Passenger Cars You Want, But Are Not Made In HO Scale

[Texas Zepher]

ATSFGuy

15. Santa Fe   "California Limited"

What special equipment was used in the California Limited?  I thought it was equipped with all manufacturer's catalog equipment.  Mostly PS.

[ATSFGuy]

Who wants to see the "1948 Chessie Streamliner" in HO Scale?  Those M1 Steam Turbines pulling 13 Streamlined cars, one of which is the "Moonlight Dome".

I have seen HO streamliner sets offered by Coachyard, But I think Walthers should lower the prices on the new product releases and produce streamliners that have been on our waiting list for years.

 

Here's 15 Streamliners that might sell

 

1. Norfolk & Western  "City of Decatur"

2. Central of Georgia  "Nancy Hanks I & II"

3. Erie Lackawanna  "Erie Lackawanna Limited" or

"Phoebe Snow"

4. Southern Railway  "Crescent Limited"

5. Soo Line "Laker"

6. Louiseville & Nashville  "Hummingbird"

7. Rock Island  "Californian"

8. Monon "Throughbred"

9. Gulf Mobile & Ohio "Midnight Special"

10. Texas & Pacific "Texas Eagle"

11. Seaboard Air Line  "Silver Comet"

12. Pennsylvania  Manhattan Limited"

13. Nickel Plate Road  "City of Chicago"

14. Delaware & Hudson  "Montreal Limited"

15. Santa Fe   "California Limited

 

These streamliners are found in the Roundhouse on trainweb.

 1. Type in "the roundhouse train web" on google

 2. Where it says www.trainweb.org/mccan/offer.htm, click on the link above

 3. Your'e In!   Classic Streamliners 1960's is where I got the names.

[SETH CRAWFORD]

What we need is for someone to do a specialty run on the NC&StL's "City of Memphis" I have a feeling Walthers can do it fairly easily. At least they made Southern streamline passenger cars. 

 

But if you wanted my opion on the matter, I'm sick to death of constantly seeing SP and UP and other various western railroads on the market. Being a Southern guy it annoys me to death seeing it all the time and barely any effort on the rest of the nation let alone the southeast. And the people that do are super expensive (take a gander at Rapido's Central of Georgia baggage cars and that's all they did smh) or the like. It's gotten so bad that it's making me consider starting my own company selling nothing but railroads from the southeast and some from the midwest and specialty runs on northeastern stuff. But that's just me, I have no idea what I would be doing XD

 

But yeah the market definately needs more from the dixieland and less from the west coast. 

[Lone Wolf and Santa Fe]

Athearn actually made the cars I want but not enough of them. Metrolink bombardier coaches. They sell out quickly and then they are gone forever. They cost two or three times retail price to buy them used. Seems like Athearn is losing money! HINT HINT HINT!!! DUH!!! Come on slackers, get with it.

This special edition would be nice too:

I might have to do crowd funding to get them to make a special run of the coach with the California Angels wrap.

 

[De Luxe]

That SP dome of yours looks great! Love the details!

What I miss in HO scale the most are good and accurate open platform passenger cars from the 1860s to 1880s era. For example an 1870s UP/CP transcontinental passenger train featuring RPOs, baggages, coaches, diners, sleepers and observations featuring full interiors and with the abilty to be lighted would be something I´d buy immediately.

More variation with heavyweight combination cars would be appreciated too. For example baggage coaches, baggage dormitorys, baggage lounges, baggage club cars.

Modernized heavyweight cars are also way underrepresented. There were a lot of modernized heavyweight baggages, coaches, diners and sleepers in operation on many roads, and they surely deserve to be produced as models. I would especially be interested in Southern Railway modernized heavyweight cars because SR owned many of them, and because they are a must-have if you wanna model Southerns excursion trains from their 70s/80s steam excursion program.

[RR_Mel]

The Southern Pacific built their own Daylight ¾ Dome/Lounge cars (7 total) so I kitbashed my own.

