Unusual Passenger car side frames?

[Anonymous]

I was at the tracks yesterday and an Amtrak went by with some MHCs and Budd cars with corregated metal sides. On a few cars, the trucks did not have side frames outside the wheels. What kind of trucks are these and does anyone produce an HO Scale model of this car and truck?

Thanks - Ed

[Sperandeo]

Hi Ed,

Those are usually called "Pioneer" trucks because they were first used on the Budd m.u. cars of that name, but they were also the standard equipment on the Budd-built Amfleet cars. Some Horizon-type cars also have them, though none of Amtrak's as far as I know..

Walthers has Pioneer trucks on its line of HO Amfleet cars and some of its Horizon commuter-road cars , but doesn't list them as separate parts in the 2003 HO catalog.

Merry Christmas,

Andy Sperandeo
MODEL RAILROADER Magazine

[Anonymous]

Andy,

Thanks. When were these cars produced? Would it be appropriate for one or two of these to be found in a train with F40PH engines and early AMTRAK streamline cars (Phase II era I think)? I was thinking of getting one or two to show my guests because I think a non-railroader would still find this interesting but I don't want to mix them if it wouldn't make sense. Ed