I was very pleased to see that Athearn will be releasing the old Roundhouse Harriman 60' passenger cars in the RTR line.
They will of course be updated versions. The cars will have easily removable roofs for those who will want to add interior details. Unlike the Athearn RTR passenger cars the Harriman cars will be magnetically attached.
I have a set of the early roundhouse kits in the CPR livery and have been wanting to add a few cars, now I can. Just have to wait until November which is the release date.
I just realized that these coaches are no longer referred to as Harriman coaches.
I wonder what the reason is for that?
don7 I just realized that these coaches are no longer referred to as Harriman coaches. I wonder what the reason is for that?
Maybe, since they are freelanced Harriman cars, they don't want the rivet counting police sending them 800 E-mails about how incorrect they are.
Now, if we can just get them to do an undecorated version, I will buy a couple trains worth.
Sheldon
Apperently, Athearn thinks that "Harriman" is no longer the common name for the cars, so they went with the more technical sounding name: "Arch-roof coach". Probably similar to how Rapido ended up with "Osgood-Bradley" instead of "American Flyer", minus the copyright issues.
-Morgan
I wouldn't bet on the removeable roofs, my guess would be they'll be glued on just like the cabooses.
wjstix I wouldn't bet on the removeable roofs, my guess would be they'll be glued on just like the cabooses.
The Athearn/Roundhouse ad states that the roof sections are mounted with magnetic clasps.
http://www.athearn.com/newsletter/052411/09_RND_arch_RPO_052411.pdf
Shows that Athearn/Roundhouse was listening when the complaints came piling in when they released their RTR passenger coaches with the roofs firmly cemented. Almost impossible to remove with damaging the cars.
I bought three of these when I first joined the hobby. I couldn't get them to track reliably, and they are worse when shoved. I think they are too light; I had to add three ounces to the one car that seemed better than the others. Their trucks don't pivot cleanly.
I hope this latest batch is improved.
Crandell
selector I bought three of these when I first joined the hobby. I couldn't get them to track reliably, and they are worse when shoved. I think they are too light; I had to add three ounces to the one car that seemed better than the others. Their trucks don't pivot cleanly. I hope this latest batch is improved. Crandell
Where they kits? I think this is the first time these cars have been offered RTR, at least it is the first of them since Horizon bought MDC.
As kits they always needed extra weight and some "work" beyond just assembly, but for anyone with average kit building skills, they could be made into nice cars.
Still hope we see some undecorated ones.
Hi Sheldon,
If you open up Athearn's .pdf file you'll see that there is an undecorated version listed right below the Union Pacific scheme:
Looks like you'll be able to get your train after all!
(Too new for me though - I model pre-WW1. They do look like nice small cars, perfect for most people's layouts. I hope they do well.)
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Aharown Hi Sheldon, If you open up Athearn's .pdf file you'll see that there is an undecorated version listed right below the Union Pacific scheme: http://www.athearn.com/newsletter/052411/09_RND_arch_RPO_052411.pdf Looks like you'll be able to get your train after all! (Too new for me though - I model pre-WW1. They do look like nice small cars, perfect for most people's layouts. I hope they do well.)
Thank you, I only looked at them quickly on my Athearn newsletter and missed that. That's great, I'm making a list now for my favorite LHS where I buy all my Athearn.
First new thing I've wanted in quite a while now.
Now we need Athearn to do an undecorated version of the upgraded North Eastern caboose and the Bay Window caboose, both with their much improved hand rails.
Sheldon, come to think of it, yes, they were kits. Very easy to put together, even for a very wet and green rookie as I was at the time. I enjoyed that much of it. From the moment I placed them on the rails, though, the petals fell off those roses rather quickily.
selector Sheldon, come to think of it, yes, they were kits. Very easy to put together, even for a very wet and green rookie as I was at the time. I enjoyed that much of it. From the moment I placed them on the rails, though, the petals fell off those roses rather quickily. Crandell
I understand, out of the box, built exactly as provided, they were way too light and had truck and coupler problems. It was really no so much the trucks as it was the flimsy floor and the coupler mountings.
Passenger cars are the one area where I meet or exceed NMRA weight Recommended Practice.
So a car like these I will get up into the 6 oz range. That along with body mounted couplers usually does the trick - even for backing up long trains. But I do have broad curves and use mostly shorter passenger cars - like the Athearn and ConCor products.
I'm really glad that 60 ft.ers (although I think these are 62s?) are coming back. I much prefer celestory roofed cars but if I can finally get a milwaukee road set to go with my Rivarossi shorties, I'm in. I've been envying the ConCor versions but these look like a bargain.
Judging by the Athearn r.t.r. freight cars I've purchased in the last 2 years I'm feeling pretty confident that they'll upgrade/up weight these and have better trucks and wheels...
I have an NP 40' box car that is one of my very best rollers and trackers form their newer line so here's hoping.
Raised on the Erie Lackawanna Mainline- Supt. of the Black River Transfer & Terminal R.R.
Just a reminder that the expected delivery date of these cars is November. I have yet to see a manufacturer meet the initial shipment date of the first announcement. Most manufacturers emend the shipping date to a few months later.at a later date.
Just bought one of these, now deciding on the interior.
What lighting kit will work for these cars?
Anyone know if Red Cap line is still in business?
The Athearn newsletter you guys linked to mentions only an RPO car. Will coaches be offered too?
Hornblower
Picked up a few the other day--RPO and Baggage in Espee Pullman green. Needed some more head-end equipment for my Espee "Gold Coast" and these babies fit the bill just dandy.
Magnetic roof just as advertised, nicely weighted, free-rolling, track beautifully. Body mounted couplers. Probably take as small as a 22" radius, maybe even smaller, because of the 60' length. They're offered in RPO, Baggage, Combine, Coach, Diner and Obs. I don't think the prototype came in diner or obs, but I could be mistaken. But they look so good, who cares, LOL? Only thing they're lacking is lighting, interiors and operating diaphragms. I took care of the latter with American Model Builders made specifically for these cars.
I for one am glad to see them back. Of course, I grew up in Espee territory, so I saw a lot of these as a kid.
Tom
Tom View my layout photos! http://s299.photobucket.com/albums/mm310/TWhite-014/Rio%20Grande%20Yuba%20River%20Sub One can NEVER have too many Articulateds!
Tom, correct that the prototypes never included a diner or obs....but SP converted 3 to all day lunch counter cars, so technically.....
Dave
Crandell:
I agree, when I first purchased them they were lousy runners, so the WTRR shop got a hold of them and changed out the wheels: Kadee, changed to metal trucks, added weights, by the way mine were in semi kit form so I could insert weights and that made a big difference. I have since sold them but they did do a lot better.
Robert Sylvester, WTRR