 

 

 

This was a 72’ Athearn streamlined lounge car before it became an SP 72’ ¾ Dome/Lounge.

 

 

 

 

Mel

 

Modeling the early to mid 1950s SP in HO scale since 1951

 

My Model Railroad   

http://melvineperry.blogspot.com/

 

Bakersfield, California

 

I'm beginning to realize that aging is not for wimps.

[yougottawanta]

ATSF

I think a lot has to do with cost of developing the product. A larger RR will sell more because it has a broader visibility. Thus the cost to selling ratio leaves room for a profit. That is why of course they arte in teh market.

With that said it also helps to be patient and keeping your ears and eyes open. Eventually meduim sized RR are offered BUT ehn they do become available you must be ready to snatch teh product up.

I would also like to welcome you to the forum and invite you to Jeffries diner where we talk on and off subject, within certain restrictions. If you drop by we will treat you to apiece of Flo's awsome pies and a cup of joe.

YGW

[mobilman44]

I want a streamlined (lightweight) Walthers Illinois Central tail end car and an RPO.  They have these for the heavyweights, why not for the lightweights?

 

[doctorwayne]

rrebell

.....a lot of us just want the details and roadname and could care less if our road accually had them, after all, they could have if they wanted and could afford. You also have to relise that a lot don't have room for 22" radius, let alone anything more and even if they run around an 18" curve, they look real funny doing so. That's why I said 50' cars. I have a fair size layout but went with 18" min radius because the freight I run and engines look fine on it and I needed a few return loops without using up too much room. MDC made overtons and overlands in this venue (now produced by someone else) but they didn't do the same with newer cars.

For those wanting shorter cars (and by extension of that, ones which are not necessarily strictly prototypical), I suggest you look to the older Athearn and Rivarossi passenger cars.  Any of those can be shortened fairly easily, and New England Rail Services offer parts to change window arrangements on the Rivarossi heavyweights - some are adaptable to the Athearn cars, too, and may be of use on other manufacturers' more recent offerings.

Here's a Rivarossi combine with NERS windows added to make a more commonly seen combine, with the short baggage section and more seating area:

These cars are easily shortened, too, although depending on where you make the cuts, you may need to fabricate a new underbody - none of this work is especially difficult, and you can create many cars which are otherwise unavailable.

An Athearn observation car, shortened and with revised windows:

The MDC Harriman cars can be easily shortened, and the baggage and RPO cars, I think, would have some prototypes, too.  These cars could also be spliced together for longer versions, as could the Athearn cars.

Has anybody tried the NERS windows in the passenger cars from Branchline and Walthers?  I'm not saying that they'll fit, but perhaps they will or perhaps a simple modification will allow them to fit.

Here's a Rivarossi 12-1 Pullman converted to a solarium lounge using the NERS windows:

...or how about a combine from a shortened Rivarossi diner:

For anyone wanting wooden baggage cars, Rivarossi heavyweights of any type are fairly easy to convert, and the length can be up to the individual modeller:

Athearn cars are only slightly more work:

Branchline (Atlas) and Walthers heavyweights, with their separate sides should be even easier to convert.

Instead of hoping that some manufacturer will produce that one-of-a-kind postal/aquarium/solarium/diner owned only by the XY&Z railroad, why not learn how to create it yourself?  The older cars I've mentioned can be had at very reasonable prices, and even the newer ones aren't all that expensive.  There are lots of detail parts available, various passenger-style trucks, and, with the rivet decals offered by Archer and Micro Mark, even new steel sides can be built from styrene sheet and strip materials from Evergreen.

Wayne

 

[DigitalGriffin]

C&O heavyweights in pullman green.

Proper baggage/rpo/observation for the PM also would be nice for many.

