Edit post

Edit your reply below.

Post Body
Enter your post below.
hey Ray- Thanks for your comments and I think you're right-the Walthers' streamlined cars are the way to go. By the way, I am using my Spectrum heavyweight (PRR prototypes) for a kit -bashed gas electric and trailers. The heavy-handed rivets don't look too bad in this application. I've shortened the cars to approx 70 feet. I used the combine car for the gas electric, and coaches for the trailers. For the front of the gas electric I used a really old Walthers white metal casting from the bottom of the parts box- a part they used in an ancient gas electric kit they sold, a Northeastern wood roof molding -also ancient, roof vents, tanks etc, body- mounted Kadees, brass marker lites, snow plow pilot, Pyle headlite and horns, Pikestuff seating in several compartments, a louvered side panel from an Athearn GP7 shell, and a cab door and cab side windows form the parts box. I also added wire grabs, and an exhaust w/ a spark arrestor. For the power unit I have utilized one of the power trucks from a Spectrum GE 44 Tonner (older production ones used two small truck mounted motors/drives-so do early production Spectrum GE 70 Tonners). I've attached MDC 4 wheel pullman truck sideframes to the powered truck and used the same trucks for the rear unpowered one. They have the same wheelbase, too. It has power pickup from all 8 wheels since it has metal wheels and wipers for pickup. All it needs now is paint, window 'glazing', and lighting. The trailers are much easier to make and are detailed similarily-same roofs, vents, similar underbody details, trucks, etc. I'm going to use an observation just for the heck of it(since I already have it) to bring up the rear. (I.m only aware of one obs. ever pulled by a gas electric and it was a train that served the Mayo Clinic - I think.) Guess there's a prototype for everything and anything. The unit runs smoothly and quietly - adding a little weight enables it to pull several trailers up an approx 2% grade. The prototypes couldn't do any better typically. My Athearn hw shorties and Rivarossi hw coaches are heading for the mow roster. (Saw a really neat crane tender made out of an old combine on the La Mesa Model RR in San Diego. ) Now I've got to think about an excursion train to use my MDC 'Pullman Palace' cars. . .
Tags (Optional)
Tags are keywords that get attached to your post. They are used to categorize your submission and make it easier to search for. To add tags to your post type a tag into the box below and click the "Add Tag" button.
Add Tag

Update Reply

Subscriber & Member Login

Login, or register today to interact in our online community, comment on articles, receive our newsletter, manage your account online and more!

Model Railroader Newsletter See all

Sign up for our FREE e-newsletter and get model railroad news in your inbox!

Subscriber & Member Login

Edit post

Post Body

Tags (Optional)

Subscriber & Member Login

Users Online

Search the Community