N scale Bachmann smoothside baggage car - PRR Fleet of Modernism

[track1]

Tyler, any insight from your end on the corrugated observation car?  On that one it seems to match a Rock Island prototype on the sides, but ended up with a different manufacturer's roof somehow.

The tooling for all of the streamlined cars was done before I joined Bachmann. I know it was designed so that parts like the interiors and chassis could be used for both car types- I'm not sure if the roofs were copied as well, or if multiple prototype references were used.

[Dave V]

By the way, here's what they look like:



They definitely illustrate the limitations of the standard T-Trak corners. I think for home layout use I may build the larger corners with more reasonable curvature.

[Sokramiketes]

That big T1 tender really highlights that these cars are undersize from true 1:160. 

[Dave V]

That big T1 tender really highlights that these cars are undersize from true 1:160.

Well sh!t, LOL, now I can't unsee it...   

[thomasjmdavis]

That big T1 tender really highlights that these cars are undersize from true 1:160. 

Are the Bachmann smoothside dimensionally different than the fluted cars?  After reading your post, I put my 1 and only Bachmann passenger car (not counting a couple of 58' shorties) on a track next to a Kato baggage from the Super Chief set. The Bachmann actually sits a little higher (due to the oversized gap above the undersized trucks).  But in terms of body dimensions- near identical.

Given their current pricing, it is academic for me- I won't be buying any new Bachmann cars, accuracy or inaccuracy notwithstanding.  But... in case I run into a decent deal on some usedBachmann smoothside coaches, it would be good to know what I'd be getting.

[R L Smith]

Well sh!t, LOL, now I can't unsee it...   

[Lemosteam]

That big T1 tender really highlights that these cars are undersize from true 1:160.

Mike, not odd at all.  That T1 tender is huge.  If anything the Bachmann car might be a little too tall.  Below are the dimensions.

Dave, fear not.

Here is a video snip with a heavyweight BM70m car right behind a T1. Looks to be about 6" taller than the back of the tender. 
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The BM70m heavyweight is clerestory height and is 14'-0 1/2".


A BM85a lightweight smoothside is 13'6" from top of rail.


T1 rear tender height is: 13'-6" from top of rail and 15'-4 5/8" from top of rail in the front of the tender.


I will measure the Bachmann cars tonight to see if they are close to the 13'-6" or not.

[Sokramiketes]

The T1 tender from the video clip has whatever that streamlined addition is above the deck of the tender, to blend it into a passenger car.  I assume that's the 13'6" that PRR was measuring for the diagram?  Or the diagram is a different tender. 

The Kato Super Chief set always looked squished to me too.  So I could see how the Bachmann car might compare to those. 

Where it jumped out to me was parking the observation next to a Centralia Pullman.  The core kits were proper dimensions, and the FOM PRR sleepers were early enough that they were assembled in China from core kits and Des Plaines Hobbies car sides.  I think Ron got all that right, so that's where the calibrated eyeball said something was off in the Bachmann dimensions. 

Pretty easy to measure some stuff to confirm.  I think I have a T1 around too. 

[Lemosteam]

Mike,

You can see from the T1 diagram that there are three dimensions of height on the tender. The video snip is def a T1 as I watched the whole thing- there was only one tende3r class for the T1.  The snip was the best view I could find.  The rear wall of the tender just in front of the combine is 13'-6" per the diagram, same height as the smoothside combine.  The middle dimension on the tender is 14'-8", which is the edge of the coal bin opening from top of rail.  The third dimension is 15'-4 5/8" from top of rail, which is the same height as the back of the locomotive cab and follows the same curvature as the cab.

I think the tight radius and the helicopter view on Dave's image are influencing the image as well.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

The T1 tender from the video clip has whatever that streamlined addition is above the deck of the tender, to blend it into a passenger car.  I assume that's the 13'6" that PRR was measuring for the diagram?  Or the diagram is a different tender. 

The Kato Super Chief set always looked squished to me too.  So I could see how the Bachmann car might compare to those. 

Where it jumped out to me was parking the observation next to a Centralia Pullman.  The core kits were proper dimensions, and the FOM PRR sleepers were early enough that they were assembled in China from core kits and Des Plaines Hobbies car sides.  I think Ron got all that right, so that's where the calibrated eyeball said something was off in the Bachmann dimensions. 

Pretty easy to measure some stuff to confirm.  I think I have a T1 around too. 

Why ya trying to pee in Dave's Cheerios man?

[Dave V]

I'm almost certain to be running a B60b or BM70M on the head-end anyway so I think it'd be less noticeable.

This is why I love the Railwire. It didn't take long for the builder's plans to come out!

Given that it's all going to be rolling on Code 80 Unitrack, I don't think I'll lose much sleep over it.

[learmoia]

As far as 'At Home Curves' I've had good luck with 481 Curves with a 718 at each end for easements.

For double track, add an S33 on each end the outside loop. (for 90 degree curve)
Outside: S33-C718-C481x4-C718-S33
Inside: C718-C481x4-C718

I would advise against the super elevated curves.. They caused more problems then they solved. (I think too much superelevation)

~Ian

[Lemosteam]

I’m calling the Bachmann car as dead-on 13’6” with my handy dandy Protomate scale.

[Sokramiketes]

Mike,

You can see from the T1 diagram that there are three dimensions of height on the tender. The video snip is def a T1 as I watched the whole thing- there was only one tende3r class for the T1.  The snip was the best view I could find.  The rear wall of the tender just in front of the combine is 13'-6" per the diagram, same height as the smoothside combine.  The middle dimension on the tender is 14'-8", which is the edge of the coal bin opening from top of rail.  The third dimension is 15'-4 5/8" from top of rail, which is the same height as the back of the locomotive cab and follows the same curvature as the cab.

I think the tight radius and the helicopter view on Dave's image are influencing the image as well.

I understand the diagram, but am not understanding why I'm seeing two types of tenders.  One flat deck as modeled by BLI and one with a streamlined faring as shown in the video clip (and that would presumably change the 13'6" dimension?)

I think your diagram matches this tender and the video tender, but not the tender BLI tooled. 
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[Sokramiketes]

Why ya trying to pee in Dave's Cheerios man?

Ha!  What is this a three-railer type mindset N scale thread and not a full scale exploration?  Say it ain't so!     JFRTM!