Bi-Level Passanger Cars

[Anonymous]

On the Burlington Northern Railroad they used
Bi-level passanger cars. I would like to know if
they are still in use today. If so, on what railroads? I believe most were corregated steel.
Did Metra aquire some of these? How about the
Chicago & North Western? And were they produced
by Budd Car Co.?

[thirdrail1]

Quite a few railroads use double deck cars. They are used extensively in the Chicago area by Metra, including double deck electric cars on the old IC lines. They are also used in San Francisco. The UTDC type double deckers are used in Toronto, Los Angeles, Seattle, and Miami. Budd ceased paasEnger car production years ago.

[thirdrail1]

Quite a few railroads use double deck cars. They are used extensively in the Chicago area by Metra, including double deck electric cars on the old IC lines. They are also used in San Francisco. The UTDC type double deckers are used in Toronto, Los Angeles, Seattle, and Miami. Budd ceased passEnger car production years ago.

[Anonymous]

Going back to the 50's and later, the Bi-levels were used by almost all diesel commuter rails going into downtown Chgo. The Burlington, Chgo No.Western, Milwaukee road, Rock Island. Surburban Commuter operations were eventually taken over by the Regional Transportation Authority including expanded bus service. This authortiy was re-organized into
Metra. Some of the origial CNW bi-levels are now on display at the Illinois Railway Museum at Union
Illinois north-west of Chgo.

[MAbruce]

It should also be noted that Con-cor recently released these cars in N-scale.

You can take a look at them here:

http://all-railroads.com/instock/nbilevel.htm

[dknelson]

The CB&Q cars were corrugated stainless steel. They are still in service. HO models are available from Three Brothers (see the Walthers catalog). The C&NW cars were smooth side. Some are still in service but are being phased out. HO models are available from Three Brothers and, soon, Walthers.

[StarCraft]

The CB&Q stainless steel bi-levels are still in service under the Metra name. Three Brothers does make the HO scale model, but Walthers Bi-level coach will be available in April and the cab car in May. I heard that there are problems with the Three Brothers models in that it's difficult to assemble because the kit is made up of 3 different materials: wood, plastic and metal. I guess even the strongest CA adhesive has a hard time keeping the wood and metal together, as well as metal to plastic joints. I'll wait for the Walthers cars. The pre-production models were at the train show in Milwaukee in November, very sharp looking models!!

[dknelson]

I am waiting for the Walthers cars (smooth side) too -- I have some Three Brothers kits that I have not started yet. These are improved reworkings of rather old kits from Holgate & Reynolds. With careful workmanship they built up into decent looking cars.
Dave Nelson (Fox Point)

[Anonymous]

Assuming we are on the same HO track here, Walthers
Train Shop sent out a spring flyer listing the new Pullman-Standard Bi-Level Coaches for April dely @$32.98 plus light kit for $10.98.
Cabs for May dely, var rd names including CNW, metra & regional transportation authority(RTA)

Call 1-800-4trains

[Anonymous]

Can any one tell me how to get these metra bi-levels to not derail on 22" radius curves
I'm having a hell of a time with them.

[Anonymous]

I've got a set of these bilevels in C&NW livery, and I agree they're not too keen on sharp curves. Unfortunately, I can't offer much advice on sorting this problem. You could try swapping them for some of the Athearn bilevels - these are fine on sharper curves as they have inside-bearing trucks.

I'd really like to see (as a rtr model) one of the food service cars that were operated with these bilevels - from the photos I've seen they had a couple of windows blanked out but were otherwise identical to the normal version. C'mon Walthers, why not make some, they'd sell to all the people who bought the PS bilevels and cab cars

[MAbruce]

I understand that some of these old Metra/C&NW cars were refurbished and are now starting to appear on the Virginia Railway Express. Here is a recent picture:

http://www.railimages.com/albums/alexbuchanan/aai.jpg

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by johnv19954

Can any one tell me how to get these metra bi-levels to not derail on 22" radius curves
I'm having a hell of a time with them.

Check the rail, make sure the joints are snug in the turns, check the wheels making sure they are in gauge, then check the weight. if all that's right, then run them on 24" instead.

[AltonFan]

The original bi-level cars are gradually being replaced by new corrugated stainless steel cars that conform to the standards of the Americans with Disabilities Act, and have provision for ditch lights on the cars equipped with control cabs for push-pull operation. I don't recall the builder, but they opened a factory in the Chicago area just to build these cars.