streetcar poll

[Jetrock]

The S70's are very sweet--got to see some under construction at the Siemens plant, as well as one of the older U2's on the Siemens test track. But nobody makes a model of the S70 or the U2 yet--I have seen a model of the (now-retired) San Francisco MUNI LRV but not any of the Siemens products.

This thread is mostly focused on heritage/older streetcars, but LRV's are part of the discussion too, and definitely something that would fit into a modern modeler's layout better than an old Jewett or Niles, as lovely as those are...

[Anonymous]

To date I have collected an H.O., a Bowser P.C.C., Akane [brass] Peter Whit, P.F.M. San Diego car [lt. weight interurban also brass]. In 'G' gauge, I scratch built a [all steel C.E.] Cincinnati Car Co. interurban {1920] built for Kansas, City Clay County and St. Joseph R.R. The H.O. cars run on the upper level of the layout, "dog bone" for continuous running. The C.C.Co. car runs outside intermittently with an Aristro gas-electric. The latter runs mixed passenger and freight. Passing siding makes simultaneous operation possible. By the way, Tampa, Fl. is currently running double truck Birnys in Ybor City (downtown section).
As a Kid in K.C., Mo., I rode single truck Birnys [gulp!] which shuttled riders to north-south [through] lines that ran Peter Whits (front car entry, center car exit) and St. Louis Car Co. built P.C.C.'s. K.C., Mo. also ran some earlier vintage double truck cars which I have not been able to trace to the builder. They looked similar to the New Orleans Pearly Thomas cars but I can only guess that St. Louis Car Co. may be the builder.

[Anonymous]

I've seen a Model San Diego Trolley U2 before, but that was a while back

Ted, that is a wide collection, is there a chance you could post some Pictures of a few of them? [:D]

[Jetrock]

I'd love to get my hands on a U2 model--I'm working on a Sacramento trolley layout, and it would be fun to run a modern LRV alongside the old PG&E Birneys!

I just stripped the paint off my Ken Kidder single-truck Birneys--next step is to do a mass painting of them and my two-truck Kidder Birneys in one fell swoop.

[Anonymous]

I visited the Baltimore Trolley Museum as a child and they are still in operation today. You can find them on the internet as they have a good site. I probably would want a big fat Peter Witt or a PCC.. however there are no readily availible plastic models that carry high detail, have the ability to place people figures in them, lights and perhaps a interior and still operates.

Perhaps I ask for too much but if I find one it will probably be a happy day indeed. I am not a trolley fan but I would like to be able to run a line past the passenger depot to show that people used to change to the passenger train at the depot back in the 50's

[Anonymous]

ja4ca, I will do what I can for posting photos as soon as I get the hang of the process. I'm told that photos from a "throw-away" camera can be transferred to disc? Oh, I gave you a "bum steer" on the San Diego car. It is a S.D.E.Rwy #400-449 [series5] imported by Pacific Traction, San Diego, CA. The Akane (Japan) Peter Witt is a side mounted open frame motor with double spring driven pullys to the worm gear in the truck. This mechanism is something straight from the bowels of hell but the body shell (brass) detail is superb. I will repower, of course. The Bowser P.C.C. casting (white metal) is satisfactory only because it isn't plastic. I had to channel the mountings for proper rail to body clearence. This too needs to be repowered. Bowser also sold an early Brill double ended car, clerestory roof and the Indiana Railroad interurban [lt. weight], prototype mfgs. American Car Foundry and Pullman Car Company. All of those cars were white metal castings needing a lot of clean-up. OKay, happy traction and may you never split a "grand union" turnout.

[trolleyboy]

Ted Bowser still makes all those models I've purchased examples of them all recently.They have been remotered an upgrad recently and they do sell the new drives separatly and these will fit the older shells. i've found that the castings are a lot cleaner now as well so not as much prep work is required. The new drives are quieter and run much more smoothly now as well. Custom traxx also sells the repower kits and does painting for them as well the examples on their websight are quite nice looking. TB

[Anonymous]

TB, thank you so much for that information. I will be looking into ordering a new drive today. Perhaps I'll purcahse the newer version as well. Two P.C.C.'s are never too many. The biggest bugaboo with the old casting was drilling and filing out the last windows on the rear of the car. Thanks again, T.D.K.

[Anonymous]

Oh, I forgot to mention that HARTline srteet car system (Tampa, Fl) is currently under investigation for fraudulent business practices. I'm not sure what the future will hold for this infant. My info. is that these new replicas (clones) double truck Birneys are a product of Gomaco Trolly Co., Ida Grove, Iowa. Believe me the old Birneys never looked so good inside. Web site: www.tecolinestreetcar.org Tel. [phone]. If anyone wishes more info. just leave message on the forum. Thanks TB happy tractioneering.