C&O and B&O Mixed car trains (B&O cars relabeled)...The C&O became quite a mutt of different cars in her later years.  I want an excuse for a dome car. :-D

[ACY Tom]

Walthers has released versions of the Broadway Limited, but some of that train's cars were unique and not quite right for other PRR trains. If Walthers would release a P-S plan 4131 "...Falls" 6BR-Lounge, and a plan 4134 "PRR Presidents" 2DR-1Cpt-1BR-Buffet/Observation car, then modelers could correctly represent the Liberty Limited, the Spirit of St. Louis, and the Cincinnati Limited. The latter train would be enhanced with the addition of plan 4140 10-6 sleepers in the unique Tuscan Red livery with L&N lettering for through service to Nashville, Louisville, and Memphis. This car has been released previously, but never in that paint scheme. 

Another suggestion is the plan 4153 (A, B, etc.) 14-4 sleeper, with fluted and plain sides.

Tom

(edited with correction 3/12/16)

[jrbernier]

The new WalthersMainline Budd cars are full length and will run on 18" curves.

   To go around 18" radius curves, they use 'talgo' coupler mounts.  They are next to impossible to back up with this arrangement...

Jim

[riogrande5761]

Renegade1c

Modern Rio grande ski train cars. I'm talking about the cars built by Hawker Siddley originally for the CN's tempo cars trains. These are the ones that replaced the heavyweights the Rio grande used for a long time.  I keep hoping that Rapido will come out with them since they are a Canadian built car.

There is a guy who has modeled the later era ski train cars:

http://actionroad.net/LaPlataDivision/LPD-Equipment-Passenger.htm

I think even more needed are the much longer used ex-NP heavy weight chair cars used on the Ski train for around 30 years up until 1988!

Also the Prospector cars.

[MRTerry]

cbq9911a

 

 

ATSFGuy

Hello,

I have noticed that many passenger trains or roads in the southeast/northeast do not have passenger cars available in HO Scale. If we want a certain car and there is no RTR model, we either have to buy expensive brass or purchase the exact same car sides from Union Station Products, which to some can be a headache to assemble.

 

What is the reason behind this, are some manufacturers playing it safe when it comes to passenger trains?, or do railroads east of Chicago (including Maine) have low appeal as opposed to roads out west?

 

Any input would helpful

 

 

 

First, Athearn streamliners with correct Budd or Pullman Standard roofs. Second, an Athearn streamliner with a Budd short dome.  These are for the people who have tight curves where 80' cars won't work.

Third, make and sell the core shell and the sides for Walther's cars a la carte.  This would make "exotic" cars - like the 1956 Denver Zephyr sleepers - a more reasonable proposition.

Fourth, make the 1936 Twin Cities (Nebraska) Zephyr in plastic.  The Nebraska Zephyr has a following; you'd probably make your minimum run quantity if you sold the cars $ 30.00 each.

 

The new WalthersMainline Budd cars are full length and will run on 18" curves.

[Anonymous]

Paul3

Don't get me wrong, I know B&M, MEC and BAR locos sell, but would their passenger cars?

They have and do.  Rapido ran Osgood Bradley lightweights in B&M in both Hunter? green and Maroon.  They are for the most part sold out.

Paul3

Or at least as well as roads out of Chicago? Apparently not, at least accoding to the manufacturers to date.

 

Not as well as the Chicago roads, however Atlas is running B&M passenger cars in the next year.  Bethlehem Car works makes several different passenger cars, but the kits are somewhat advanced.  What I find odd is that the manufacturers could make PRR and DL&W commuter coaches (dont remember which cars exactly) and offer them in Boston and Maine with little or no modification.

[ATSFGuy]

Lots of good suggestions here

 

Here is are two cars that definitely needs to be made

 

1. The luxurious 2-double-bedroom, 1-drawing-room observation "La Mirada"

the car built for the "Golden Rocket"

 

2. A Unique Sleeper Car (8 roomettes 6 bedrooms) RI used cars like this on the

"Rocky Mountain Rocket" and the "Golden State".

