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Removing the Roof on Walthers heavyweight Passenger cars

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  • Member since
    November 2015
  • 1,345 posts
Posted by ATSFGuy on Thursday, January 26, 2023 2:16 PM

I've always wondered;

 A Walthers streamlined coach roof or a Walthers heavyweight coach roof. Is one easier than the other or are they both hard to open?

I once tried to remove the roof on one of my SF Budd Coaches. It wouldn't move even after I tried using a small flathead screw driver plus I was afraid something would break.  I later put the coach back in my A-Line tote.

  • Member since
    September 2004
  • From: Dearborn Station
  • 24,281 posts
Posted by richhotrain on Thursday, January 26, 2023 6:09 AM

gmpullman

It is no fun, I can assure you that. You'll probably break off a few of the "tabs" that retain the roof to the side panels. They are in there tight!

Amen to that. 

Rich

Alton Junction

  • Member since
    December 2001
  • 1,190 posts
Posted by mvlandsw on Wednesday, January 25, 2023 4:20 PM
  • Member since
    August 2003
  • From: Collinwood, Ohio, USA
  • 16,367 posts
Posted by gmpullman on Wednesday, January 25, 2023 4:13 PM

It is no fun, I can assure you that. You'll probably break off a few of the "tabs" that retain the roof to the side panels. They are in there tight!

The best procedure I've come up with is to grasp each end of the car and give it a pretty good twisting motion while at the same time placing upward force on one side of the joint where the roof meets the side sheets (drip rail?) with your thumbs. 

You might think you are breaking something by doing this (and sometimes things DO pop off) eventually one side will begin to free itself and you can use the point of a very fine flat screwdriver or if you're careful an Exacto blade.

I'm presently working on a B&O 6-3 and doing the same things, adding passengers, window shades, lights, aisle handholds, etc.

This is a 3-2 observation car I was working on a while back:

 IMG_0357_fix by Edmund, on Flickr

You can see the rectangular slots that the tabs on the roof snap into at the upper edge of the side.

Hope that helps, Ed

 

  • Member since
    January 2023
  • 11 posts
Removing the Roof on Walthers heavyweight Passenger cars
Posted by Ezrails on Wednesday, January 25, 2023 2:59 PM

The box for my 85 ft Walthers Pullman Solarium car says that the roof is removable, but I have not figured out their attachment scheme.  Any body know how to get the roof(s) on these cars off for detailing?

RicZ

Tags: Pullman

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