Matching Union Pacific Coaches - finally

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
1

I have had a set of the old Rivarosi coaches sitting in storage until I can find a tail end car. Well Con-Cor released their new Solarium coach which matches the Rivarossi Coaches in their Grey livery.

!(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m620/northern10/Union pacific/018.jpg)

Now to find a suitable engine to run this train. How about a FEF 1? This engine is very heavy and pulls great.

So what do you think, go with the FEF or should I look for something smaller?

!(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m620/northern10/Union pacific/021.jpg)

2

Don:

I think the FEF is just fine for those coaches–you can run an approximate “Challenger”, “Overland Limited” or “Portland Rose” IMO. I’ve always liked that two-tone gray, color scheme: SP used the same color scheme on their “Cascade”, “Lark” and also on their “Overland Limited” portion of that train’s run between Ogden and Oakland. I’ve got some of the two-tone Pullmans that I use on my SP “Gold Coast” WWII passenger run.

Tom

3

UP also used 7000-series Mountain types (4-8-2) on passenger trains. Might be a nice change from the 800s. A Challenger wouldn’t be out of place either.

4

Funny you should mention that I have one of the older BLI versions but it is not in the Greyhound paint scheme. It is a nice looking engine and pulls well.

This engine in its grey paint just seems to look better as it matches the coaches.

5

I have a pair of Rivarossi FEF-3s that I use. They pulled the 15+ of those same cars cars I have really well until I installed DCC in them and now they struggle to pull 6. I am attempting a remotor but I am having some issues with joining the motor to the drive gear as they are 2 different sizes.

Question for you, Have you replaced the trucks on your cars or are you still using the original ones?

6

The Rivarossi coaches come with metal wheels, which track very well.

The trucks are derlin and the wheels roll very well.

There is no reason to replace either the wheels or the trucks, I do not think you would need to improve them.

7

Mine had plastic wheels in a plastic truck held onto the car by a cheesey little clip pin. I have since put new Intermountain Wheels on them and fashioned new bolsters with screws. They run better now, since making those upgrades and adding the proper weight.