Annual MTL Body Style Hunt.

[jmlaboda - RIP]

U18b's request...
"My number one request from MT is FULL round/sold roofs for passenger cars.
"Your current cars are mostly good for 20s-say 50s.
But more modern cars all has full A/C ducts."

As mentioned before... they are called arched roofs.  It needs to be understood that the full arched roofs were done for two reasons, one being to eliminate some of the maintenance required by the older style roof and the other being "looks" (aesthetics)... but it was not a full air duct, the original air ducts were still in place, only additional sheet metal was used to cover the other areas.

Bryan B mentioned...
"And roller-bearing trucks."

A good idea but what about Type 242 trucks, which were more common than all but the 3410s?  Some roads used this type of truck on all sorts of equipment, not just Pullman cars, and while there have been a few folks who have taken on kitbashing of these trucks we still do not have them as a detailed part.  For many of the heavyweights that operated this is the correct truck and needs to be done.

http://abpr.railfan.net/abprphoto.cgi?july05/07-21-05/N+W_Pullman_Car.Pocahontas._Appomattox.jpg

As far as roller bearing trucks go it might be better that someone do a detail part that can be added to the various trucks, which would provide for additional accuracy for many older cars operating beyond the Pullman break-up, applicable to all types of steel cars.

Brokemoto asked about...
"HW combines:  baggage/mail/passenger, baggage/mail and baggage/passenger.  I know that there were some out there that were mail/passenger, but I have only seen one or two photographs of those, so I suspect that they were unusual."

Another good set of cars to consider though cars like the baggage - mail - coach and the mail - coach cars were very rare types in the heavyweight era.  Likewise the baggage - express - 15' mail apartment cars were not that common and were used mostly on branchlines where only one or two USPS workers would be needed.

A better choice would be a 30' mail compartment on either a 60' and 70' length.  Mt could shortcut the process since they could use the mail car and do like a lot of railroads did... plate over one ends' windows and and adding a baggage door, creating a 60' baggage - mail (30' for baggage and express, 30' for mail).  Such would be a good car to consider.  (Might this be the car that Wheels of Time hinted at?)

A baggage - coach would also be good, though it would be better if it matched the coaches.  Typically if a road had paired windowed coaches they also had paired windowed "combines" and likewise for single windowed coach users.

Catt brought up the modernized roof used on some of Lowell Smith's business cars and if the vestibule end is the same as on the Plan 3959 observation cars (Pullman pediment end) I would also appreciate such.  If the end of the LS cars is the same at least offering this detail part would allow folks who are wanting the arched roof for Pullman cars can kitbash two of them to gain a suitable roof... just a thought.

OldEastRR added...
"Rebuilt passenger heavyweights ..... cars that have never been done on a mass run in N, while there were huge numbers of them used by almost every passenger railroad."

While there were many cars done a common design was not a part of what was done.  Few Pullman heavyweight sleepers were modernized (B&O and PRR had roughly a hand full, while LV and NC&StL modernized some parlor cars, though both CN and CP did larger numbers of several types) but coaches and diners were done.  Modernized versions of the coaches would be a good step forward...

As far as that "unpowered calf" that Railcat asked about...
"How about an unpowered calf to go with the SW1500"

I believe that he is referring to a "slug" and not a "B"-unit of a SW1500.  Many SW1500s were equipped to power slugs on many roads but the problem here is that there were few that were of a common design, even among some roads that had a large number of them.  Some roads early built slugs not from older locomotives but rather from steam locomotive tenders.  Finding a common design would be difficult to do because they were built by different shop crews at different times... MoPac's were some of the only ones I can think of off hand that stuck to one design (apparently based on EMD SW hoods).

[jmlaboda - RIP]

And one more...

pjm20 wrote...

"Joe, they actually want pre ac roofs, so don't take them seriously."

And, yes, pre-AC roofs and underframes would be very useful in as much because it would not only allow modelers who have chosen the 1920s to early-1930s (by the way... roofs were painted to match the carbody color during this period) but also allow modelers of later eras to model Pullman tourist cars which never received such appliances (a few had them removed after being reassigned as tourist cars but the roof air ducts remained in place.

