Does anyone know if the short heavyweights made by Kato are based on a real life prototype, and if so what?
I didn't know that Kato made American-style heavyweights; are they Japanese style of some sort? Can you post a picture or a link?
About the only shorty passenger cars I am aware of are the BanDai shorties https://www.google.com/search?q=ban...%2F281-bandai-b-train-shorty%2Fpage-2;864;608 And the old Arnold short corrugated side lightweight plus the Bmann series of 60-65 foot heavyweights. The old Arnold cars came with a dome, coach and obs. The Bmann cars came in combine, coach, and observation. The Arnold cars were also marketed by MP but neither the Arnold or the Bmann cars are still made but they do show up on Ebay or at shows. The only other cars that are short are the 34 ft. and 50 ft. Overtons but they are all based on a wood coach design. As far as to whether short versions of the heavyweight cars existed they did on numerous roads. Most were either RPO. combine, or coach and they ranged from 60 ft. to 70 ft. and in between.
I think you are talking about these: http://www.spookshow.net/passenger/ccfloob.html I remember those being around in the 'Enfield & Ohio' series in Model Railroader in 1968; they and the shorty Rapido streamline cars were the only ones around. I'm pretty sure that they are some kind of Japanese prototype as they were high platform with no steps. I had one that I took the trucks off of and made into a crew shed on my FIRST N layout (1972-83); still have it around somewhere....
Is this what you are thinking of? If so, they are a Japanese prototype, Type Oha31, date from Showa 3 (1927), and probably saw service into the 1960s if I had to guess. They are still available in Japan for about $7 USD; Kato model number 5001 and 5001-1. I'm pretty sure (note not 100% positive) that these (or their ancestors) have been release in the U.S. in U.S. paint schemes and are (or are the decendent of) the models Randy described. Andy Tetsu Uma
Here is a page about one of the cars preserved in the Railway museum at Omiya outside Tokyo. They operated on JNR from 1926 to 1966, some were sold to the Japanese equivalent of shortlines with the one in the museum in service on the Tsugaru Railway in northern Honshu until 1983. http://homepage3.nifty.com/EF57/r.museum/oha31.htm
I just ordered three from Japan. When I get the total cost (with shipping) and receive the items, I'll post that info. I've been looking for something like this. Thanks for the heads-up.
It just occured to me to mention there is a similar paired-window 2nd Class car (Oro30 - Kato 5002) and a double side door coach (Ohani - Kato 5003). Oro30 - Kato 5002 Ohani - Kato 5003 Andy Tetsu Uma
Looks like the coach could pass for an American car. Wonder if they were based on a US design. Many railroads had "shorty" passenger cars. Blank out windows and change the door on the combine, you might be on to something, also.
It could be possible that they are or were American cars that were shipped to Japan after the war when American railroads purchased new streamlined cars and sold off the older equipment. Some went to Mexico and other South American railroads.
In an earlier post it stated that they were a Japanese design from 1927. They were probably heavily influenced by an even earlier design bought from US.
As stated earlier they were built in Japan. As the Japanese railways are 3'6" gauge American standard gauge cars would not fit local clearances, although European ones do as shown by the Orient Express which toured Japan in 1988 on narrow gauge trucks. Equipment looking American doesn't always mean it was built in America, the early Japanese railways were financed by the British (Honshu), German (mainly Kyushu) and the U.S.A. (Hokkaido) and much of the early equipment was built in those countries, as time went on the Japanese adopted the best ideas from all three countries, the passenger cars in question obviously have a bit of U.S. heritage.
I just got my bill from PayPal: price for each car was $7.20 and shipping for each car is $5.60, so the total for each car is $12.80. Cars on that auction site are in the $22 to $26 range (with free shipping from Japan) so I saved about $27 on three Kato 5001 cars. I will post when they are delivered.
Thank you guys for all the input. The cars I have found are like the ones pictured by TetsuUma. It is my error in assuming they were American "heavyweights" due to the general resemblance. I bought them for a small demonstration layout to be pulled by a 4-6-0 along with a freight car or two, on 11" radius they look a lot better than the longer coaches to me. I also found a RPO by Kato with MT body mount couplers and much greater detail that appears about 2 scale feet longer and just noticeably higher too. All these are decorated for Southern Pacific by the way. I will probably repaint all and change out the Rapidios for MT body mount couplers as time allows. Anyway thank again! PS paid 15.00 for 3, 5.00 postage.
The three Kato passenger cars arrived today (8 day delivery). We have Rapido couplers on our senior center club layout, so they will run as is and eventually have GN herald decals. Works for us. Thanks to TVRR for starting the thread!
