Each country had many railroads with their own designs in rolling stock. Standardization came about the same time as American railroads started with standardization, I think. After WW II most of the railroads were nationalized or at least merged into national systems, but each country had its own designs and its own manufacturers. And a lot of older equipment, inherited from the predecessors, was still running around. Passenger service has always played a large role in European railroads till the present day, so there are hundreds, no, thousands of designs of passenger equipment during the last 100 years, and then also the numerous different details and paint schemes per era. Still, I can buy the most important Dutch Intercity coaches from the 70's till the present and a few passenger trainsets. Look at a German catalogue and almost everything that once rode the German tracks, has been produced. I am happy with my (wrong) New Haven Con-Cor coaches. I really like them running around the layout and look forward to see them behind the (wrong) Bachmann Consolidation. I would also buy Rapido's if I had the money for them (and for a nice engine that would pull them). I just wonder why there are so many fake models in American model railroading.
Hi, all, As a contribution to this thread, here's two informal product review photos of the new N scale Walthers 72' smoothside baggage cars (Walthers p/n 932-55092): And some short comments: Nice cars. They come without numbers - a decal sheet for all the road names is included with the instructions, in the proper font for the railroad. The Santa Fe numbers are 3555 through 3564 ( a total of 10 different numbers, and each of these Santa Fe numbers is repeated 4 times (i.e. there are 4 decals for #3555, for example). (regarding accuracy... I'm not sure, but I think these are 'fake' numbers, i.e. my research in my Santa Fe material seems to indicate that Santa Fe never actually had any baggage cars in the numbers 3555 to 3564. Someone pls correct me if I'm wrong). Regardless, they ride smoothly, no problems running it at head end of a 8 car train, couplers look like Accumates to me, and they couple nicely with standard Kato passenger cars couplers (both the older corrugated cars as well as the newer Super Chief cars).
They look pretty good to me, I'll have to check those numbers against prototype photos, but even if they should have two windows in the doors instead of three they look the part and fit in well with the Kato cars. The main reason I've never had many Santa Fe cars before Kato did the Super Chief was not lack of true to prototype cars, but until Kato IMHO no one had done a decent job simulating a stainless steel car.
Prototype Comparison Those doors just don't look right. Me thinks I would have to fix that. And, I don't claim to be a nuts and bolts riveter. I was going through some images I've captured from various photographers. I thought you might appreciate a look-see for comparison.. The first picture was taken in Riverbank, Ca. The second and last picture illustrates a baggage car that's been changed into a steam generator car. Much of the original appearance of the baggage car hasn't changed. Visible changes are the roof top vents and under the car tanks. The third and fourth pictures illustrates the smooth sided passenger baggage cars in consist at the San Bernardino, Ca., ATSF Passenger Station. I'm wondering if some of you will pick-up on the coloring of baggage cars parked in front of the San Bernardino, ATSF Passenger Station? Now that's a mixed bag of head end equipment. cool: The pictures are not mine and are used here strictly for illustration and documentation. Credits are on the pictures. My personal thanks to these fine folks for sharing them with us Edited: The pictures have been removed by the administration of this board. You will need to your own research. Seems we are getting extra fussy about photo's. baffled:
Hear, Hear... I couldn't agree more. It seems that much of the early stuff that came out not only lacked in detail, but as you said, lacked the authenticity and appearance of a true Santa Fe stainless steel car. Most stainless steel I've dealt with isn't very silver or bright. Even after it is shined up it was rather dull. So, the many silver paint jobs actually makes the Santa Fe cars look brighter and prettier then they really were. My dad used to shake his head... as he ran our equipment around the layout. Today, He'd be in 7th heaven (there again, he might be) if he could see my Kato equipment. I know he'd flip over my Chief. I can hear him saying, "Now Rick, that's how they ran them". Edited: The pictures I provided here earlier have been removed by the administration of this board. Have fun!
SP Comparison Edited: Looks like administration removed the pictures. My understanding of the copyright laws is you can use a photo for illustration purposes as long as you aren't selling it. err: Have fun!
It also comes with a very nice instruction sheet/exploded diagram for installing the lighting kit. I want those trucks for other projects but IIRC, Walther doesn't do parts anymore.
If only Walthers had done them with a variety of doors like Wheels of Time. I was thinking of cutting out the doors and replacing them with new two window versions.
Westfalen, Are you going to scratch build, or are there "detailed parts" doors out there already? I am thinking about doing the same thing with my Amtrak baggage car.
We really need to find away to change out those doors. I don't do so well with styrene cutting. Humm, Tom over in Arrowbear. If you are tuned in here do you have any ideas? He's pretty good with custom work.
I hadn't looked into what doors are available, I was thinking of making them out of styrene. I have two baggage cars on the way, I'll think up a plan when I get a better look at them.
I know Charlie Vlk mentioned this... but... Walthers did the HO car with separate door parts... I can't imagine why they would not do so in N scale. I received a couple of these cars yesterday. Though not exactly right for NP... close enough to pass the 3' rule . Alright... alright... I'll break down and say it... 'They actually look pretty good despite not being prototypical for NP'.
My two baggage cars arrived today, and I have to say they look very nice. One of the first things I did was put one next to a Kato car to compare the finish, and the silver finish on the roofs of the two cars is a very close match and they look ok together. I'm still thinking of what to do with the doors, the cars look so nice I don't think I can take to them with a knife so I'll run them as is for the time being. I'll expiriment on an old Con Cor car or something first, after all I'm the only one around here who knows they should have two windows. I haven't run them yet but I'll give them a road test at the club on the weekend. I didn't get any of the 10-6 sleepers because I had two Super Chief sets worth of Kato ones, but from now on I'll be keeping an eye on what else Walthers does.
Westfalen, Are they green? kIdding of course. The three windows does bother me and my research doesn't show any three windowed monsters running around the Santa Fe. They were two windowed. Oh well, it is what it is!
It doesn't seem like changing them from three window to something else would be all that difficult. Of course, I understand anyone's hesitation at taking a knife to a brand new $40.00 passenger car. I am building my own Olympian Hiawatha train right now specifically because there aren't really any RTR "close-enough" cars out there in the 1952 scheme.
Bachmann Ephipany - Update OOPs this is an error please delete. Edited: I have to laugh. They remove my pictures but not this post. Shaking my head.
Uh...Oh... you said the magic words... Y'know... every time I see someone begin a scratch building project... I think that there may just be a manufacturer in the process of doing the same project. Obviously... if it is Walthers... you might just as well build your own... at least it WILL be prototypical. I got the impression that Centrailia/Intermountain may eventually do something with Milwaukee Road. Maybe you should ask CCS/IMRC what their plans are for Milwaukee Road? Then there is always Kato... but we'll never get a heads-up on their stuff until its ready to be released. Based on a comment on a prior thread... unlikely for Kato to be doing a Oly Hiawatha with a steamer... ... any time soon.
My joke all along has been that once I get this Olympian Hiawatha train mostly done that someone will announce a RTR set.
