Athearn Streamline Passenger Cars, what time period were they introduced?
Can they be used with steam locomotives? What is the history on these?
They’ve had cars of this design since 1950’s. The cars more or less represent earliest of streamline cars on the prototypes. Models have been ugraded from time to time with respect to how they are manufactured. Now they are ready to run. They are basically trouble free cars without many derailment problems.
If you mean the cars themselves, Athearn introduced their streamline passenger cars sometime in the mid to late 1950’s. I believe they are a sort of cross between Budd and Pullman-Standard cars. And they were designed as ‘shorties’ to fit the 18-22" radius track.
As to running them behind steam locomotives, the answer is yes. Many ‘streamlined’ trains of the '30’s, '40’s and early '50’s were pulled by steam locomotives. Out here in the west, the most famous example is Southern Pacific’s “Daylight” trains between San Francisco and Los Angeles, which for years were pulled by the railroad’s distinctive GS-series 4-8-4’s. In fact, Athearn’s ‘Daylight’ streamline cars make a rather handsome looking (if not exactly authentic) train behind, say, the Bachmann “Daylight” locomotive (however, if you plan on modeling one of the trains, do not buy the ‘Vista Dome’ car, as SP never used them on the Coast Daylights).
You would not be too far off running the Athearns behind a steam locomotive at all.
Tom
It would also depend on which road name is being considered and which paint scheme the cars are in. I’ve even seen pictures of Western Pacific (California Zephyr type) dome cars behind a steam locomotive.
Fwdguy,
Just curious. Do you already have these passenger cars or are you planning to purchase some?
I’m asking because if you need your cars to be the length that Athearn’s are, Model Power’s HO shorty streamliners are a bit more realistic in appearance and come with interiors. At modelpower.com, there is a clearance sale for some of these cars.
While they also pop up on ebay regularly, there are still quite a few of these cars on store shelves around the U.S.
Just something to consider…
[:D]
if you really wanna go SP prototype, go for PCMs daylight and cars. running between $75-$150 a piece, they should be good.
As far as the prototype, as noted they’re a little bit of mix of Budd and P-S, but reasonably accurate for the type of fluted streamlined cars first introduced in the mid-thirties, like on the Burlington Zephyr and later used on the ATSF Super Chief, CP Canadian, etc.
The models scale out at about 70’ length, most streamlined passenger cars were 80-85’ long. I know some people really dislike “shorties” but I find in a train of cars all the same length it isn’t that noticeable.
Indeed and they won’t break the bank like most passenger cars does for a 8-10 car train.At the club at least 80% of the passenger cars are Athearn.
Even though they aren’t very prototypical at all (barring the RPO and baggage which are close to Santa Fe prototypes), a long string of them behind some nice power looks great. As noted above, you won’t break the bank putting together a nice consist. They are great for folks with tighter radii as well (also noted above; just adding my thoughts). When I started in model railroading, one of my first big purchases was a PA/PB/PA Warbonnet set and about ten of those cars (all Athearn). I still have fond memories of that consist to this day. Palace Car Company makes some great interiors for these cars as well, although you will start to add up the $$$$ quick once you start to detail them.
BTW I notice the only streamline pass. cars on the Model Power website are the ones on the closeout page, did they discontinue making these now??
Actually while comparing pictures those Model Power cars look like they sit to high when compared to a Athearn car.
Athearns were my first passenger cars and I did enjoy them. I have to say though that I’ve seenthe MPs. Truck and coupler heights are easy to adjust. They do look more realistic and detailed. I don’t know if they’ve been discontinued. Model Power is currently revamping their website but they can be e-mailed.
I’m not trying to push the MPs but am giving my opinon about them. If they have been discontinued, they’ve been popping up on ebay and quite a number go for decent prices.
IMHO, these cars would complement a train of Athearn cars quite nicely.
Thanks for all the replys. I already have a set of these cars in CB&Q. I have a Bachmann 4-8-4 Northern and just have purchased a IHC CB&Q Hudson 4-6-4 I wanted to use with these cars. I was just curious if these cars were around in steam days which from what I gather they were. So now I can run them with either my 4-8-4 or 4-6-4 which I must say looks pretty cool.
Hoople:
I plan on it, LOL! I’ve got a really gorgeous, smooth running and powerful Balboa GS-4 that needs a train worthy of the locomotive, and I think the PCM’s will fit the bill just fine!
Tom
FWDGuy–
Yes, they will. I’ve seen photographs of Burlington streamline cars behind their Northerns and Hudsons during the ‘transition’ era, and they look VERY cool!
Enjoy.
