturers playing it safe when it comes to passenger trains?, or do railroads east of Chicago (including Maine) have low appeal as opposed to roads out west?
Any input would helpful
I know it might be considered a "niche" car but I would be first in line to acquire an HO model of the President's car U.S. No. 1 the Ferdinand Magellan originally rebuilt by Pullman in 1943-44.
Sure, there was only one that existed but it travelled over many railroads and over many geographic areas of the US (and I believe once or twice to Canada).
The car still exists at the Gold Coast Railroad Museum so getting measurements would be possible. The car was used right up to the Reagan era.
IMG_8227_fix by Edmund, on Flickr
As a bonus the U.S. Army communications car General Albert J. Myer that accompanied the Ferdinand Magellan would be nice, too.
Other than those two cars I would like to see more lightweight bedroom-lounge cars which seem to have been mostly passed over by the Walthers offerings.
Happy Modeling, Ed
I'm going to respond to the subject line that drew me here:
I'd like to see NP's North Coast Limited. Even more, I'd like to see the SP&S lightweights made for the NCL and the Builder.
I wouldn't mind some NYC baggage cars, either.
Ed
Atlantic Coast Line's Budd blunt end observation car. Cool factor is that at least two survived through SCL and early Amtrak.
"I like my Pullman Standards & Budds in Stainless Steel flavors, thank you!"
I'd love to see a heavyweight Pullman 8 section- lounge car. They were used coast to coast but as far as I know have never been available even as a kit, much less ready to run. Nickel Plate Car is planning to offer a kit however.
A dang Viewliner.
I know they exist in a conjectural sense, but they don't even turn up on ebay.
My vote would be for the B&O heavyweights rebuilt into smooth side "streamliners", but I'm not holding my breath.
Sheldon
Santa Fe 52 seat coach as used on the San Diegan.
And although not exactly a passenger car, I've always liked the looks of Santa Fe business car Atchison...former Santa Fe:
Matt from Anaheim, CA and Bayfield, COClick Here for my model train photo website
We need more heavyweights, particularly head-end cars. Many heavy-weight, head-end cars existed to right before Amtrak and often were interchanged between roads. They could also be seen at the front end of trains outfitted with more modern cars. More heavyweights in general, would also allow some of us to do some serious kitbashing if necessary. Unfortunately, I have found that letter boards on many heavyweight models are too narrow and often their is no distinction made btw steel and non steel material roofs. Rapido has said it will be producing heavyweights in the future, but that may be a while.
Victor A. Baird
Fort Wayne, Indiana
Let's just reiterate that manufacturers are in this to make money. They're not going to chase too many rainbows when the pot o' gold is right there. For example, they know that UP/ATSF/SP/PRR/NYC/CB&Q sells. So why not continue to churn out run after run of product that sells, rather than take a chance on SOU/FEC/SBD/ACL, etc. that might not sell?
In New England for passenger cars, you've got the New Haven and everyone else (sorry, but it's true). The NH is a very popular road because of a few factors: it was the #3 US railroad in passengers carried and owned one of the most densely populated areas that also happens to be pretty well off (meaning that not only did a lot of people see and ride the NH, but they have the means to model it); it had a colorful paint scheme that is still in use today (ConnDOT); and every railroad that came around after it has not been as big nor as well thought of around here (mostly shortlines, regionals, and public passenger services). These reasons are why Rapido is making Osgood-Bradley cars and now NH 8600 stainless steel coaches (and likely more types on the way like Parlors).
By comparison with her New England neighbors, the NH had over 200 stainless steel cars. The B&M and the MEC had 12 each, IIRC. The BAR had even less than that. That and their territories are not exactly well populated nor particularly well off (by comparison). Don't get me wrong, I know B&M, MEC and BAR locos sell, but would their passenger cars? Or at least as well as roads out of Chicago? Apparently not, at least accoding to the manufacturers to date.
Paul A. Cutler III
Several years ago Walthers stopped producing their excellent heavyweight RPO. Bring it back!
