I am looking into modeling the Pennsylvania Railroad’s Broadway Limited and need some information on the Loewy designed fleet of modernism. If anyone has a source of pictures of the train it would be greatly appreciated. I was also wondering what manufacturer’s streamlined passenger cars would be correct for the train, Rivarossi or Walthers (or any other). I love the two toned paint scheme of this train but can’t afford to buy any of the expensive brass pieces, so any help would be appreciated.
Neither one is correct for the PRR. The PRRT&HS book on passenger cars by Blardone and Tilp has a color picture of the boattail obs. on the front cover. I suggest you go to Keystone crossings and sign up for PRR-talk. There are some real experts that will answer all questions including Bill Volkmer and dan Cupper among others.
“Some of the Rivarossi streamlined cars are PRR Broadway Limited but of the late 1930s train.”
Actually, Dave, the Rivarossi smoothside lightweights labeled as “1930s” cars represent prototypes from the late 1940s and later. I believe the observation car and 10-6 sleeping car represent cars purchased for the 1948 re-equipping of the “Broadway Limited.” The Rivarossi “lightweight” RPO is actually a model of a PRR modernized heavyweight car, but this RPO was also used on the “Broadway.”
The Robert Hannigan RPO should also have the trucks replaced as they were six wheel trucks of a PRR design but again none of the cars are appropriate for Fleet of Modernism rolling stock.
I’m reminded of one recent model that is appropriate for a PRR Fleet of Modernism car, and that’s the Walthers Pullman lightweight 4-4-2 sleeper. Some or all of the cars used on the first streamlined “Broadway” had 43R trucks instead of the trucks Walthers supplied, and they originally used full-width diaphragms, but otherwise this car is a pretty good representation of those sleepers. So far, at least, the 4-4-2 hasn’t been offered in the Fleet of Modernism paint scheme, so the options are either to paint it yourself or wait until Walthers does it.
For 43R triple-bolster trucks in HO scale, contact D&G Models, PO Box 641364, Los Angeles, CA 90064-1364.
Thanks Andy … I was under the impression that the Rivarossi cars were the earlier versions of the Broadway. I do think the RPO is earlier and in fact is a rebuild of an older car. I have a box full of PRR stuff that I carefully collected over the years before I converted over into a C&NW modeler. Now of course I wish I’d been buying CNW brass when it was cheap rather than Pennsy brass when it was cheap. No matter how hard I squint a Pennsy class N 2-10-2 does not resemble any CNW locomotive.
Dave Nelson
I am looking into modeling the Pennsylvania Railroad’s Broadway Limited and need some information on the Loewy designed fleet of modernism. If anyone has a source of pictures of the train it would be greatly appreciated. I was also wondering what manufacturer’s streamlined passenger cars would be correct for the train, Rivarossi or Walthers (or any other). I love the two toned paint scheme of this train but can’t afford to buy any of the expensive brass pieces, so any help would be appreciated.
Neither one is correct for the PRR. The PRRT&HS book on passenger cars by Blardone and Tilp has a color picture of the boattail obs. on the front cover. I suggest you go to Keystone crossings and sign up for PRR-talk. There are some real experts that will answer all questions including Bill Volkmer and dan Cupper among others.
“Some of the Rivarossi streamlined cars are PRR Broadway Limited but of the late 1930s train.”
Actually, Dave, the Rivarossi smoothside lightweights labeled as “1930s” cars represent prototypes from the late 1940s and later. I believe the observation car and 10-6 sleeping car represent cars purchased for the 1948 re-equipping of the “Broadway Limited.” The Rivarossi “lightweight” RPO is actually a model of a PRR modernized heavyweight car, but this RPO was also used on the “Broadway.”
The Robert Hannigan RPO should also have the trucks replaced as they were six wheel trucks of a PRR design but again none of the cars are appropriate for Fleet of Modernism rolling stock.
I’m reminded of one recent model that is appropriate for a PRR Fleet of Modernism car, and that’s the Walthers Pullman lightweight 4-4-2 sleeper. Some or all of the cars used on the first streamlined “Broadway” had 43R trucks instead of the trucks Walthers supplied, and they originally used full-width diaphragms, but otherwise this car is a pretty good representation of those sleepers. So far, at least, the 4-4-2 hasn’t been offered in the Fleet of Modernism paint scheme, so the options are either to paint it yourself or wait until Walthers does it.
For 43R triple-bolster trucks in HO scale, contact D&G Models, PO Box 641364, Los Angeles, CA 90064-1364.
Thanks Andy … I was under the impression that the Rivarossi cars were the earlier versions of the Broadway. I do think the RPO is earlier and in fact is a rebuild of an older car. I have a box full of PRR stuff that I carefully collected over the years before I converted over into a C&NW modeler. Now of course I wish I’d been buying CNW brass when it was cheap rather than Pennsy brass when it was cheap. No matter how hard I squint a Pennsy class N 2-10-2 does not resemble any CNW locomotive.
Dave Nelson