MTL PRR heavyweights arrived - pics!

[Dave V]

Wasn't sure if starting another thread on them was okay, but I was very excited to come home today to my Chuck Pack containing the two PRR heavyweight releases from MTL.  As discussed previously, both are foobies in that the Pullman apparently doesn't have the right name for the bedroom arrangement (a 10-1-2 name on a 10-3) and the baggage car is not exactly an M70.  You know, there are some times I get wrapped around the axle about things like that, but not this time.  I'm very happy with these.  They look fantastic even of not 100% prototypical.

First, the sleeper (bedroom side):



The corridor side:



The "M70" is especially nice, even without the signature Pennsy "smash panels" for the mail hooks.  That's the Kato BM70M in the background, and those panels are visible on either side of the narrow doors:



The end detail is a nice compromise between detail and price.  It's tempting to add functioning diaphragms, but for now I'm OK with what's there:



Glad to have more PRR head-end equipment.  With an express X29 and a B60b, I have the start of a (very short) mail train.

[Mark5]

both are foobies in that the Pullman apparently doesn't have the right name for the bedroom arrangement (a 10-1-2 name on a 10-3)

They look great! ;D I thought the MT model is a 10-1-2  ??? Or did you mean a 10-3 name on a 10-1-2?

[Dave V]

I thought the MT model is a 10-1-2  ??? Or did you mean a 10-3 name on a 10-1-2?

Oops, that's what I meant to say!  Either way, there's a mismatch between the floor plan and the name.  But not so as to bother me enough.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

All that's missing now is a K4!

[Bob Bufkin]

Had a minor problem with the Pullman.  The wheels kept falling out of one of the trucks.  After some adjustments, it's now working fine.  Foobie or not, these are a welcome addition to any PRR modeler. 

[Bob Bufkin]

This was one of those "when it rains, it pours" days.  Also received the new WOT baggage car in C&O and 2 Wathers coachs (PRR & NYC).  Plan to use the coaches with the PC set when it arrives.

[christoph]

Dave,

thank you for the pictures   

My cars are ordered but not yet delivered,  so it's good to know what to expect.

[lock4244]

They sure look nice. It's great that someone has decided to do heavyweights in N, breaking the stranglehold that Rivarossi  had. Might need a few some day for a CP work train.

[Dave V]

Been meaning to ask an expert... I didn't order the runner pack because they're all 10-1-2s also. How often would Pennsy run 4 (this one plus runner pack) 10-1-2s in the same train? Would not a mix of floor plans be more prototypical? I'm guessing/hoping MTL has other floorplans for Pennsy in the pipeline. However, if someone can convince me that in the 50s a solid block of 10-1-2 heavyweights is prototypical, I'll order up another Chuck Pack.

[hnipper]

Dave,
I am by no means a PRR historian, but I do have access to Stegmeier's "Pennsylvania Railroad - Passenger Trains, Consists and Cars - 1952, Vol 1 - East-West Trains", published in 2003 by TLC, Lynchburg, VA.

By 1952, smoothsides dominated the through trains on the NY-Chicago and NY-St. Louis lines. I can find only a few references to 10-1-2 Sleepers - in the chapter on "Intermediate Main Line Trains". For example, #37  and #16 (Iron City Express) carried one 10-1-2 from Pittsburgh to B'ham, and back. Likewise, #202/203 carried one 10-1-2 sleeper between Pittsburgh and New Orleans and return because of the connections with the St.Louisan in Cincinnati.

A glance at all the consists in this interesting book revealed no consist that contained multiple 10-1-2 sleepers.....

Your instincts that a gaggle of heavyweights of this floor plan may not be prototypical in the 50s seem right on. Perhaps in the other routes of the Pennsy there were more heavyweights used in the 50s but I don't have access to that data....

Don't let the sand-fleas bite down there on the panhandle!
Yrs from Omaha,
Henry

[Dave V]

Henry, thanks for confirming my suspicion...  I think I will take my time accumulating a more typical mix of cars.

[bbussey]

I'm going to wait until August and acquire one of the cars from the runner pack.  By then I might have some trackage to run on.

[hnipper]

And another thing.....

That same Iron City Express cited above carried THREE 12-1 sleepers in 1952.... Why not a runner pack of those beautiful (and prototypical) cars (instead)?

Multiple 12-1 cars were in various consists in the 20's and 30's also....

Henry

[Bob Bufkin]

Could these parts be used to convert the PRR heavyweights into ice bunker A/C?

http://www.prr-parts.com/Page1.html

[Dave V]

Could these parts be used to convert the PRR heavyweights into ice bunker A/C?

http://www.prr-parts.com/Page1.html

WOW!  I'd never seen that website before.  Good stuff!