I agree with all you guys
We definitely need more specialty lounge cars
here are a few good cars I think we should see:
1. Seaboard Air Line "Sun Lounge".
2. Chesapeake & Ohio's Strata Dome "Chessie Club"
3. The 1947 Pennsylvania "Jefferson" Recrational Lounge Car
4. Chesapeake & Ohio's 5 Double Bedroom/Lounge Blunt-End Observation
5. A Southern Pacific Dormiory-Lounge (General Service)
6. A Missouri Pacific Lounge
7. A Rock Island Mid-Train Lounge
8. The Dome Car used on Southern's "Crescent Limited".
Viewliners! And some Amtrak heritage cars
I have yet to see a heritage diner or dorm/lounge from anyone that would be correct for the late 90's Silver Service trains, and those Walthers Viewliners just don't exist.
On the bright side, between Rapido, Athearn, and Atlas, my motive power is pretty well taken care of.
I'd also like a re-release of shorty pennsylvania heavyweight cars, but I'm not holding my breath.
Limited selection of tail cars available for streamliners.
More streamined observation cars (corrugated/smooth sided) from at least 32 roads instead of just 6.
We need a lot more stuff from Mopac, CBQ, RI, SOO, WAB, IC, GM&O, SL-SF, ACF, C&EI, L&N, SOU, SAL, and more importantly FEC!!!
As someone else said: kitbash--or scratchbuild, which I'm going to do (collecting parts and materials right now) in O scale. However, those clerestory (raised center section) roofs are a bear to build! Wish I could find a plastic clerestory roof in 1/4" scale; I'd snatch it up and kitbash it for my model of a 35' Canadian Pacific business car. If you don't feel brave enough to tackle it, find a cheap shell and practice. There are a lot of detail parts in plastic and metal around. Don't be afraid; have fun!
Deano
ATSFGuy 3. The 1947 Pennsylvania "Jefferson" Recrational Lounge Car
Laser Horizons offers an HO scale ABS set of car sides for this. I know, I have one building now for use on the Penn Texas after they were removed from the Jeffersonian.
I would like to see a Pullman Indian series Baggage/Buffet/Bar, preferably as a "betterment" car but heavyweight would be OK.
AntonioFP45 Atlantic Coast Line's Budd blunt end observation car. Cool factor is that at least two survived through SCL and early Amtrak.
I would like to see Walthers make a Pennsy Congressional/Senator version of a car like this to go with the train I already have, but if they did, it would probably be a plated version, and mine are not.
Dave
Just be glad you don't have to press "2" for English.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zQ_ALEdDUB8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6hqFS1GZL4s
http://s73.photobucket.com/user/steemtrayn/media/MovingcoalontheDCM.mp4.html?sort=3&o=27
I will second tha call for more head end cars. Particularly the shorter mail storage cars used by a lot of railroads.
So why not continue to churn out run after run of product that sells, rather than take a chance on SOU/FEC/SBD/ACL, etc. that might not sell?
How do they know they won't sell if they don't make them? I suspect there may be a lot of pent up demand for those roads. I have been looking for smooth side and Budd L and N cars with little luck
Harriman but in 50' only.
I have to start by saying that the number, variety, and quality of passenger cars is amazing today compared to what is was 20 years ago. I remember all the wall cutting window filling and things that had to be done to get something close to some of the prototypes.
Plus the engineering of the Walther's cars makes it pretty easy to make new 'sides' for the existing frames and just “snap” them on, I cannot complain at all.
As for the lack of heavy weights, the ones that have been produced recently have not been well received. Thinking mostly of the late Branchline models now owned by Atlas. Even the Walther's runs I've been able to pick up in mass quantites on clearance, because apparently no one else wants them.
From the title.... cars I want include the Santa Fe mail containers, the NP dome sleeper, the Santa Fe Navajo tail car, the blunt end dome observation used on the Denver Zephyr, and the Pullman Sun Lounge. One can never have too many head end cars of all types and road names.
7j43kI'd like to see the SP&S lightweights made for the NCL and the Builder.
As near as I can tell the current run is only painted Great Northern although it looks like the stock numbers remain the same. In the original run the SP&S were 920-9057, 920-9074, and 920-9093.
