grizlump9 Anybody out there still alive that remembers Bill Clouser? he took traction modeling to an art form and even though he didn't have a lot of stuff, what he did build was first rate and ran flawlessly. the guy was good enough at it to build display models for the Smithsonian and St Louis Car Co. grizlump
Anybody out there still alive that remembers Bill Clouser? he took traction modeling to an art form and even though he didn't have a lot of stuff, what he did build was first rate and ran flawlessly. the guy was good enough at it to build display models for the Smithsonian and St Louis Car Co.
grizlump
Ah yes, Bill Clouser, unquestionable one of the greatest modelers this hobby has ever seen and an individual I personally regard as its best up-close photographer, ever.
For those unfamiliar with Bill, or his work, let me say that back in the late 1950's when he first began submitting his traction photos to MR, a number of readers wrote in complaining about, "Clouser's prototype photos being passed off on readers as models." Turns out that Bill's trolleys as well as his scenery, such as his brick traction barn and cobblestone streets, were absolutely indistinguishable from the real thing, especially since Bill has also a master of quality pin-hole photography. I've always regarded Bill as the all-time master of realism in this hobby.
Incidentally, for those of you who are not grey breads, traction was a major part of the HO hobby back in the 40's and 50's. However, as hobbyist's memories of actually riding them faded in the 60's and 70's, this aspect dwindled...at least in the pages of HO model railroading publications. Of course, there are still traction hobbyists and traction-specific equipment suppliers, but nothing like the numbers there were 50, or so, years ago.
CNJ831
i have never had any desire to model traction since i can't bring myself to string all that overhead wire, but one of the best looking and running layouts i ever saw was based on the Illinois Terminal done in O scale.
anybody out there still alive that remembers Bill Clouser? he took traction modeling to an art form and even though he didn't have a lot of stuff, what he did build was first rate and ran flawlessly. the guy was good enough at it to build display models for the Smithsonian and St Louis Car Co.
I have bowser diecast Brill, they do run smooth and quiet, and I also have a brass 2 axle snow sweeper that runs very smooth. I was going to build a traction loop on my future layout, but changed focus to the powder river coal area. So these are going to need a new home, PM me. Mike
LHS mechanic and geniune train and antique garden tractor nut case!
Yes, it would be nice. However, Conemaugh Road & Traction is N Scale -- with even less RTR-traction for N Scale than HO Scale or O Scale.
Fact is, unless you are willing to pay an arm+leg for RTR live-overhead -- all traction scales have a fair amount of scratchbuilding. Not only do you have soldering for trackage, but also for live-overhead, and especially so for N Scale.
CR&T layout planning includes both interurban traction and a 2-track Pennsy mainline -- the "Road" in CR&T allows expansion, to say a gas electric, or small center-cab industrial switcher that can even be converted with a pantograph to live overhead -- and this "Road" part does include a little more RTR equipment.
Once you decide what you want to accomplish with your traction layout -- You overcome challenges to achieve your goals just as you would with non-traction.
Would more RTR-traction be nice? You betcha! But, don't let that stop you.
Conemaugh Road & Traction circa 1956
Well, in fact, I do have one of those. These cars were only available in "undecorated," which meant a metal casting.
At this point in my model railroading journey, I was a courageous, nay, fearless amateur. I was ready to take on anything. I did my own painting, and made my own decals for my Moose Bay Transit Authority line.
There were only 2 PCC models available at the time, this one and a decidedly more toy-like offering from Bachmann. So, I got the earlier Bowser, painted it, assembled it and even added lights and a DCC decoder. (Like I said, fearless.) And, now five years later, it's still a part of my fleet, running well.
It did need some TLC to make it reliable. The unit picks up power from all 8 wheels, but depends on some weak friction connections between the bearings and the trucks. After I soldered on some wires to make this a solid connection, it now runs happily all around my layout.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
I just have a question that was brought on by the mention of the new Bowser PCCs. Does anyone around here have any experience with the previous generation of Bowser's die cast metal PCC models? I noticed they are still available from various dealers, and I'm curious what they are like, as well as, how realistic they look.
As I mentioned on the Light Rail modeling thread, a good place to look for information about traction modeling of all kinds is the East Penn Traction Club: http://www.eastpenn.org/. Their links are the most useful collection I'm aware of, though some are out of date.
To add to the traction models available (find links at EPTC): CustomTraxx has an interesting website, is doing some resin models, has streetcar switches and rail, details and running gear, lots of decals, some other companies models', and an online newsletter with strong opinions. Imperial Hobbies Productions does resin models of modern light rail, some older streetcars, rapid transit, and commuter rail. MTS does mostly brass trolleys, light rail, and rapid transit, some resin. ConCor is coming out with plastic PCC models as well as a plastic Electroliner. The new plastic Bowser PCCs are modeled on the PCCs in multiple cities' paint schemes that are currently running on San Francisco's F line. The Trolley Talk magazine is still going and always is informative, has interesting ads, and has a kind and encouraging editorial tone. LaBelle has wooden interurban kits. IHC seems to rerun the Boeing light rail cars occasionally.
I'm naming the above mostly because I'm interested in HO. These and other companies also are doing traction models in O scale. Gorgeous unpowered models are produced by St. Petersburg Trams (name not quite right) and distributed by various people in the US. And there are several other companies that regularly put out some traction models, which are advertised briefly in magazines or on websites and then seem to be gone.
I wish I had more time for modeling and more money for collecting. For someone with a lot of either, traction modeling is a real option.
Interesting timming, we were discussing this very subject recently on the S scale list, we also have a bare bones kit for the Baldwin and WH steeple cab for those who like to assemble/detail and one member powered his with a reworked HO scale 44 tonnner frame. Putt makes a single truck Birney that has endless kitbashing potential. Like the smaller/popular scales we have also have ready to install overhead and special trackwork available courtesy of companies located in England and New Zealand. Seems like regardless of scale, there is never enough of traction available.
Dave
Yeah, things have changed since this thread was started.
I've got one of the newer Bachmann entries, the Peter Witt trolley. These are nice models, not just toys. Mine runs very smoothly, and it comes with a built-in slide switch to select either track or overhead power. These units came out about a year ago, and are attractively priced. They're even on sale right now at Walthers.
The Peter Witt comes with a Bachmann DCC decoder. When I looked at the chassis, I also noticed a small round speaker enclosure, so I added a sound decoder to mine as well. The unit doesn't come with a speaker, but having the enclosure sure makes things easier.
Bowser is also coming out with nicer looking PCC car models. They've had an unpainted metal one for quite some time, but the new ones are plastic and far nicer detailing. I think someone else is coming out with PCC models, too, so hopefully the traction business is really heating up.
--David