Conrail's OCS - Full Train Thread

[x600]

Are you kidding?! Of all the other modifications you've mentioned, moving the kingpin would probably be the easiest one.

This

Dan, now I see what your planning. I got some more goodies for you. CC superliner coach work?

Greg O

[bbussey]

Updated with the new information.

I am trying to get my hands on a superliner coach interior. The Bachmann dome car is really a lounge configuration and I want to get the seats right before adding interior lighting. I'll do a separate post for each car I work on.

I scratchbuilt mine, using the Bachmann couch and seats for the upper level. Much easier to build the basic structure from styrene than trying to kitbash an existing interior.

Some cars are rather easy: #27 and #12 are almost standard Budd cars, and the CC models will fill in nicely.

Don't be so sure. The roof of #12 for example is not standard and rather unique, with the flutes plated over and the screens removed from the vents. You also have to fix the vestibule steps in the lowered position.

Others - the rebuilt #8 heavyweight sleeper. Man, this will be a splice job! Right now I am thinking a Riv or Lima HW ends and under frame with spliced sides from CC smooth side cars and the bubble roof from MTL. I can't use the MTL HW as a core because the prototype was retrucked with two axle Commonwealths, and I would need a centered kingpin.

Starting with a Micro-Trains body as the core is the most logical option for any of the heavyweights other than head-end equipment. You remove the sides and add new sides fabricated from styrene, brass or some other medium. Moving bolster positions is the least of the modifications required.

For the Theatre Car, Athabasca Models makes etched brass sides for the prototype. Use a Rapido sleeper with sides removed as the core, and scratchbuild the opera end.

[Lemosteam]

If @peteski is willing to share his awesome constant-on lighting schematic with you I can vouch that the boards are easy to make and solder with SMD components.  I used this in my Polar Express set and it works beautifully.

Kato two axle electrified trucks and flex wiring into the car power them.

https://goo.gl/photos/MrcmyXsSPnWX2JjRA

[u18b]

I've collected a few plans through the years.

Wes Reminder had a wonderful collection of info.
But his site is longer coming up.

So with that in mind, I'll post his plans.
(If someone has a link to where this stuff is, please post).

My interest was in the cars that went to CSX.

Thus....

Here is car 10 which became CSX New York.





Here is car 9- the theater/observation car.   Has a couple of names on the CSX.  Started out as the Massachusetts.  Now it is the Alabama.




Here is the 11-  now CSX Youngstown.  Same car Rapido did so well.




Here is the conference car nomber 12.  CSX calls it the Michigan.    Bryan Bussey did a wonderful job making this car.




And here is the sleeper number 8- CSX Mississippi.  Obviously this car has been modified.   These plans show it was a coach.  But it was converted.  But at least the plans give you the dimensions and correct window placement.




And here are some old plans of the number 3  which is CSX Philadelphia.   History is a bit confusing on this car.  It's old number a long time ago was the 10 (which is the New York now).  Jerry Laboda tries to give some history of these cars on his ecellent site.

[jmlaboda - RIP]

For the Theatre Car, Athabasca Models makes etched brass sides for the prototype.

Odd... I went to the Athabasca site and found nothing for this car.  What is the part number???

Another option to consider for the business car sides is Laser Horizon's laser cut sides.  The CR cars featured all welded sides (including CR 10) which eliminated the need for rivets, making the LH sides very desirable.  Using the MT Plan 3959 observation car as the core it is not that difficult to build these cars using these sides though you will have to find an appropriate window material to apply the sides too and you will have to paint them before applying them to the window material.

LH has the following sides available (these are the stock numbers for the sides):

CR-1 (business car)*, CR-3 (business car) **, CR-4 (business car) *, CR-5 (business car) **, CR-8 (executive sleeper), CR-9 (Track Inspection car), CR-10 (business car) **, CR-22 (Rail Analyzer Car) and CR-24 (Rail Analyzer Support Car, ex-Army Hospital Ward car).

* - You will need a MT arched observation car/business car roof to get reasonably close to what the prototype's roof is.  While the profile (and vestibule end) are not quite right it still would be a lot closer to what the prototype is like.

** - These cars used a roof similar to the stock MT observation car roof.

And here is the link to the Laser Horizon's page at the N-scale Varnish website...

http://n-scalevarnish.info/index/varnish/LH.htm

[daniel_leavitt2000]

Oh man Ron! This is great! Now if I can convince Aaron to break out the Silhoette. His work on the MBB commuter car sides was amazing.

[u18b]

Contact him.

He has already made a couple of sides.  They are in his computer ready to go.

For example, he already did the New York for me.

[u18b]

As others have said, moving the MT bolster is not that big a deal.

I did it in one evening when I started on the New York (Conrail 10).

Trucks are:
Rapido GSC 41-N-11 trucks    #102023







And here is the car with Aaron's paper drawing on top.







He already cut me some sides, but the door proved too delicate and fell off from handling.
I'll get him to make me a new set one day.


Oh-  and one last thing about the #10.

The back wall (just before the rear platform) was moved inward a long time ago in order to expand the platform for President Roosevelt's wheelchair.

I have not decided if I want to go to all that much trouble yet to make it THAT accurate.

[u18b]

Interior shots are VERY few and far between.
I have a few of the SBD system cars,....

But here is the only one I have collected of a Conrail car.

This one is the conference car #12.... now the Michigan on CSX.
Colors are as Bryan described.

Obviously may be used for dining as well.

[u18b]

Since I have already done a good deal of research on the CSX owned Conrail cars....

I'll post it here.