[trolleyboy]

ted I didn't have to drill out the back windows they were already clear opn the PCC I purchased 5 months ago runs like a swiss watch as well. What aare you using for windows though I'm stumped so my cars are sans glass at the moment. drop me an email if you like as this thread isn't new and has been slowly sinking into the back pages. Rob

[Anonymous]

A 2 truck Brill with a "combine" type layout. Kinds like the Hagerstown & Frederick Rwy #s 171 & 172. They would look great with my scratchbult Thurmont MD station and a Western Maryland passenger train!

[trolleyboy]

Have any off you got any input on the Labelle Sac&northern combine or the bowser Jewett combine i'm looking to add one or the other(or both) to the roster. I know what to expect as far as finish and operations from the bowser but i'm unsure of it's prototype.I've never attempted the labelle kits but their combine is a dead ringer for the Montreal and Southern Counties combine our museum has and operates. So any input oneither would be welcome. Rob

[Jetrock]

I have the LaBelle SN combine kit--you'll need to buy trucks, trolley poles, and if you want it powered, a power truck and motor. One thing I do know about the SN coach and combine is that they were a bit narrow--the SN, being an "electric steam railroad" in many respects, used cars that were more like railroad width than most interurbans.

It's a nice kit, though, even if I'm still a bit afraid to build the darn thing. All those little wooden parts make my teeth hurt...a wooden building I don't mind if I get a little off, because I can just write it off to weathering, and the thing doesn't have to MOVE AROUND THE LAYOUT...

[trolleyboy]

Jet thanks for the input the MS&C also had very narrow cars as they had to cross the Victoria bridge over the st lawrence river so none of their equipment was railroad width so I'm going to order it. I'd been coresponding with Rick the owner of Labelle and I feel that he's putting out a good product. TB

[trolleyboy]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Jetrock

trolleyboy: I have two Ken Kidder double-truck Birneys with plastic bodies. The body detail is amazing, the trolley poles are cheap fakes and the motor is an absolutely dreadful open-frame thing that has two speeds--stationary and flat-out. Definitely a candidate for repowering!

I also have two brass Birneys--also with dreadful motors. I need to break down and order some Sagami can motors with worm gears from NWSL and just repower them...

Oh yeah, AMB Laser-Kit is contemplating releasing a double-truck Birney based on the Ken Kidder design. Here's a link:

http://www.rgspemkt.com/DTBirney-1.html

Guy's take a look at this project and his crane car as well click on the crane car for more pics and info hopefully enough of us respond to him annd he desides to go ahead with both they are just what the dr ordered for this branch of the hobby.[:D][:D][:D] rob

[trolleyboy]

Just revisiting this one.(not to alarm all the poll problems lately)Traction modelers I've just purchased a couple of really good new books on the prototype.They cover mostly Canadian stuff but the info and pics are an excellent info soarce.It's a three book series so far fromthe Bytown Railway society called the Canada Traction heritage series.Two manufacturer books on the Ottawa Car company. Book two streetcar builders of Canada it covers preston car an coach/canadian brill and the tilsonberg electric co. and book three is a good info book on the Montreal and Southern Counties.We sell all three at our museum gift shop www.hcry.org and coast for all three(soft back) is approx $50CDN you could also get them from the society themselves as well.www.bytownrailwaysociety.ca.The book isn't sold too many places in the US but many Cdn hobby shops sell their books as well.For the non trolley guys they do publish regular railway books as well.Just real good reads and proto info.I recomend them. Rob

[trolleyboy]

Hey everyone,i've managed to get an old Ken Kidder DT birney(plastic) the motor is well not par excellance.What is the best replacement motor for these little guys.Also since the tenshodo spud trucks are no more who makes a good power truck with small motor attached. I would like to get a small supply for some scratch building projects i've got in mind. Thanks in advance. Rob

[Anonymous]

Try asking over at the Yahoo Trolley or Interurban groups.

Also the "BIG" wire heads meet is held by East Penn Traction (http://www.eastpenn.org/)
and will be in May this year. Info on their page.

Enjoy,

-OT

[trolleyboy]

Thanks OT a question though I've never used the Yahoo groups.How do you find them and do you need to be a member.MRRing I know ,internet not so know. cheers TB

[dinwitty]

I have the brass and plastic Kidder Birneys and both need a serious motor and drive train workover.
Thanx for the birney link, I saw that before. I have been tinkering on a NWSL powering bash, perhaps the best adoption is the Keystone Shay repower kit without the sideframes which they can sell minus the frames.

Streetcars are the best when you can run a bazillion at once with DCC, thats what makes them fun.

I will be focusing on interurban style with freight operations the center of attention with passenger runs a part of it, since I will model both North Shore and South Shore and maybe even some eastern mini-electric line to do some freight work.

