The prototype I model (Copper Range Railroad) had a fairly extensive fleet of passenger cars for what was essentially a short line. However, all but one of them were between 52’ and 55’ in size, and the majority of those were only four wheel trucks. A couple of them survive to this day at the Mid-Continent Railway Museum in North Freedom, WI, so I luckily have some reference for what they looked like.
Both the surviving ones were built by American Car & Foundry around 1903.
That said, I have sworn I’ve seen models of this sort of passenger car before, but for the life of me can’t find them. It is possible I saw them in a different scale than HO, or custom built at a show. Is there any special name for these mid-size passenger cars that I am unfamiliar with? Anyone know of any manufacturers of them?
Closest would probably be the 50’ “Overland” cars originally made as kits by MDC/Roundhouse, now sold as RTR items in the Athearn “Ready to Roll” line. MDC made a lot of the undec kits back in the day, they turn up quite often at railroad flea markets or Ebay for a decent price.
not the same but the PRR had 54’ cars later converted to mu electric commuter cars. there were both straight coachs and combines. i believe they were made by Rapido or Concor. might be a starting point for you
Model Die Casting offers a train of shorty passenger cars, but I used mine as MoW crew cars…
They don’t get a great deal of running time, but every once-in-a-while they might get hauled around the layout (sometimes with other track maintenance equipment).
