athearn cars

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
1

Does anyone here know something about the prototypes of Athearn’ streamlined cars? (who built them, when, where, etc.)

thanks

2

As far as I know, the Athearn streamlined pass. cars were loosely based on a Budd design. However, the models are shortened up to take 18"radius curves. In other words, they are not an accurate model of anything.
Todd C.

3

I think they were based on a Santa-Fe design, built by Budd. No Budd cars on two different railroads were alike.

4

Another thing to remember about passenger cars they came in different lenghts from 60’to 86’.Some even down to 36’ in the late 1800s.The Athearn stream line cars are based on Budds 72 footers.Most modelers think of passenger cars being in the 82-86’ range,this is not always the case.Every roads passenger cars was different in lenght and yes design even though they may belong to the same railroad.