[Jetrock]

Joining a Yahoo-group is pretty easy: just go to www.yahoo.com and click on Groups, and then sign up. You do need to start a membership but it's not much harder than becoming a member here: you can choose whether you want emails sent to your email account, or just check the messages online like you do here.

About repowering those Kidder Birneys: I'm still thinking about that one. There are a couple of possibilities.

First is kitbashing the Bowser trolley repowering kit--it is intended for replacing Bowser's older open-frame motors but should work fine. It would require opening up some space in the floor of the Kidder Birney, which I am admittedly hesitant to do.

Second is to use a Bachmann Brill trolley power truck--they are very compact and are pretty good little motors for the cost. There's an article in an old MR (early 1989 I think), from the O'Dell County Traction series, on how to wire these for overhead operation pretty easily. The sideframes wouldn't be correct but I can live with that, and one can pick up Bachmann Brills at train shows and eBay for $10 or less. Set aside the Bachmann body for some other project (turn it into a diner, or weather it severely and set it on a sidetrack with a FOR SALE sign on it, I dunno.)

Tenshodo SPUDs and NWSL PDT's aren't really the best things for double-trucked trolleys, because the wheelbase is generally too large--those things are really intended for freight motors, or single-truck Birneys (the NWSL PDT with 8' wheelbase and 26" engines should fit a Kidder single-truck Birney perfectly--IF I CAN ONLY FIND ONE!)

Heh. A book publisher is doing a series of books on local history. I'm going to try to pitch a book on Sacramento's trolley systems to them...if they bite, there will be another traction book in the mix!!

[trolleyboy]

Thanks Jet the more the merrier as far as the books go.Heres athought albeit an expensive one what about using the MDC critter drive as a power sorce.This is something I've been pondering for a while.Also if one were to scratch build single truck cars.what have we got left as far as trucks go.The old AHM single truck trolley is as common as hen's teeth any more I've managed to squirrel away two but I don't want to remove them from their cars, I've repainted them to home road an redetailed them so their not half bad. Regards Rob

[Jetrock]

For a single-truck Birney I suppose the MDC critter would work, but one could simply buy a new motor and worm gear and probably get the same effect.

I have seen hatfuls of the various single-truck trolleys on eBay, and of course Bachmann is still making their PCC and Brill.

[trolleyboy]

Hey one other possibility is the flea drives if they are still available they can power just two axles.One other thing is there are some brit shops which carry euro equipment and parts so some of them look to be possible for repowering and powering any scratched products. heres one good one. www.ehattons.com or www.modeltrams.co.uk I'm thinking worth a look. Rob

[Anonymous]

I'd quite like to see the Corgi diecast trams offered ready to run - at the moment you have to dismantle them and fit power trucks instead of the moulded plastic "rollers" they come with. Cost overall works out at about £40 assuming you have to pay full list price for the tram (£20, though you can get them for less with a little searching). I refuse to believe Corgi couldn't turn out powered versions to run on 16.5mm gauge track for around £25-£30 or so - Bachmann manage to offer diesel locos for less than this!

Having said that, reading the trolley modelling posts has inspired me to find the Corgi Blackpool "balloon" tram I bought a few years ago and find the supplier for the motorising kits. I also found somewhere offering the grooved rails needed for proper street tracks at www.modeltrams.co.uk though they only seem to have switches and crossovers at the moment, no standard rail. They used to offer it many years ago so here's hoping they start again!

[trolleyboy]

Matt go to the east pen website as well they have an extensive links section with all sorts of usefull trolley manufacturers listed. I've seen several corgi power kits available on these link pages most are for the large scale pcc's but I beleave the smaller ones were listed as well. Cheers Rob

[trolleyboy]

Just dragging this back for another go round.Since last visited, some new a wonderfulls in the trolley field have popped up. Interested traction modekllers take a peek at www.minaturesbyeric.com Besides their usual fare of rail detail parts, they have added quite a few new traction details in O and HO. Including body kits for a steeple cab a couple of pacific electric units, and a double cabbed dump car and a flat work motor kit. the last two are resin kits the pacific electrics and the steeple cab are an etched brass type kit. Nice resin underframe detail kits are made by them as well. These will dress up the sparce undercarrige of bowser kits quite nicely. Also since I last posted to this thread, I've openned a railimages account take a peek lots of the musuem i'm withs equipment is presented there. Happy modelling Rob.

[Jetrock]

Sounds great, but the link doesn't work!! Any hints as to a working URL?

[trolleyboy]

oops my bad try http://www.miniaturesbyeric.com There is a funtioning link for them on both customtraxx andd bowser's sites as well. Eric is making some nice looking pole's as well. Rob

[Jetrock]

I think the site you want us to look at is http://www.miniaturesbyeric.com