How about Monon passenger cars in black and gold?
Has any manufacturer ever made them?
Rich
Alton Junction
richhotrain How about Monon passenger cars in black and gold? Has any manufacturer ever made them? Rich
-Fritz Milhaupt, Publications Editor, Pere Marquette Historical Society, Inc.http://www.pmhistsoc.org
fmilhaupt richhotrain How about Monon passenger cars in black and gold? Has any manufacturer ever made them? Rich Walthers made these in their older-style kit, with milled wooden roof, wood floor, cast metal ends and stamped metal sides, but nobody has done these in plastic. The kits surface from time to time, but tend to be grabbed up pretty quickly, since the sides can be applied to more modern core kits.
Walthers made these in their older-style kit, with milled wooden roof, wood floor, cast metal ends and stamped metal sides, but nobody has done these in plastic. The kits surface from time to time, but tend to be grabbed up pretty quickly, since the sides can be applied to more modern core kits.
Rio Grande. The Action Road - Focus 1977-1983
Texas Zepher I have to start by saying that the number, variety, and quality of passenger cars is amazing today compared to what is was 20 years ago. I remember all the wall cutting window filling and things that had to be done to get something close to some of the prototypes. Plus the engineering of the Walther's cars makes it pretty easy to make new 'sides' for the existing frames and just “snap” them on, I cannot complain at all. As for the lack of heavy weights, the ones that have been produced recently have not been well received. Thinking mostly of the late Branchline models now owned by Atlas. Even the Walther's runs I've been able to pick up in mass quantites on clearance, because apparently no one else wants them. From the title.... cars I want include the Santa Fe mail containers, the NP dome sleeper, the Santa Fe Navajo tail car, the blunt end dome observation used on the Denver Zephyr, and the Pullman Sun Lounge. One can never have too many head end cars of all types and road names.
If they don't make it, you can kit bash it, scratch build it, or do without.
David Starr www.newsnorthwoods.blogspot.com
Texas Zepher 7j43k I'd like to see the SP&S lightweights made for the NCL and the Builder. Walther's did the 7-4-3-1, 6-5-2, and coach in SP&S (and CB&Q) in their first run of the Empire Builder. I have them. They didn't do the baggage-dorm or 6-3 lounge though. As near as I can tell the current run is only painted Great Northern although it looks like the stock numbers remain the same. In the original run the SP&S were 920-9057, 920-9074, and 920-9093.
7j43k I'd like to see the SP&S lightweights made for the NCL and the Builder.
Walther's did the 7-4-3-1, 6-5-2, and coach in SP&S (and CB&Q) in their first run of the Empire Builder. I have them. They didn't do the baggage-dorm or 6-3 lounge though.
Ah, quite true. I was thinking of (and neglected to say) the ones used on SP&S trackage only. As opposed to cars that were regular parts of the through trains:
#75 baggage-dorm (as noted in quote)
#405 diner
#600-601 sleeper-lounge (as noted in quote)
I also wouldn't mind ole #31, one of the few baggage-RPO's lightweights with 6-wheel trucks.
And then there's the flat-top coaches. I figure those will be taken care of when/if Walthers does the NCL.
Dreams really DO come true!
Just this morning I got a notification from Brass Trains that this set is available (see my reply at the top of this page)
http://www.brasstrains.com/Classic/Product/Detail/070354/HO-Brass-Models-OMI-Magellan-Presidential-Car-Army-Communications-Car-Army-Hospital-Car-3-Car-Set-
I'm opening a "Fund Me" site now... anyone care to donate
[edit:] Well, you can put your wallets away—they're sold already and I was just dusting off one of my gold ingots to sell!
I'm with others on their suggestions for more "betterment" cars, B&O and PRR especially and for more head-end stuff.
I was lucky to get a few of the Walthers HW baggage and RPOs when they were available back in the day. I like to run mail and express trains with lots of mail storage, express, former troop sleepers and Flexi-Van cars with a rider coach bringing up the rear.
More discussion here:
http://cs.trains.com/mrr/f/88/t/248333.aspx
Happy modeling, Ed