News: Passenger Cars

by Portland Locomotive Works

e-mail

Portland Locomotive Works announced that the Franklin and Megantic Railway (F&M) and Phillips and Rangeley Railroad (P&R) two-foot-gauge RPO baggage car kits in S-scale are now being manufactured. These cars moved to the SR&RL when it took over those lines. These four versions will be produced:

F&M original two-window
F&M combine smoker 4-window
F&M RPO baggage
P&R RPO baggage

The kits will have a one-piece accurate roof, one-piece end castings, and appropriate door castings and decals. If you are interested in either of these, contact Gary Kohler at m2fq@aol.com or 330-719-0264. Only as many as pre-ordered are going to be produced.

by Portland Locomotive Works

by Sunset Models, Inc.

Photo shows their previous O-scale model.

by Sunset Models, Inc.

Photo shows their previous O-scale model.

by Sunset Models, Inc.
View web page

September 26, 2018 Scott Mann, owner of Sunset Models (and Golden Gate Depot), has worked out a deal with his Chinese manufacturer that would allow the possible manufacture of S-scale passenger car sets. He explicitly states that this is not for individual cars, but for 6-to-8 car sets. They are taking reservations now (see link) for the following sets:
- 1937 SF Super Chief (Budd) 6 Car Set
- 1948 NYC 20th Century 6 Car Set
- 1948 PRR Broadway Ltd. 6 Car Set
Additional add-on cars are also available. Photo shows their previous O-scale model.
Update: the project is still active and taking reservations. Currently not enough reservations have been made to start production. A total of 60 sets (about 500 cars) for the manufacturer to start producing them. "Scale" or "shorty" versions can all be produced from the same equipment, so that has no bearing on the overall total. The "shorty" version is currently not planned, but can be done if demand is there.

by Smoky Mountain Model Works
View web page

Smoky Mountain Model Works (SMMW) has manufactured Sn2 trucks before. They offer both freight and passenger trucks. They are thinking about doing another run of these, using the latest in production methods, which will reduce the number of parts required to assemble these truck kits. If you are interested in either of these, please contact Jim King at SMMW a.s.a.p., so that he can devote some time to completing this project.

by Port Lines Hobby Supply
View web page

Port Lines Hobby Supply announces that they bought out the Scenery Unlimited stock of passenger car diaphragms. They are available for $4.50 a pair. You will find them listed on their web site under the "American Flyer Parts" section.

by River Raisin Models
View web page

River Raisin Models and Lindsey Neas are planning to have Boo Rim of Korea produce these trucks. Two full-sprung, brass, inside swing-hanger trucks are being proposed:

- "41-HR-11"
- "41-N-11"

The 41-HR-11 was used under more Pullman-Standard, Budd, and ACF-built lightweight cars than any other 4-wheel truck during and immediately following WWII. These were used by: AT&SF, B&O, C&NW, Erie, Illinois Central, Rock Island, MKT, Missouri Pacific, Pullman, and Union Pacific.

The 41-N-11 were used by: ACL, B&O, C&NW, C&O, CB&Q, D&RGW, DL&W, Erie, FEC, GN, Illinois Central, L&N, N&W, NYC&StL, PRR, RF&P, SAL, SP&S, Southern, and WofA.

Other roads, notably the New York Central, Southern Pacific, Northern Pacific, and Kansas City Southern, used the earlier, and nearly identical, 41-HR or 41-N truck, which featured 5-1/2" x 10" roller bearings, whereas the trucks mentioned above used 6" x 11" roller bearings. They're almost indistinguishable.

Contact River Raisin Models if you would like to be put on the list of potential buyers of one or both of these trucks.

(from the webmaster: Photos of these trucks are hard to find, but this link shows an HO-scale brass model; click on the photo for a larger version.)

by Union Station Products
View web page

These sets include two of the front and back plates (i.e. enough for one car). No "curtain" material is included. They also have the "#D02 Budd Full Width Diaphragm Plate Set" available (no photo).