Calling all New Haven, Southern Pacific, Penn Central, Bangor & Aroostook, Boston & Maine, Long Island Railroad, modelers - and anyone else interested.
What sort of interest among us is there for the Pullman-Bradley lightweight cars of the 1930’s?
I suggest we work together to get a manufacturer to produce these. I think Walthers would be a good choice for these being smooth side cars or maybe BLI, but they would be more pricey.
These cars do have great appeal among New Haven modelers and the fact they were owned by Southern Pacific and the other roads I mentioned do them great justice as well.
I know my NH brethern are extremely interested in these - and mfgr’s know we buy in bulk.
I also point out they certainly found themselves in Washington on New Haven- PRR run throughs as well. (hint to the Pennsy guys)
Its a classic design.
Great roadname selction.
LOTS of paint schemes - at least 6 NH alone.
PLUS undecs could be kitbashed to make CN which had cars like this - LV too - with some suttle differences.
I think a quality RTR model of these is needed for the market.
Definetly would be good to get the New Haven Railroad Technical Historical Society involved. I’ve heard over and over that model train manufacturers pay attention to input from historical societies.
Another neat aspect of these cars is that a number were still runnig right up to the creation of Amtrak in 71.
BTW: Didn’t a manufacturer make these cars 10 years or so ago? Funaro & Carmalengo or Eastern Car Works? I clearly remember seeing them in the Walthers Catalog back then.
The key is to get the manufacturer interested first - only “we” the modelers can do that - the NHRHTA’s role will come later supplying technical and painting/lettering diagrams.
ECW did make undec flat kits - but they are chunky detail wise, require a lot of work and detailing - they are plain outdated. Not to mention they are no longer available anyway…
I am building a layout centered around the New Haven Union Station. The East end tracks will enter a helix (the East Haven Tunnels) and enter on the upper tier Shore Line. I can model it as far as Old Saybrook. Also West end will have some 4 track electrified zone.
I plan to run exact consists from the new NHRHTA consist book soon to be published so I will need about twenty of these.
BTW: I have 4 streamlined NH car ktis from Eastern Car Works. Though old, the cars themselves are new in the box. Trucks are pretty crude and each car has to be glued together. BTW: Aren’t the streamlined cars also Bradley-Osgood? As a kid I saw these cars in and out of New York City.
Would be welcoming indeed if a company like BLI had these cars manufactured complete with interiors, lighting, and quality trucks.
Off Topic: Forgive me, but while you’re here…did you find out if Branford Hobbies manufactured anymore HO scale EP5s? Am still interested in getting one. I want an EP5 more than an FL9. As much as railfans poked fun at them for their habit of “catching on fire”, those EP5s could haul a long train at 80+ mph. Was a cool sight to see. A trajedy that Conrail refused to preserve one.
The cars with the fluted Stainless Steel sides are different - those are the post-War Pullman-Standard cars.
The one pictured above in my first post is a smooth-side “Pullman-Bradley” car - pre-War.
I would love to see both - I would suggest BLI for the Stainless Steel cars and Walthers for the American Flyer Bradley cars.
I meant to ask Mark at Branford Hobbies when I saw him about two weeks or so ago, but I forgot as he was busy manning his table at the train show and I was making my way through the show so I could get back to volunteering for the NHRHTA there. I stopped by the store afterwards (Mark was still at the show) and he did not have any castings available - I’ll find out if he’ll be doing more for you ASAP.
I think he’s the gentleman I spoke to on the phone last year that told me that the EP5s would be available Fall or Winter 2004 once his store was rebuilt or re-organized. It’s interesting that Branford Hobbies still doesn’t have e-mail. Just speculating, but I’m sure that there are a number of NH fans that may be interested in that particular locomotive.
A brass importer is contemplating producing the Pullman-Bradley lightweights; including possibly the car 1000! I hate to think what the price tag will be.
I have one of the old ECW kits…which is slowly being worked on. Right now, it’s a rolling, unpainted shell. Eventually, it’s getting painted PC green. The NH versions of these cars made it to PC…but like most NH equipment, didn’t last until Amtrak.