Tom
As a “follower” of modern passenger equipment here are my observations: the Athearn cars are predominately Budd models. They may not have all the precise Budd details correctly molded onto the body, but they do have the deadest giveaway of all : the fluted roofs, which only Budd-built equipment had. If you’re going to model, say, P-S equipment you will have to sand the roofs smooth — which by the way can be done.
They appear to be most closely models of ATSF prototypes of the early 50’s, for example, the 1951 Super Chief consist. This is not surprising since Athearn in the 50s was more “into” models of ATSF than of any other carrier. Consider their caboose, which I think is a perfect ATSF caboose; and I think their F-7 (the blue box one) is closest to ATSF’s. Since ATSF was the major railroad presence (SP fans may take me to task on that, but what can I say, I’m just a poor ignorant New Yorker) in Athearn’s hometown of Los Angeles, this pattern logically fits.
Now, there are some comments in this thread about their similarity to SP Daylight equipment. Not having any photos of SP cars handy I can’t comment on that; however, if the Daylight cars were Budd built, they are probably similar.
They are good quality models and easily lend themselves to addition of interiors. Since the trucks are all plastic, you would of course have to replace them if you want to install lighting. Their principal downside as probably everybody on this forum is well aware is their length: 72 feet. But no doubt some guys out there are good at cutting up a couple of bodies to “resect” additional length.
Oh yeah, one more thing — and the west coast contingent will have to forgive me for this: if you do decide to sand the flutes off the roof in order to produce a Pullman standard car, the coach will quite well
[quote user=“Tom Curtin”]
As a “follower” of modern passenger equipment here are my observations: the Athearn cars are predominately Budd models. They may not have all the precise Budd details correctly molded onto the body, but they do have the deadest giveaway of all : the fluted roofs, which only Budd-built equipment had. If you’re going to model, say, P-S equipment you will have to sand the roofs smooth — which by the way can be done.
They appear to be most closely models of ATSF prototypes of the early 50’s, for example, the 1951 Super Chief consist. This is not surprising since Athearn in the 50s was more “into” models of ATSF than of any other carrier. Consider their caboose, which I think is a perfect ATSF caboose; and I think their F-7 (the blue box one) is closest to ATSF’s. Since ATSF was the major railroad presence (SP fans may take me to task on that, but what can I say, I’m just a poor ignorant New Yorker) in Athearn’s hometown of Los Angeles, this pattern logically fits.
Now, there are some comments in this thread about their similarity to SP Daylight equipment. Not having any photos of SP cars handy I can’t comment on that; however, if the Daylight cars were Budd built, they are probably similar.
They are good quality models and easily lend themselves to addition of interiors. Since the trucks are all plastic, you would of course have to replace them if you want to install lighting. Their principal downside as probably everybody on this forum is well aware is their length: 72 feet. But no doubt some guys out there are good at cutting up a couple of bodies to “resect” additional length.
Oh yeah, one more thing — and the west coast contingent will have to forgive me for this: if you do decide to sand the flutes off the roof in order to produce a Pullman standard car,
The bottom line:
They’re not models of anything. They’re cars designed to give the impression of streamlined (lightweight) cars that are intended to be able to run on 18" radius track.
With that in mind, if you like 'em, run 'em behind whatever you like and they’ll be equally accurate and prototypical.
Actually Santa Fe ran a fan trip in the 1950s w/ a 2900 class 4-8-4 and a train set of (pre-hi-level) El Capitan cars. A train of Athearn coaches w/ a diner in the middle and the obs on the end would be a good aproximation if one wasn’t too fussy about prototypical accuracy.
I have a bunch of the Athearn cars. I have modified my ATSF consist to ‘appear’ to be NYC. I am aware the Athearn cars are not proto-type, but they do look good on my 22 1/2"-radius BRVRR.
All of my Athearn cars are BB kits. In general, I add weight to them and light them. Lighting is not hard to do. The trucks come with the proper wheels. All that is needed is a ‘wiper’ for the axles attached to the truck mounting screw. A bit of sheet bass or even soft brass wire will work. Then wire the bulbs directly to the screws or via the weights. None of my Athearn cars have interiors. I put a bit of white paper over the windows to difuse the light a little.
I just recently finished working over most of my Athearn cars. A ‘photo essay’ on the finished cars is on my website. Link is in my signature.
I’m not a rivet counter. My consist meets my needs and looks good behind a Niagara, Hudson, PA/B or E8A/E7B/E8A lashups. Especially in the dark.
Bang for the buck? I don’t think you can beat the Athearn BB cars.
Good luck with whatever you decide to do.