Unfortunately there are no “period apprpriate” passengers on the market for these cars. But in scrounging thru the MTH catalog I see that the Premier Woodsides come with passengers in them. Wonder if they would work as being “somewhat” period appropriate, I haven’t seen any of the woodsides in person.
What ya think ???
Watching the train run from 3 feet away, can you really tell how the passengers are dressed?
The MTH 1890 era Premier Woodside passenger cars (baggage, combine, coach, and observation) are a thing of beauty. They are long, 17 1/2 inches over couplers with full underbody detail. O-42 track required, list price $90 a car. They look like the products furnished to the New York & New England Railroad (New Haven) by the Pullman Palace Car Company. The two year wait for MTH to produce them after listing the cars in the catalog was the only negitive.
As for people, each comes with a dozen people installed. Their dress look like the 1950s, men with white shirts and ties, some with hats, women have 50s style dresses.
I have not looked close at the 10 3/4 inch long O-27 Railking Overton cars, but, in the catalog, no mention of “people” is made, just lights and seats, list price $50 a car (nearly half the price of the Premier cars).
The mid-twentieth century and later would do if you were operating as an “excursion” train or even if the cars were viewed as you say 3 feet+ away. However where I run them the visitors to the museum get an “up close & personal” view of them regardless of which mainline you run that day.
The Overton cars do not come with any passengers pre-installed, and there are no manufacturers of “seated passengers” for this era. I sent an e-mail to MTH suggessting that they make some, seems like they are missing an oppourtunity since the cars themselves have been so popular. I also sent an e-mail to Lionel about purchasing the passengers that they are doing for the “Dewitt Clinton” in their Heritage Series of trains.
Just have to wait and see what kind of responses I receive. [:-^]
Doug,
I put some MTH figures in an MTH passenger car, and it isn’t worth the time or money IMHO. The only way that I notice them is if I remember to look for them. Otherwise, I forget that they are in those cars.