 

(tried to insert a photo of the observation, it did not go through).

any info on how to do this would be appreciated.

[eric2448]

Would like to see the WWII US Army Hospital cars produced in plastic. First for my model of the 40's and 50's Ringling Bros train as they purchased a number of them for their fleet. Second I would like them in their as built Army colors as they were neat looking cars. Cant afford the brass when they pop up. I do have a nice collection of the final run of wood/metal kits Walthers did in the 80's. Been working on the under frames and have yet to complete a car.

[Da Stumer]

Anything Korail (Korean national railroad). There isn't a market for model trains there, so nothing is really made.

[cbq9911a]

ATSFGuy

Hello,

I have noticed that many passenger trains or roads in the southeast/northeast do not have passenger cars available in HO Scale. If we want a certain car and there is no RTR model, we either have to buy expensive brass or purchase the exact same car sides from Union Station Products, which to some can be a headache to assemble.

 

What is the reason behind this, are some manufacturers playing it safe when it comes to passenger trains?, or do railroads east of Chicago (including Maine) have low appeal as opposed to roads out west?

 

Any input would helpful

First, Athearn streamliners with correct Budd or Pullman Standard roofs. Second, an Athearn streamliner with a Budd short dome.  These are for the people who have tight curves where 80' cars won't work.

Third, make and sell the core shell and the sides for Walther's cars a la carte.  This would make "exotic" cars - like the 1956 Denver Zephyr sleepers - a more reasonable proposition.

Fourth, make the 1936 Twin Cities (Nebraska) Zephyr in plastic.  The Nebraska Zephyr has a following; you'd probably make your minimum run quantity if you sold the cars $ 30.00 each.

[Soo Line fan]

A set of Soo heavyweights by Athearn or Con Cor.

[wjstix]

I'd like to see Walthers re-run their HO heavyweight solarium observation car, as a couple of the railroads I like used similar cars.

I'd also like to see heavyweight and streamlined baggage-coach combines that are roughly 1/4 baggage and 3/4 coach. Many railroads had cars like that, but I don't know that any have been modelled in plastic.

(Many "Top of the line" passenger trains like New York Central's heavyweight Twentieth Century, or Chicago & NorthWestern's 400, had combines like that, because they rarely carried express or mail so only needed a small area for the passenger's baggage.)

[Renegade1c]

Modern Rio grande ski train cars. I'm talking about the cars built by Hawker Siddley originally for the CN's tempo cars trains. These are the ones that replaced the heavyweights the Rio grande used for a long time.  I keep hoping that Rapido will come out with them since they are a Canadian built car.

I found a good deal on the tail car and I am working on the other two private cars now but I really want a model of them. I have been working on a 3D Cad model of them so maybe I can get it built by shapeways. We will see...

[ho modern modeler]

Amen to the Seaboard Sun Lounge and Viewliners

Still no Auto Train autorack cars (the newer Amtrak ones) in HO

Walthers needs to make an Illinois Central Name Train

[gmpullman]

Dreams really DO come true!

Just this morning I got a notification from Brass Trains that this set is available (see my reply at the top of this page)

http://www.brasstrains.com/Classic/Product/Detail/070354/HO-Brass-Models-OMI-Magellan-Presidential-Car-Army-Communications-Car-Army-Hospital-Car-3-Car-Set-

I'm opening a "Fund Me" site now... anyone care to donate 

[edit:] Well, you can put your wallets away—they're sold already and I was just dusting off one of my gold ingots to sell!

I'm with others on their suggestions for more "betterment" cars, B&O and PRR especially and for more head-end stuff.

I was lucky to get a few of the Walthers HW baggage and RPOs when they were available back in the day. I like to run mail and express trains with lots of mail storage, express, former troop sleepers and Flexi-Van cars with a rider coach bringing up the rear.

