New PRR MT passenger truck

[towl1996]

Is this the same truck that Kato used under their RPO?

[bbussey]

Same prototype, yes.

[reinhardtjh]

The main difference between the Kato and MTL versions is that the Kato had power pickups. The MTL doesn't.  But Kato is out of stock and unless they run some more PRR/PC cars it's probably not likely they will be available again.

[chicken45]

The main difference between the Kato and MTL versions is that the Kato had power pickups. The MTL doesn't.  But Kato is out of stock and unless they run some more PRR/PC cars it's probably not likely they will be available again.

It's also offset. The Kato is not.

[reinhardtjh]

It's also offset. The Kato is not.

True. I forgot that point.

[towl1996]

So, lets see. Two different manufactures, same Pennsy truck, 3D-7p2.

Kato tooled this uniquely Pennsy truck for their RPO BM70m (which to date they have failed to release as a separate item, the RPO, and one in which I would probably buy four).

Microtrains tooled this uniquely Pennsy truck for their diner. Spookshow lists these class of Pennsy passenger cars which used these trucks; BM70M, BM70N, D70A, D78, D78B, D78C, PB70, PB70E, PDB70, PDB70A. Also, I've read that some heavy weight flat cars and the theatre cars used these trucks. Are there any other cars which used these trucks?

Is it possible that Microtrains will tool another Pennsy car to use with these trucks? It seems like these trucks are being under utilized.

[chicken45]

As you've mentioned, diners, combines, RPOs, theater cars, and horse cars used them. Earlier versions used those Model Power trucks (can't remember the designation; don't feel like looking it up this second).
Haven't seen anything in the flat car book about flats using these trucks. Usually 3 axles were reserved for depressed flats, and usually they were Buckeye trucks. I'm not sure if they were ever used on earlier flat cars, because they were all two axles.
Hopefully someone will post a photo or something if I'm wrong. I just thought if it'd be anywhere, it' be in the PRRT&HS flat car book.

[peteski]

Using "peteski logic" passenger cars are relatively lightweight.  So trucks designed for them probably aren't designed to carry lots of tonnage.  If that is the case then those trucks would not be used for heavy-duty flat cars which would require 3-axle trucks.  Does that make sense?

[thomasjmdavis]

While "peteski logic" does indeed make sense, there was a notable exception. In the early 1960s, ATSF made 25 flats specifically to carry mail containers.  They stripped down old diners and lounges to their underframes, added new decks and used them as head end cars.  The trucks were upgraded with roller bearings but were otherwise the original 6 wheel passenger trucks.  There were also another 5 that were reconstructed from Auto-veyor flatcars, that used an odd 4 wheel truck, the LFM Atkinson.

Did PRR do something similar with any of their old heavyweights?

[pjm20]

Besides the Queen Mary using T1 tender trucks, I am not aware of any other repurposing by the PRR.

[garethashenden]

While "peteski logic" does indeed make sense, there was a notable exception. In the early 1960s, ATSF made 25 flats specifically to carry mail containers.  They stripped down old diners and lounges to their underframes, added new decks and used them as head end cars.  The trucks were upgraded with roller bearings but were otherwise the original 6 wheel passenger trucks.  There were also another 5 that were reconstructed from Auto-veyor flatcars, that used an odd 4 wheel truck, the LFM Atkinson.

Did PRR do something similar with any of their old heavyweights?

RPOs and baggage cars use passenger trucks anyway, so using them for mail containers doesn't sound too crazy.

[Lemosteam]

While "peteski logic" does indeed make sense, there was a notable exception. In the early 1960s, ATSF made 25 flats specifically to carry mail containers.  They stripped down old diners and lounges to their underframes, added new decks and used them as head end cars.  The trucks were upgraded with roller bearings but were otherwise the original 6 wheel passenger trucks.  There were also another 5 that were reconstructed from Auto-veyor flatcars, that used an odd 4 wheel truck, the LFM Atkinson.

Did PRR do something similar with any of their old heavyweights?

Pictures or written evidence would be very helpful, as I am quite interested in this topic.

[thomasjmdavis]

Lemosteam-
 ATSF flat cars rebuilt from passenger cars rate a chapter in Frank Ellington's Head End Cars (anta Fe Railway Passenger Car Reference Series -- Volume One). 

Info and pics from the Coach Yard of prototype and their HO model:
http://www.thecoachyard.com/Pages/SingleImage.lasso?-SkipRecords=2.000000&LinkedProd=230
http://brasstrains.com/Classic/Product/Detail/044489/HO-TCY-0447-Coach-Yard-AT-SF-Santa-Fe-Mail-Container-Flat-w-Containers-203

Apparently a company in England makes or made castings: http://www.spookshow.net/freight/nsksfmail.html

Apologies for getting off topic.  I have no idea if PRR did anything like this

[prbharris]

ATSF flat cars rebuilt from passenger cars rate a chapter in Frank Ellington's Head End Cars (Santa Fe Railway Passenger Car Reference Series -- Volume One).  Apparently a company in England makes or made castings.

Released in 2014 and in production now http://nscalekits.co.uk/SantaFeMailcar.html and the specialized Mail containers with decals are also available.

If there is a PRR heavy duty flat car that used these trucks do let me know - as this may well be something that we could do as well.

PRR cars such as the F30a/ F30d/ F39 and the FD2 'Queen Mary'

Besides the Queen Mary using T1 tender trucks,

with these T1 trucks are available from www.nscalekits.com  - and sell well.

Peter

Peter Harris
N Scale Kits
www.nscalekits.com

[thomasjmdavis]

Thanks for the links Peter.  The mail container flats are a bit late for my layout's time period.  Not sure if there would be interest from other ATSF modelers, but as you seem to have a specialty for TOFC flatcars of all vintages, here is one I would like to see
http://atsfrr.net/resources/zebrowski/folio/ft-pdf/ft-tb.pdf  (ATSF Ft-T class converted to TOFC in 1954)