Author Topic: Centralia Car Shops Sleeper Disassembly  (Read 411 times)

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BCR 570

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Centralia Car Shops Sleeper Disassembly
« on: July 16, 2026, 06:56:40 PM »
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I am attempting to disassemble  an N scale Centralia Car Shops sleeper so I can work on it.  The roof comes off easily but only shows me some electronics for lighting immediately underneath.

I want to remove the underframe so I can work on the body shell and have tried prying the sides open to release it from the tabs but it wont come fully lose for removal.

I am wondering if anyone else has attempted this and has some suggestions.  I dont want to damage anything.

I need to remove the skirts between the trucks and am wondering if the best method is to clamp a steel ruler to the car side and score it with a knife?


Any help apprciated,

Tim
T. Horton
North Vancouver, B.C.
BCR Dawson Creek Subdivision in N Scale
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thomasjmdavis

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Re: Centralia Car Shops Sleeper Disassembly
« Reply #1 on: July 16, 2026, 08:57:12 PM »
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I'm assuming (since you mentioned getting the floor loose) that you have one of the newer models, not the originals that were assembled (glued-together with lots of glue) Des Plaines Models kits.  The more current are more like early Kato (when the roof was a separate part) or Walther/Lowell Smith cars in terms of assembly.

At any rate, I have a sleeper that I opened up to get the batteries out (the lights weren't working in  any case, and with the intention of painting the interior.  As to getting the underframe off...

I don't know if you MUST take the trucks off, but I did, after I popped one of the couplers apart while taking off the roof to get at the batteries.

The floor is held by 3 clips on each side -one center of the car side, and one over each wheelwell- (probably not correct railroad term, but the cutout for the truck).  I managed by carefully prying and wiggling, but... maybe a toothpick near each wheelwell ala a Kato F unit.  There are also clips at both ends that hold the underframe to the interior (and clamp the weight between them).  The ones at the battery end of the car are accessible underneath the little circuit board that holds the batteries.  There is a tiny screw on one side of the board to hold it in place. Beware of delicate wiring. At the other end of the car, the board is held in place by a screw at the end of the board.  No need to remove this board- the car work prevents access to the clips at that end - some gentle wiggling and  they came loose.  I did not try to remove the lighting units.

It may be possible to get the underframe, weight and interior to come out as a unit... but I didn't want to press my luck.

I hope that was clear, and of some help.


Tom D.

I gave up rivet counting when I couldn't see an N scale rivet anymore.

BCR 570

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Re: Centralia Car Shops Sleeper Disassembly
« Reply #2 on: July 17, 2026, 12:04:09 AM »
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Thank you and yes, from online descriptions I would say it is a newer one with no glue and a removeable roof.

So it must be those end clips that are preventing me from removing the underframe . . . .

Tim
T. Horton
North Vancouver, B.C.
BCR Dawson Creek Subdivision in N Scale
www.bcrdawsonsub.ca
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3MbxkZkx7zApSYCHqu2IYQ

nkalanaga

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Re: Centralia Car Shops Sleeper Disassembly
« Reply #3 on: July 17, 2026, 01:26:27 AM »
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Clamping a ruler to the side and cutting the skirts off will work.  I used the back of a knife blade and scribed a groove, which seemed to go faster than simply cutting.

I had to remove skirts from quite a few cars for my 1974 Amtrak service.
N Kalanaga
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Sokramiketes

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Re: Centralia Car Shops Sleeper Disassembly
« Reply #4 on: July 17, 2026, 08:41:38 AM »
+2
Yeah, the good news is that you want the floor in place to support the body while cutting the skirts off.  I do the metal ruler and x-acto method as you describe.  If the floor isn't in place, then the car sides warp while putting cutting pressure on them. 

nkalanaga

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Re: Centralia Car Shops Sleeper Disassembly
« Reply #5 on: July 17, 2026, 12:19:06 PM »
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Mike:  Very true.  I tend to leave the entire car assembled, as the roof also adds strength.
N Kalanaga
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BCR 570

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Re: Centralia Car Shops Sleeper Disassembly
« Reply #6 on: July 17, 2026, 05:15:33 PM »
+1
Thank you for the tips everyone.  I as able to get the car disassembled this morning but it put up quite a fight.

Based on the advice here I will replace the roof and underframe for the cutting operation.


Tim
T. Horton
North Vancouver, B.C.
BCR Dawson Creek Subdivision in N Scale
www.bcrdawsonsub.ca
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3MbxkZkx7zApSYCHqu2IYQ

BCR 570

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Re: Centralia Car Shops Sleeper Disassembly
« Reply #7 on: July 19, 2026, 01:43:27 AM »
+3
Thank you all for the advice; I got the skirts removed successfully tonight:










My second task for this car is to convert to body mount couplers.


Tim
T. Horton
North Vancouver, B.C.
BCR Dawson Creek Subdivision in N Scale
www.bcrdawsonsub.ca
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3MbxkZkx7zApSYCHqu2IYQ

craigolio1

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Re: Centralia Car Shops Sleeper Disassembly
« Reply #8 on: July 20, 2026, 06:30:31 AM »
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Great job Tim!  Very clean.

Craig

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Re: Centralia Car Shops Sleeper Disassembly
« Reply #9 on: July 20, 2026, 11:05:19 AM »
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Quote
Great job Tim!  Very clean.

Craig


Thank you, and thanks also for your advice; the skirt removal went well.  Last night I was successful in converting to body mount couplers so this car is now done and ready for paint.


Tim
T. Horton
North Vancouver, B.C.
BCR Dawson Creek Subdivision in N Scale
www.bcrdawsonsub.ca
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3MbxkZkx7zApSYCHqu2IYQ

craigolio1

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Re: Centralia Car Shops Sleeper Disassembly
« Reply #10 on: July 20, 2026, 01:02:55 PM »
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Thank you, and thanks also for your advice; the skirt removal went well.  Last night I was successful in converting to body mount couplers so this car is now done and ready for paint.


Tim

Awesome!  In the sea of huge projects, it's to knock one out in an evening once in a while.