Schnauble (spelling?) Car

[Anonymous]

I'm looking for a schnauble car that is used for transporting large transformers. In all of the pictures I have of the cars, the transformer is an intrigal part of the car. I work for a company that used to use them quite often. I haven't been able to find a manufacture that offers a true version of the car, most are just low boy's with a medium size transforme on top. My modeling skills are not yet honed to the point of scratch building one. Any help in finding one would be very welcome.

John N

[Anonymous]

DUH!! I forgot, HO scale.

John N

[Anonymous]

These were the cars that would split in two,carry the load in the middle.I think I saw one for sale 20 years ago made in brass.Schnable maybe ?

[Anonymous]

It is spelled Schnabel and there aren'y any in plastic. There was a very pricey one in brass a couple of years ago. It isn't a difficult scratchbuild project for a first time project. I have built and need to paint a fairly good representation using two Athearn heavy duty flats for the ends and parts from an articulated Wakthers depressed center flat car. The load started out as a length of PVC pipe that was run through a table saw against a fence to put flats on the top and bottom. Various pieces of ABS and styrene represent the various fixtures. the pivot is two telescoping brass tubes epoxied to the deck of the Athearn flat. Railings are brass wire. If you do an internet search using Schnabvel you will find some excellent pictures on a couple of web sites to reference during building. I am hoping to fini***his car and submit it for publication in the near future. It won't win any contests but it is a fairly close represntation with minimal skills.

[Anonymous]

took your advice and did a search and found a very good one here: http://home.att.net/~Berliner-Ultrasonics/rrschnab.html#schndiag. Plenty of pictures and sketches. Just a very good place to see how they are currently used in transporting large loads these days.

thanks for the reply and advice!!

John

[Anonymous]

David Knowles is very knowledgeable about Schnabel cars. He has built several of them in HO. Try contacting him at [e-mail]. Alternately try contacting the C. Robert Craig Library. A search should find the URL, but re-post if you can't find it and I'll get it.

CanduRwy

[Anonymous]

John,
When I was living in Europe I picked up a plastic model made by a company known as Liliput. I latter sold it, however, it was pretty close to the one I saw here in the States.

John O.

[TheRedistributor]

I bought one about 5 yrs ago, HO scale. Think it was also available in O scale. Very nice car. At this time it is still packed away from my last move. Will try to find more info. for you in next few days (hopefully). Thanks to all of you for the ref. to site for pic. of schnabel cars.
For a short period of time, my brother worked for a trans. co. near Daleville, IN which used the cars to ship their large transformers. This was maybe about 10 yrs ago.

Bob

[TheRedistributor]

I found my schnaabel car and have additional info for you.
Model of the Month Award in Model Railroader January 1978, pg 80 was for a scratch built car. Ref. was made to Trains July 1973 article.
Product Review in M.R. July 1990, pg 37 was for the E & P Associates HO Schnabel car which became available about Dec 1989. In Aug 1990, E & P did not have any more available; and some of the dealers I checked did not have any either. The car sold for $325 and up.

November 1995, Overland Models Inc. had available their OMI - 3337.2 HO Schnabel Car with Transformer. It is marked WECX #202 Westinghouse. The car is light blue. Not sure of the price, but I found a note for $571.00.
I think OMI may have had the car available in
O scale at maybe $1,300.
This is all the info I have for you.

Bob

[Anonymous]

MTH has the largest "O" gauge car ever made. it is a two foot long Westinghouse Schnabel car which lists for about $100. A real beauty!!!!

[TheRedistributor]

Len, Thanks for the info regarding MTH Schnabel. I am going to check it out. I have HO, N, and O gauge and scale. Just might have to buy that car if still available and for the price you stated.

[Anonymous]

Kind of funny reading these posts on this particular car. About two years ago there was a semi-truck transporting a very large transformer down in Orlando Florida. He tried to go over a RR track and hung it up, about 10 minutes later the Amtrak out of Tampa moved the whole thing for him real fast. Maybe they ought to put them back on the rails. (chuckle)....Walt

[Anonymous]

I bet the train lost that one.Trucks are taking more of that business.I talked to a power company they said the big loads get in the way of the hot trains.So the power company ships by truck.

[Anonymous]

Bob, Thanks for the info. I have had the good fortune of a friend giving me his collection of MR which dates from '48 to '93. I have the Issues wof which you note. By the way, I work for Westinghouse and found some old sales brochures and that is where I got my interest piqued. Again Tahnks for the info. I will go to my library and look up the articles.

John

[Anonymous]

Walt, Although the seriousness of that matter is quite obvious, I got a big laugh from your comment.

Thanks,

John

[Anonymous]

Len,

Thanks for the info. Only problem is I model in HO. That won't stop me from looking at MTH for one manufactured in HO.

Thanks,

John

[Anonymous]

After looking at there site, No HO. Bummer.

John