N-Scale Frisco passenger cars

Model Railroader Prototype information for the modeler
1

I am a Frisco nut and have modeled the Springfield area freight operations. I have a A-A set of Frisco F8s but I cannont find any passenger cars on the market. I have been through Walters’ cataloge of N-scale and nobody seems to make them.

Does anyone know of someone that does custom painting for specific roads? I would love to add a passenger run to my layout.

Thanks in advance for any information you might have.

Joe Reddick

2

Joe–

While I’m in HO, I’ve had trouble finding Frisco passenger cars, too. I recommend Pat Hiatte’s articles in the December '03 Trains andModel Railroader on the Frisco. The website had this info by him as well: http://www.trains.com/Content/Dynamic/Articles/000/000/004/636iqpsv.asp

Andy Sperandeo was kind enough to offer this advice to me a few years ago:

I also recommend the Frisco site, http://www.frisco.org/.

3

My information file has the following notes:

Frisco had Express cars Frisco 450-464 similar to the NYC express cars (shown?) rebuilt from troop sleepers see Model Railroad May1991 p. 1-8 (I suspect the page numbers are wrong, that would be the very front of the magazine)
These might be kitbashed from MicroTrains troop sleeper.

Pictures in the book 400,000 Miles by Rail by Blanton
“Black Gold” at Dallas from Tulsa 1950 steam, 1953 at Irving p.106
“Bluebonnet” near Cuba MO steam p.109
“Morning Star” EB Dallas outskirts p.109
Texas Special 1952 SB from Dallas p.109

Texas Special at Dallas UPT Trains magazine Feb51 p. 35

One of the most famous trains on the Frisco was the “Texas Special”, run part of the way over Frisco rails, part of the way over MKT. Train was lettered for “Texas Special” rather than for Frisco as such. Lionel made a big “Texas Special” passenger set back in the 1950s. I think Concor had a set in N scale in 70s or 80s, may even be one on a certain notorious “internet auction site”. But I think you will find more looking for “Texas Special” than for Frisco.

4

They also took the SS fluted sides off the six E7s when they converted them to the racehorse scheme, and hung them on a couple of repainted HW cars (I think lounges). Would also make an interesting model.

Larry Thomas’s two articles in PTJ from Nov and Dec 1984 would also be useful to you.

5

Thanks for your reply Gary. I printed off Andy’s article and it does give me some ideas. I really appreciate your help. I went exploring in the Walther’s catalog looking for Frisco decals so maybe I could make my own cars and found that Microscale (or anyone else for that matter) has Frisco decals. They have every other smaller railroad available, but no Frisco. It really did surprize me. I guess there is not enough of us interested in the line to warrant the expense of setting up the templates.

Again, thanks for your reply and article.

Joe

6

Joe–

Does Champ make decals in N scale? I bought some Frisco decals to reletter some Rivarrossi heavyweights in Pullman Green and bought Champ set PH-50. I’m also trying to paint and letter some LL P1k F3s for Frisco, and bought a Microscale set, 87-85 I think.

I don’t know how you feel about Yahoo! groups, but there are two that may be able to help: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Frisco/ and http://groups.yahoo.com/group/PassengerCarList/ Most people involved are very knowledgeable and willing to help.

Gary

7

Joe–

I found this website for N scale passenger cars. I didn’t see anything on Frisco listed, but you may find it helpful: http://www.trainweb.org/fredatsf/.

I also asked on the Atlas Forum; you can check this link: http://forum.atlasrr.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=14459

Gary

8

Thanks for the Web sites Gary. These are very interesting. I guess I am going to have to find the decals and make the cars myself. I am sure that I can do it, just a matter of time.

Thanks for your help.

Joe