Something around 3 years ago Centralia Car Shops sold a "Shasta Daylight" replicas of what were supposed to be chair cars, if my memory serves me correctly. I returned them because the paint colors were so far off. I'm certainly a Shasta Daylight fan though and waited and waited for the reissue or next offering. Well, this time, on the triple-unit diner, the color was correct, but the MT 1017 trucks are horrible. The wheels won't stay in the trucks and are constantly falling out. I started to replace them with the FVM .553 axles, but found them too tight. I then measured the MT's and found them to be .530, so the FVM .540 is the last choice. But now, which wheel wheel height is proper for these cars? Any one know for sure? Next I discovered that these are just about the only passenger car offerings that don't have factory included interiors. Imagine those huge windows — and no interiors! Maybe Kato will make them as a follow-up to the Coast daylight cars and do it right!
These are sources I found on 'Espee.railfan.net' website for the Triple Diner. http://espee.railfan.net/triple-articulated-units.html •Southern Pacific - Triple Unit Diner - 'The Lark' P-S '41: SP 10274-10279, photo ◦NMRA Bulletin April 1973 - Plans, SP Triple Artic. Diner Part #1 ◦NMRA Bulletin June 1973 - Plans, SP Triple Artic. Diner Part #2 •Model Railroader October 1948 - Plans for SP 10250 - 10255 Triple Artic. Diner. As luck would have it... I have Model Railroader magazines only back to 1951... and the NMRA bulletins I have in 1973 only in January and February... Good thing my life doesn't depend on finding this info... BTW: I was very disappointed that IMRC/Centralia did not do the interiors for the triple diner. I agree that with those large windows... it screams for interior detailing. Whats worse is the roof is glued in place (IIRC)... so adding your own interiors would be potentially destructive. I haven't had a problem with the wheels falling out of the trucks... but... the unit does NOT like my 13.5" and 15" radius curves. It has derailed a few times... particularly when being 'pushed' backwards. It could probably use more weight... but again... can't add it inside if the entire car is glued together.
