My 2 cents. I model transition era passenger with mostly heavyweight and modernized heavyweight. I have accumulated cars through the years, never paying more than $15 per car on ebay, online forums and train shows- I usually have to paint/decal them for my road. I am not a rivet counter, but I do have standards- I weight to standard, run body mounted couplers, diaphrams, metal wheelsets, put view blocks and shades in my cars and weather them. I run 30" minimum radius curves and minimum #6 turnouts in yards. Having said all that.....
For heavyweights my favorites are the Bachmann Spectrums with the lighting disconnected. I have also bashed some Athearn heavyweights into 80-85' models (particularly the turtleback roof coaches). I have my share of AHM and some IHC heavys- the paint on my IHC ACL cars is beautiful out of the box. I also have some Branchline kits to assemble- these will definitely be the best of the bunch. For smoothside streamlined cars (from other roads), I have nothing but AHM- and their paint and quality after upgrades is fine for my needs. For ACL baggage cars (heavy) I have to replace the sides of AHM heavyweight baggage and RPO cars with resin sides from the ACLSAL Historical Society.
My corrugated side streamliners are either IHC or Con-Cor 85 footers. They are few, but the look and perform great after modifications (particularly weight to standards).
I use cardstock and construction paper for viewblocks and shades. I shim and body mount Kadee/McHenry knuckles, use either Branchline or American Limted diaphrams (after cutting out the outer door on the vestibule end where needed), weight with lead shot and use whatever 36" metal wheelsets I can find on ebay. I would estimate that to modify an IHC/AHM car in this way I spend another $8 per car, plus the sweat (modeling) equity.
Bottom line- eBay, trainshows, swap meets and online forums are your best bet for lowering cost, but usually require you to do modeling, which I like. If you prefer ready to run, it would be hard to beat the new Walthers cars at full length (heavy and lightweight), or what I have seen of the Rapido lightweights- and online sellers or ebay could help you there also.
Good hunting!!
Several options are available, particularly if you are interested in a little kit-bashing and/or superdetailing.
1. Go on e-bay and check out the availability of the old Penn Line passenger cars. The cars themselves are not bad - they are 60-footers. You can easily add details like grab irons, diaphragms, underbody parts and you can putty-in that spot in the center bottome of the car body where there is a clip and hole to attach the car to the floor. I model the 1930's era and these are making some nice models with a little work - they'd be correct even into the 1960's. The same applies to their streamline passenger cars - the coach, combine, baggage and observation are all quite usable. The trucks need to be replaced as they are one piece castings with the coupler attached - but there are plenty of good trucks out there - check the Walthers catalog.
2. MPC makes some very nice 68' or 70' Harriman coaches and observation cars. Nice detail, the trucks run well.
3. Again, on e-bay, you can sometines pick up the old MDC plastic turn-of-the-century Palace Cars. These are a little longer - but should accomodate your radius. These make wonderful kitbashing projects - you could even "modernize" them as the prototypes did with window modifications, etc.
On these you will have to get rid of the old NMRA couplers and put on prototype knuckles - but that is just part of the detailing process. But, moneywise, they are a cost-effective way to get some passenger stock at a very reasonable price. The car bodies are quite amenable to kitbashing - and it gives you the opportunity to tailor the cars to your specific needs.
imho.
I am not oppesed to going with a IHC set of passenger cars since they are so cheap, if they can be upgraded fairly easy, such as metal wheels and Kadee type couplers. Also, if you know of a good online source for passenger cars that have good prices, - canazarHere is my list of way I consider most important.1) Price. 2) Operational issues. Metal wheels,Kadde type couplers, handle 20" radius, etc3) Outside detail4) Inside interior.
Here is my list of way I consider most important.
1) Price.
2) Operational issues. Metal wheels,Kadde type couplers, handle 20" radius, etc
3) Outside detail
4) Inside interior.
FIRST OFF: ONLY the priciest cars come with interiors, and/or lights. The IHC cars are cheapest (close to throw away), and require much time & expense to work on 20"r. track.
PROBABLY the beat bang/buck are Athearn's 72 footers which you can upgrade, detail, - and still stay on the track. They are short replicas of ACF and Pullman built passenger cars built for the AT&SF.
Before you turn your nose up at ATSF style, prototypical passenger cars are $45 - $65, and will only work or look good on your straightaways. ConCor also made some 'Eastern' style 72 footers, but thy're retiring out of business.
BEST upgrades are solid NS 36" wheels for lowering center of gravity, and body mounted couplers like KD #36 couplers.