I have noticed that many passenger trains or roads in the southeast/northeast do not have passenger cars available in HO Scale. If we want a certain car and there is no RTR model, we either have to buy expensive brass or purchase the exact same car sides from Union Station Products, which to some can be a headache to assemble. [:O]
What is the reason behind this, are some manufacturers playing it safe when it comes to passenger trains?, or do railroads east of Chicago (including Maine) have low appeal as opposed to roads out west?
I know it might be considered a “niche” car but I would be first in line to acquire an HO model of the President’s car U.S. No. 1 the Ferdinand Magellan originally rebuilt by Pullman in 1943-44.
Sure, there was only one that existed but it travelled over many railroads and over many geographic areas of the US (and I believe once or twice to Canada).
The car still exists at the Gold Coast Railroad Museum so getting measurements would be possible. The car was used right up to the Reagan era.
As a bonus the U.S. Army communications car General Albert J. Myer that accompanied the Ferdinand Magellan would be nice, too.
Other than those two cars I would like to see more lightweight bedroom-lounge cars which seem to have been mostly passed over by the Walthers offerings.
I’d love to see a heavyweight Pullman 8 section- lounge car. They were used coast to coast but as far as I know have never been available even as a kit, much less ready to run. Nickel Plate Car is planning to offer a kit however.
We need more heavyweights, particularly head-end cars. Many heavy-weight, head-end cars existed to right before Amtrak and often were interchanged between roads. They could also be seen at the front end of trains outfitted with more modern cars. More heavyweights in general, would also allow some of us to do some serious kitbashing if necessary. Unfortunately, I have found that letter boards on many heavyweight models are too narrow and often their is no distinction made btw steel and non steel material roofs. Rapido has said it will be producing heavyweights in the future, but that may be a while.
Let’s just reiterate that manufacturers are in this to make money. They’re not going to chase too many rainbows when the pot o’ gold is right there. For example, they know that UP/ATSF/SP/PRR/NYC/CB&Q sells. So why not continue to churn out run after run of product that sells, rather than take a chance on SOU/FEC/SBD/ACL, etc. that might not sell?
In New England for passenger cars, you’ve got the New Haven and everyone else (sorry, but it’s true). The NH is a very popular road because of a few factors: it was the #3 US railroad in passengers carried and owned one of the most densely populated areas that also happens to be pretty well off (meaning that not only did a lot of people see and ride the NH, but they have the means to model it); it had a colorful paint scheme that is still in use today (ConnDOT); and every railroad that came around after it has not been as big nor as well thought of around here (mostly shortlines, regionals, and public passenger services). These reasons are why Rapido is making Osgood-Bradley cars and now NH 8600 stainless steel coaches (and likely more types on the way like Parlors).
By comparison with her New England neighbors, the NH had over 200 stainless steel cars. The B&M and the MEC had 12 each, IIRC. The BAR had even less than that. That and their territories are not exactly well populated nor particularly well off (by comparison). Don’t get me wrong, I know B&M, MEC and BAR locos sell, but would their passenger cars? Or at least as well as roads out of Chicago? Apparently not, at least accoding to the manufacturers to date.
I have yet to see a heritage diner or dorm/lounge from anyone that would be correct for the late 90’s Silver Service trains, and those Walthers Viewliners just don’t exist.
On the bright side, between Rapido, Athearn, and Atlas, my motive power is pretty well taken care of.
I’d also like a re-release of shorty pennsylvania heavyweight cars, but I’m not holding my breath.
As someone else said: kitbash–or scratchbuild, which I’m going to do (collecting parts and materials right now) in O scale. However, those clerestory (raised center section) roofs are a bear to build! Wish I could find a plastic clerestory roof in 1/4" scale; I’d snatch it up and kitbash it for my model of a 35’ Canadian Pacific business car. If you don’t feel brave enough to tackle it, find a cheap shell and practice. There are a lot of detail parts in plastic and metal around. Don’t be afraid; have fun!
Laser Horizons offers an HO scale ABS set of car sides for this. I know, I have one building now for use on the Penn Texas after they were removed from the Jeffersonian.
I would like to see a Pullman Indian series Baggage/Buffet/Bar, preferably as a “betterment” car but heavyweight would be OK.
I would like to see Walthers make a Pennsy Congressional/Senator version of a car like this to go with the train I already have, but if they did, it would probably be a plated version, and mine are not.
How do they know they won’t sell if they don’t make them? I suspect there may be a lot of pent up demand for those roads. I have been looking for smooth side and Budd L and N cars with little luck