More discussion here:

 

 http://cs.trains.com/mrr/f/88/t/248333.aspx

Happy modeling, Ed

[7j43k]

Texas Zepher

 

7j43k

I'd like to see the SP&S lightweights made for the NCL and the Builder.

 

 

Walther's did the 7-4-3-1, 6-5-2, and coach in SP&S (and CB&Q) in their first run of the Empire Builder.  I have them.  They didn't do the baggage-dorm or 6-3 lounge though.

As near as I can tell the current run is only painted Great Northern although it looks like the stock numbers remain the same.  In the original run the SP&S were 920-9057, 920-9074, and 920-9093.

 

 

 

Ah, quite true.  I was thinking of (and neglected to say) the ones used on SP&S trackage only.  As opposed to cars that were regular parts of the through trains:

 

#75   baggage-dorm (as noted in quote)

#405 diner

#600-601 sleeper-lounge (as noted in quote)

 

I also wouldn't mind ole #31, one of the few baggage-RPO's lightweights with 6-wheel trucks.

 

And then there's the flat-top coaches.  I figure those will be taken care of when/if Walthers does the NCL.

 

 

Ed

[dstarr]

If they don't make it, you can kit bash it, scratch build it, or do without.

 

[rrebell]

Texas Zepher

I have to start by saying that the number, variety, and quality of passenger cars is amazing today compared to what is was 20 years ago. I remember all the wall cutting window filling and things that had to be done to get something close to some of the prototypes.

Plus the engineering of the Walther's cars makes it pretty easy to make new 'sides' for the existing frames and just “snap” them on, I cannot complain at all.

As for the lack of heavy weights, the ones that have been produced recently have not been well received. Thinking mostly of the late Branchline models now owned by Atlas. Even the Walther's runs I've been able to pick up in mass quantites on clearance, because apparently no one else wants them.

From the title.... cars I want include the Santa Fe mail containers, the NP dome sleeper, the Santa Fe Navajo tail car, the blunt end dome observation used on the Denver Zephyr, and the Pullman Sun Lounge.  One can never have too many head end cars of all types and road names.

 

That is partly due to proto stuff that is going around, but a lot of us just want the details and roadname and could care less if our road accually had them, after all, they could have if they wanted and could afford. You also have to relise that a lot don't have room for 22" radius, let alone anything more and even if they run around an 18" curve, they look real funny doing so. That's why I said 50' cars. I have a fair size layout but went with 18" min radius because the freight I run and engines look fine on it and I needed a few return loops without using up too much room. MDC made overtons and overlands in this venue (now produced by someone else) but they didn't do the same with newer cars.

[riogrande5761]

D&RGW P-S Prospector cars. Any common 1960's SP passenger car.

[richhotrain]

fmilhaupt

 

 

richhotrain

How about Monon passenger cars in black and gold?

Has any manufacturer ever made them?

Rich 

 

Walthers made these in their older-style kit, with milled wooden roof, wood floor, cast metal ends and stamped metal sides, but nobody has done these in plastic. The kits surface from time to time, but tend to be grabbed up pretty quickly, since the sides can be applied to more modern core kits.

IHC made Monon heavyweights in red/gray, and recently Rapido made streamlined coaches in red/gray but, sadly, no black/gold. 

[fmilhaupt]

richhotrain

How about Monon passenger cars in black and gold?

Has any manufacturer ever made them?

Rich 

 

Walthers made these in their older-style kit, with milled wooden roof, wood floor, cast metal ends and stamped metal sides, but nobody has done these in plastic. The kits surface from time to time, but tend to be grabbed up pretty quickly, since the sides can be applied to more modern core kits.

 

A few years ago, I assembled one for a friend, I kept the wooden floor, but used a plastic Train Station Products roof and ends and supplemented the cast metal details on the underbody with pieces from New England Rail Services. It turned out pretty nicely.

 

I want to say that the kits were released in the late 1970s/early 1980s.