Hello everybody,
I’m new here and I’m from Italy. I’m interested in Baltimore & Ohio railroad, and I model it in N gauge.
I have a question: does anybody know if Con-Cor’s 85’ Smooth Side passenger car #4061 (B&O) is a dome car without observation end. In other words, is it suitable to be placed in the middle of the train, or should it travel at the end?
Thank you and merry Xmas!
Luca
Thank you for your suggestion, but I already know that site. The problem is that in the table on page http://www.all-railroads.com/instock/n85sspas.htm they write “Dome Obs”: now, I don’t know if they mean the car has only a dome or also an observation compartment at the end. Looking at the pictures, seems there are not dome and observation cars, but I’d like to be sure before placing an order…
It appears they have an error in their website. The smoothside set does not have a dome/obs combo. That car is in the Budd car set.
Placement of the car depends on what it’s being used for. A dome coach can be placed almost anywhere in a train, with passenger access at both ends. Sleeper passengers get a place to escape their rooms, if they want to. Some domes included some food service or tavern function for the train. The best seat on the Rio Grande Zephyr let you bring your drink up to the dome & enjoy the scenery! The round end would have to be modified for mid-train service, unless it were placed just behind the head-end. I have seen pictures of some Rock Island obs running “backwards” on their last runs of the Rockets. Normally, this area would be off-limits to coach passengers, with the obs running behind the sleepers.