Aerotrain Dimensions

Model Railroader Prototype information for the modeler
1

I seek dimensional information for a few locomotives. I draw locomotives via AutoCad with the excuse that I need to become familiar with each upgrade at work. I’m looking to draft the Lwt-12 specifically, and the rest of the train as well. Google and searches on trains.com and other webs has turned up lots of ads for the Bowser Kits and lots of stuff for a French company, but no dimensional data. Can anybody help with this?
The early GE and Baldwin PRR Electrics (E-2, E-3) are also desired, though I seek more photos of them.
Thanks.

2

I’ve never seen drawings of the Aerotrain but the cars were GM bus bodies so a scale could be developed using the windows as a known measurement. If you are in the area one resides in the National Museum of Transportation in ST. Louis and the other is an the Green Bay museum.

3

Unfortunately, I dwell on the outskirts of Philadelphia, so in person measurements are not likely in the near future. There is a site that extols the virtue of Harley Earl, and oh, by the way, here is some information on the Aerotrain . . .http://www.carofthecentury.com/the_aerotrain.htm, but not having any specific demensions to work from the advertizing copy still limits me.
One of the NYC sites lists Aerotrain dimensions, but the drawing indicated is actually for Baldwin’s Train X (perhaps a project for another time.)
Thanks for the thought, though.

4

You could try contacting either museum that houses one and ask if they have any dimensional data available. Those folks are usually pretty good about that sort of stuff.

5

I have a Bowser AeroTrain set. If it is any help the engine is 52’ long by 12’6" tall. The cars are 40’ long, 9’ wide and 10’ tall. I don’t know how accurate Bowser made this set but this might be a good start.

Doc

6

There is also software available that can extract dimensions from photographs,used by forensic people and archeologists.Maybe a Google search might find it.

7

I’ll bet it is in the Model Railroader Cyclopedia, but I am not sure.
http://store.yahoo.net/kalmbachcatalog/01033.html

8

I tried contacting the St. Louis Museum by way of their website a year ago, but recieved no response. I can try again, I suppose.
My beat-up copy of the Diesel Cyclopedia has no drawings of the AutoTrain. It’s got the odd-duck Ingall’s Ship Building locomotive, but no Lwt-12. Go figure.
So far, I have found no clear side photos of any of the engines in action. Bowser’s collection is mostly of the design models.
I can probably work from scaled wheelbase dimensions and go from there.