My son has come to really like the Santa Fe Warbonett F7. We have an Antherm engine and he runs it exclusively. I want to get him a few passenger cars that go with it. Here is the problem. we have 18" radi curves. So I cant use the extra long passenger cars that I have usually see trailing behind the engines.
Does anyone make a non-prototypical streamliner passenger car that will match the silver and red Warbonett that will navigate the 18" radi?
Thanks
Kevin
Those look pretty long, they will go around a 18" radi?
Kevin
Yes
Yes, they are shorter than the full lenght passenger cars. The “normal” length of a streamlined passenger car is 85 feet (around 12" HO), the Athearns are 72 feet (just over 10" in HO). Plus they have talgo trucks/couplers that help them go around tighter curves. I’ve ran the full length passenger cars around 18" curves, they look a little silly and you have to be careful with lineside details on the inside of the curve.
Rick
ok…
so, do you folks think the passenger cars I am after are in this ebay listing listing?
6043160785
or are those the longer ones?
thanks
Kevin
I loooked some more at that ,they look too long to be 10" they are longer than the F7, which is around the 10" so forget my question on that item
Kevin
Those are what you want!![:)]
you sure? no offense, I dont want to have anyone think I know, I sure dont, I just want to make sure and I know you folks know. But the model #'s listed dont match the ones on the Athern web page list.
Those cars sure do make a long train. longer than anything I would be able to run. we’re talking a 4x8 layout. if i put that on my son’s layout, the nose would touch the tail almost.
If those definatly are the 72’ cars, then i dont mind getting another engine in the process, as i would keep it as a spare. I know i dont need all those cars though, I would never be able to run them all at the same time.
kevin
Ok, I should have done this before, the engine is only 6 1/2" long, so 10" long cars, are what you guys said I sould get and those in the listing do look about 4" longer than the engine. so you are absolutley right. I thought the engine was longer than 7" I thought it was about 10" its self.
sorry, my fault.
Thanks for all the help. hopefully I can pick up these or some other ones on the cheap
Thanks again
Kevin
Good luck, and you are going to have to do a LOT better than that to offend me.[:)] My first passenger train as a kid was a consist of Athearn Santa Fe passenger cars and an ABA lashup of Athearn PAs. That was a great Christmas!!
One thing to remember is that most mainline passenger trains ran anywhere from 10-12 cars, but on a model RR, you can simulate that with about 4-5 cars really well. For your Athearn Super Chief, you can do that with a baggage car, one or two coaches, a dome-coach, diner and an observation. Even though the Super Chief was all-Pullman, I don’t think anyone is going to pounce on you for using coaches instead (since Athearn doesn’t offer streamlined Pullmans). And the Athearn 72’ cars will take an 18" radius curve with ease.
Enjoy your streamliner.
Tom [:D]
Those are exactly what you are looking for. I used to run my amtrak set of athearn cars on 18" radius curves all the time without any issues. They are much longer than any of the freight cars i ran, but always managed just fine. They are actualy pritty decent kits, not up there with the new walthers ones, but not bad none the less. I’ve gotten into makeing constant brightness lighting circutis for them, which adds a fun touch.
~matt
I just found on walthers, 60’ streamliner cars. Life like brand. no observation car though, which i though was odd. are the life like’s any good? I am thinking the 60’ might go around better than the 72’ cars
Kevin
For your purposes, I think you will find that you will be much happier with the Athearn cars. They are a much better quality car and were designed for the radii that you discussed above.[:)]
ok, I will go with you recomendation
no matter what ones i get, nicholas(my son) will love 'em.
thanks
Kevin
The lifelike cars are ok, but the Athearn cars are a little better quality. The LL cars are lighted, however, and that is a bit of a plus.
If you use the LL cars, they will need some weight. I use thin self adhesive lead sold for slot cars for weight.
Rotor
MR ran an article awhile back about pike-size passenger trains. I think there was a Santa Fe train in there, but I can’t remember which one. I think it had an E unit with about 3-4 cars. However, you could always subsitute the F unit instead 
MR ran an article awhile back about pike-size passenger trains. I think there was a Santa Fe train in there, but I can’t remember which one. I think it had an E unit with about 3-4 cars. However, you could always subsitute the F unit instead