Such cars operated well into the 60s on secondary trains and on certain specials, and large numbers of the various Pullman types you offer were also sold to railroads that used them in Maintenance of Way service, making non-AC versions desirable and usable even into the modern era.

[wcfn100]

I believe that he is referring to a "slug" and not a "B"-unit of a SW1500.

I seriously doubt it.  "Calf" is very specific, as in "Cow and Calf".  A slug is completely different since it doesn't have a prime mover, only traction motors (I'm not sure what you're referring to with the steam tenders).

This is the second time this has come up since the announcement of the SW1500.  The idea of a 'calf' unit is left over from the con-cor/Riv. days.  But there was never such a thing in real life.

If you guys want a 'calf', get on Kato to do something.  A TR2 set would most welcome, as would the phase IV and V hoods to go with it.

Jason

[VonRyan]

And one more...

pjm20 wrote...

"Joe, they actually want pre ac roofs, so don't take them seriously."

And, yes, pre-AC roofs and underframes would be very useful in as much because it would not only allow modelers who have chosen the 1920s to early-1930s (by the way... roofs were painted to match the carbody color during this period) but also allow modelers of later eras to model Pullman tourist cars which never received such appliances (a few had them removed after being reassigned as tourist cars but the roof air ducts remained in place.

Such cars operated well into the 60s on secondary trains and on certain specials, and large numbers of the various Pullman types you offer were also sold to railroads that used them in Maintenance of Way service, making non-AC versions desirable and usable even into the modern era.

Don't forget the need for some good-quality, generic MOW rolling stock Cranes are fine and dandy, but there are a lot of other things that could be addressed.
Plus, a lot of early 20th century rolling stock could be modified to create MOW rolling stock useable all throughout the 20th century and even into the 21st.


-Cody F.

[bc6]

Id like to see an affordable Graffiti series lineup.

[ljudice]

One More:  TBOX 60' boxcars! 

[Bob Bufkin]

As far as slugs go, a lot of old Alco S switchers were made into slugs.  So Atlas would be a much better choice to do these.

[eric220]

MTL already does this car - it's the USRA Steal Box.  A new underframe with proper truck spacing would be welcome though.

Uuuum, holy crap in a hat, you're right.  Talk about marketing fail.  How about this?  A million times this in circle keystone runner packs.

[VonRyan]

Uuuum, holy crap in a hat, you're right.  Talk about marketing fail.  How about this?  A million times this in circle keystone runner packs.

I have one they did in PRR REA.


-Cody F.

[chicken45]

I have one they did in PRR REA.


-Cody F.

They also did a run in MS-1,2, and 3, right? I think one of the MS schemes was a foob as they never appeared on an X29.

[VonRyan]

They also did a run in MS-1,2, and 3, right? I think one of the MS schemes was a foob as they never appeared on an X29.

I have no clue what all that meant, let alone if they did those...

You can fit all my prototype knowledge on a single 3x5 card in size 11 font.


-Cody F.

[kalbert]

Ok I'll bite, how about a 65' gon suitable for building CNW Pride program crushed auto carriers?

[pogopod]

How about a plastics pellet covered hopper? Atlas makes an ACF car but there are at least four or five more makers including one from Trinity that looks completely different from the ACF car. Lots of grain hoppers out there but almost no plastics hoppers.

[chicken45]

I have no clue what all that meant, let alone if they did those...

You can fit all my prototype knowledge on a single 3x5 card in size 11 font.


-Cody F.

Sorry to get all jargony. Merchandice Service (there were three styles)

[up1950s]

A recurring request ... 19K tank cars that lookie lika dis https://www.therailwire.net/forum/index.php?topic=17936.0

Steam era 2 dome tankcars .

Steam era 6 dome tankcars .

Steam era 50' o/s braced box cars . ( I will settle for a generic one )

Sperry Rail Car , in an old dress for the 50's period .

Anything MOW for transition era .