Prototype for Intermountain/CCC RPO?

[OldEastRR]

Is this based on the Penny's lightweight BM85? Does the model have the correct PRR trucks? Can't tell from the drawing of it online.
Also wonder if this was the RPO used on  the Liberty Limited.

[dougnelson]

Not quite. See this discussion:

https://www.therailwire.net/forum/index.php?topic=28795.0

[jmlaboda - RIP]

In a word (or two), no... and no.  While similar to the PRR BM85 the baggage doors are way too wide being about 2' too wide and have the wrong type of window, portholes were used on the PRR car.  Also you have to keep in mind that the BM85s were rebuilt from other lightweight cars, 6595 - 6598 from baggage - dorm cars while 6599 was rebuilt from a baggage - lounge, in 1964-1965.  Finding information on the BM85s is nearly impossible, so far I have only found one that is shown painted for Penn Central...

http://rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=2688085

The link below will take you to a previous discussion about the PRR BM85s...

https://www.therailwire.net/forum/index.php?topic=28795.0

As for these cars being used on the Liberty Ltd., no... the Ltd. was discontinued in 1957 and these cars were not rebuilt until 1964-1965, as mentioned above.

[jmlaboda - RIP]

Not mentioned in the other thread but should be brought up in regards to the prototype for the IMRC/CCS baggage - mail, I believe I have found the prototype... well, almost...

Shots of Rock Island head-end equipment are quite rare but there was a group of cars that match the IMRC/CCS model.  Quite by accident I found a picture of a horribly oversized Rock Island baggage - mail model that serves to show what the RI 754 - 760 baggage - mail, cars that were rebuilt in RI shops circa 1959 - 1961 from former New York Central 22 Roomette sleepers.  With the exception of the roof vents, which are similar to some I have seen on some Harriman head-end cars, the model matches the IMRC model quite well...

http://www.twinstarcars.com/images/RPO_RI_754.jpg

Hopefully this info will be of use... at least to someone...

[OldEastRR]

Actually, I found that the Kato 85' RPO (UP prototype) can be turned into a reasonably accurate version of the BM85. Since the mail compartment had to be built to the same USPO standards as the UP car, all that needs be done is move the baggage door closer to the mail compartment. By carefully measuring then cutting off and switching the sides of the baggage compartment you can do this. You want the baggage doors to wind up 8'2" from the mail doors. If you do it right you wind up with just a very thin seam where you rejoined the sides. Fill in the old windows a drill new porthole ones.
Not sure about the roof tho. However, Kato passenger roofs are easy to change out if the ACF style is wrong.

As for the LL: I assume that it had a BM70m for an RPO, yes?

[jmlaboda - RIP]

As for the LL: I assume that it had a BM70m for an RPO, yes?

Hard to say without having examples of a number of consists to review.  One consist that I saw of the Liberty Ltd. had no RPO at all but it might have been a Sunday or holiday consist when mail wasn't hauled.  And looking at PRR documents that review the standard consist make-up really appears a bit slighted... if all of the listings for BM70Ms were actual requirements PRR would have been out of luck... they only had 46 of them which would not have been enough to cover all trains, especially so with some taking two day to travel.  I believe that they used the designation BM70M to denote a car that was 70 ft. long inside with a 60' mail apartment vs. say a BM70K, which only had a 30' RPO (the other common designation showing up in train consists).

Wish I could tell you more but without actual consists for a good many years with numbers instead of designations it is really just too hard to say.  A safe bet would be to go with a BM70M as they appear to be the largest group of baggage - mail cars that PRR had.  At least with it you'll be "on the board".

[OldEastRR]

jmlaboda:
Seems like I've been chasing a ghost for years. When I had a Pennsy layout I made up 7 shortened versions of PRR passenger trains, using Steigmeier's Pennsylvania Railroad Vol 1 as a guide. The KATO BL sets and some CCC cars gave me most of the cars needed. Somehow I got it into my head that the LL had an RPO, but now checking back to that book I see it didn't. No wonder I couldn't find any info about a LL RPO! It did have a PLB85 lounge-baggage, which would require a kitbash to make. But since I'm now modeling NH, I don't need the LL.
Here's the Kato RPO modified into the PRR one:

The seam needs fixing and the windows replaced, but the hardest if not impossible part of the job is matching the KATO paint.

[jmlaboda - RIP]

The seam needs fixing and the windows replaced, but the hardest if not impossible part of the job is matching the KATO paint.

Just remember... even Kato has trouble matching Kato paint...

[Sokramiketes]

Isn't the CCC RPO an SP prototype?