I recently bought a sound-equipped PCM E7A with a view to doing a body swap with my unpowered one (which is CB&Q). The one I bought is GM&O 103, which I subsequently realised is the loco featured at the start and end of In the Heat of the Night. I'm now seriously thinking about not doing a body swap and instead assembling the train from the film. It's quite short, just a baggage and 2 coaches. One of the coaches is clearly ACF lightweight 68 seat coach 3058. (Low res screen cap, fair use for the purpose of research) I can't get a number for the other one. Also I can't ID is the baggage car which isn't seen clearly in any shot, but the least worst is in the closing credits. (Low res screen cap, fair use for the purpose of research) I have searched but can't find any other details about the train. Does anybody happen know the type of baggage car and the number of the second coach, and is anything suitable available in N? Cheers David
David, Have you looked at George Elwood's website? Web address is http://www.rr-fallenflags.org. He has a few photos of GM&O equipment, but no photos of the turtleback roof baggage car. The car in the shot from the movie could be an ACF baggage car. The site also has some links to other sites. Gary
I hadn't seen that site. I think you might be right about it being an ACF 70' heavyweight baggage. It might be possible to shorten the old Rivarossi baggage car. I'm also thinking the Rapido lightweight dayniter might suit the coaches with a little surgery on the windows, unless replacement sides are available. Cheers David
The car is a former baggage - mail rblt. to a baggage - express. Doubt that it actually is an arched roof car since GM&O didn't have any (I have diagrams). I believe the shadow is creating the look of an arched roof.
Probably the easiest solution is to shorten one of the Rivarossi baggage cars like I did for this one, but paint it up in maroon and orange. Close enough to not be mistaken for anything else.
The baggage - express is indeed a clerestory roofed car. As the train pulls up to the station you can see the roof's edge and a shadow above it... if it weren't a clerestory roof you would not see this shadow... just part of the roof.
Two viable options for thr the baggage - shorten the Rivarossi one or move one door on the WOT when available. Any alternative leads on the ACF smooth sided coach? Cheers David
"Microtrains is coming out with a new baggage car sometime." Actually what has been said is that they won't be coming out with a baggage car anytime soon and have recommended the new WoT baggage (likely the reason why MT won't be doing one soon).
In any case MT is doing Pullmans. The GM&O car is a 70' ACF. Walthers does the 68 seat ACF coach in HO. I guess I'll have to wait in hope. Cheers David