Bowser GLa Hoppers in N scale...where did the brake staff go?

[Dave V]

So, as the title asks... At some point Bowser switched from their GLa hoppers having a free-standing brake staff to having a more modern vertical brakewheel on the body. This isn't precisely prototypical for the era I model so I'm curious as to whether this was a cost-saving measure or what. So now I'm hunting for the older versions with brake staffs (undamaged...I really don't feel like major repairs on these little cars considering this exercise is a side-show for me).

I also need to replenish my Berwind hopper supply.

[thomasjmdavis]

That is curious.  I was going to answer with the suggestion that the brake wheels were revised when the cars were given AB brakes... But, there are lots of photos of the prototype cars with late paint schemes, that still have the brakeshaft, and I didn't find any with a revised brakewheel location (and the brakeshaft was not necessarily revised when given AB brakes- some roads did, others not).  And, I note, all the photos I can find on Bowser's site of their HO models show a brake staff, regardless of date of the paint scheme.

So, I think you have a good question there.  Could it maybe have happened due to a change in Chinese factories?  That was the explanation for a lot of production issues for several manufacturers 5 or 6 years ago.  Might be worth an email to Bowser.

[OldEastRR]

Can we see pictures of what you're talking about?

[Dave V]

Can we see pictures of what you're talking about?

I mean, not really since I no longer have the ones I used to. But from the web...

Earlier run GLa with brake staff (on the left side) which is prototypical:



Current run GLa without brake staff (brake wheel on right side):