It is in a bit of rough shape.
And may not be clear.
But maybe it will help.

A lot of the historical info I got from Jerry Laboda's site and others.

I'll just cut and paste from my document:
--------------------------------

Massachusetts  994009  nee Conrail #9  theater car  (ex-CR 9, exx-23, exxx-VIA 428, nee-CN 428) LW track inspection car rblt. from LW dinette car.               Laser Horizons N-CR-9   now called the Alabama   nee VIA Rail 428  Lt Wt track inspection car rebuilt from ltwt dinette  Do in Conrail green.   have floor plans

--------

Michigan  994012  nee Conrail 12 New by Budd Parlor for Pennsy as #7838.  To PC 7838.  1980 converted to mtg rm/bd room car #12 Conrail. (ex-CR 12, nee-PC/PRR 7138 Baron DeKalb) Budd parlor car  conflict- 7138 or 7838?  I lean toward 7138-- almost certain.         (Union Station Products Pennsy RR #9628 plastic side.      Also get the corrugation.  Fill in one sm window on each side and core kit.) Budd Fluted 1 Drawing Room/29 Seat Parlor  The problem with this car is the roof.  No one makes it that we know of.  It has a smooth roof (no corrugation) and two ribs.      Normally Budd roofs were corrugated.          have floor plans  Bryan has done this car.     Do in Bright Future. .


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Mississippi  994008  nee  CR #8,  ex SOO? Ex Southern nee Pullman modern Hywt sleeper    Laboda: (ex-CR 8 converted to sleeper 1984 and given this number, ex CR 24   exx-SOU 1041  Windsor Castle, exxx-2458 Windsor Castle, exxxx-Pullman, nee-Penvir) built in 1923  Mod. HW executive sleeper rblt. from coach, formerly 10 Sect - restaurant - lounge, originally 16 Sect.        Aaron found original coach plans in a PDF file I have.  Southern Pass Car Diagrams  p 88  Laser Horizons N-CR-8     Do in Conrail green.

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New York  994010  nee Conrail #10  heavyweight old roof!    New as NYC  observation car by Pullman “Queen Elizabeth” in 1922.  Later renamed the Hudson River and ran on the Empire State Express in the 1930s.     “The large rear platform was constructed to accommodate President Franklin D. Roosevelt's wheelchair.  Renamed the Kalamazoo River in 1942 and then the Victoria Park in 1947.  It was Numbered NYC 30 and moved to inspection service in 1952.  Part of the funeral train when Robert F. Kennedy was assassinated.  1968, PC #30.  CR #76.  CR #10.  see http://www.hebners.net/cr/crOCS.html       Could be made by etching new sides for a Micro-Trains 3-2 Hwt Observ car  that has a close roof.  FOUR axles- remove brake cylinders (Rapido GSC 41-N-11 trucks    #102023).  MT has a square pad in front of bolster.  Use that to build a new bolster.  Drill and tap for 1-72 screw.  Must disassemble cause a WEIGHT will obstruct the front screw.  Must drill through that too.  Use 5 brass WASHERS to get height right (hi boy!)  or 4 washers and a hybrid raised coupler.  to lock in.     Must still take back wall of observation and back it up a few feet.  This was done for FDR's wheelchair.    Do in Bright Future.      have floor plans     Laser Horizons N-CR-10  Aaron drawn!

------------------

Philadelphia    994003      Ex CR #3   ex NYC   Heavyweight.  NOT full roof.  Nee NYC #1  nee  Mich Central  #1??    (ex-CR 3, exx-PC 2, nee-NYC 10) Mod. HW business car.     I have plans.   Laser Horizons N-CR-3       Do in Bright Future.


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Youngstown       nee CR 11 10-5 sleeping car  (ex-Conrail Spirit of Youngstown, exx-EL, nee-Erie) LW 6 Sect - 6 Rmt - 4 DBR.         have floor plans      Rapido Panorama car              Do in Bright Future.  And in Conrail 

[daniel_leavitt2000]

For the Theatre Car, Athabasca Models makes etched brass sides for the prototype. Use a Rapido sleeper with sides removed as the core, and scratchbuild the opera end.

I checked their website, and can not find the car sides.

Also... can't find who to contact to get LH items. The N Scale Varnish page has a link, but it only open outlook and I do not have any mail set up for that. Does anyone have a direct link to LH website or email?

[chessie system fan]

Oh man Ron! This is great! Now if I can convince Aaron to break out the Silhoette. His work on the MBB commuter car sides was amazing.

You're in luck!     I've drawn up a good many CSX business cars already.  I'd just need to whip my silhouette out of the closet.  For Conrail, I've done the 8 (CSX Mississippi)  and 10 (CSX New York).

If you draw your own, just remember that heavyweight cars are almost always based upon Pullmans, and thus standard Pullman window sizes and spacing.  That helped a lot with the 10 and a few others.

Actually, I could have sworn I emailed you the files for the cars way back when we worked on the MBB cars. 

[chessie system fan]

It looks like the old Rowa observation is a good starting point for the 22.

Oh, and I've also drawn the 24 already too.  Those Korean war hospital cars got spread around to several railroads.

[jmlaboda - RIP]

The N Scale Varnish page has a link, but it only open outlook and I do not have any mail set up for that. Does anyone have a direct link to LH website or email?

prr1187[at]aol.com

It looks like the old Rowa observation is a good starting point for the 22.

It could indeed be a good starting point... just not sure how hard removing the corrugation would be...

[chessie system fan]

Having removed corrugation on those cars before, it's annoying but not too bad.