I am trying to model the Union Pacific 844 and so far I have the Athearn Genesis 844 DCC with sound. What other passenger cars do I need to make it look like it does today and what brand/model # if you have the time for each car. I know I need a box car, any ideas on what make/model box car? Any advice is appreciated.
I would suggest the best available cars are the Overland special cars for the modern era excursion / business train. Short of that very expensive option, the last run of the Rivarossi UP set are in service cars for the UP that look fairly good overall, but the excursion/business cars are named and have modifications. The box car you mentioned is not always used for the excursion service so it is an option depending how you use the train.
There is no easy solution since the Overland cars are $500 each and the Rivarossi sets have been out of production for five years, but that is one way to get started. The UP sets will probably be run again since they are and were very popular.
CZ
As above, the Boxcar is optional, I believe they have a toolcar baggage that does the same job. That said, I too have been looking, more for the grins and giggles. I found an Athearn kit car that is “discontinued” the sides are rightm but it was a silver top and would need to repaint them a grey. (EDIT: THis one: http://www.athearn.com/Products/Default.aspx?ProdID=ATH91388http://www.athearn.com/Products/Default.aspx?ProdID=ATH91388)
Which run do you want to model? UP has a HUGE collection of business cars, that alternate which ones traqvel with the 844.
As far as the theatre car, Walthers has the end wall made by Tain Station Products you can add to any Walthers car you think matches, and can probably find the correct side wall panels if you so prefer. You’ll want to load up on several baggage cars. If you can find the walthers ones with the interchangeable doors, that’s perfect, because the Excursion car doors are frequently open with safety bars across the gap. Otherwise, you’d need to dremel out the doors, or leave them closed. (EDIT) Rivarossi made an almost perfect baggage car for what you need, closed door version. But you’ll nitcie the operator is made.
I know the Rapido baggage is right for at least one of the cars.
EDIT:
A Walthers ACF mail carwould make a great start for the power car/tool car. You’d need to add on a couple of vents and a smoke exhaust to the roof. http://www.walthers.com/exec/productinfo/932-9051
These might be of use to you as well:
this is my set so far: I have all the rivarossi cars, a kato business car but it’s corruagated sides and the box car you suggested. I also have the UP auxillary tender by overland models. I think I’m modeling the train to the best of what’s available without going to overland models.
Uh, yeah, Your doing very well. WHy did you need us again? [:D]
well I can always use the advice of some experienced good people on here. I am quite a rookie at this model railroading thing. I had no trains no layout no anything as of 2 months ago.
maybe I should put it this way…how can I improve on the setup I already have?
well, the only thing I know your missing is the Power Car and the Theatre Car, both I mentioned above, Thepower car’s fairly easy, if you pick up the afrementioned ACF RPO, a set of side vent detail parts like the ones on the top of this page (I can’t tell ya which ones you’d need without seeing them in real life and compared to the ACF) http://www.toytrainheaven.com/.sc/ms/cat/HO%20Detail%20Parts--Cannon/2 and ne of these http://www.walthers.com/exec/productinfo/229-6640,ad paint them (A Spraypaint is fine)
The theatre car(that funny looking obsevation with the flat endshouldbe cake too, You need
| 732-494 | Car Ends – Theatre/Track Inspection Car End |
|---|
from Train Station Products, and a Walthers car (ou can pop the end wall off) I’m not sure what the ideal car would be, if you were felling bold, you could steal thesides off of http://www.walthers.com/exec/productinfo/932-10458 and apply them to any Walthers streamliner car, along with the Inspection window end (put it down with the big honkin’ windows). I think you could then put the unused streamliner sides on the heavyweight, and have yourself a whole car again.
You might also consider adding in some Sleeping cars, think three o
Another Quick spotting feature on the power car is that it has a heavyweight(6-wheel) truck on one end, the end where the powerplant is.
and the tool car is longer and shorter than the Athearn one, but it works as a stand-in.
If your willing to bash a bit to change the doors, and do a simple paint job, the Amtrak smoothsided MHC is a closer match for the toolcar, or just paint and forget the doors, like I did
there are three different business cars that run with the train, two are the theatre type and the other is a dome obs.
the tenders have been rebuilt also,
old version
new version, also in first pic
these sites have pics of almost every one of the cars
I could just buy this in HO scale:
If I were to blow the budget for one car, that would be the one, or Fox River, which is the other Theater inspection car.
are they available anywhere yet?
Hadn’t noticed. Cool.
Houston, we have a longer tool car. http://www.athearn.com/Products/Default.aspx?ProdID=ATH89205 Don’t know about the height. I do love your MHC, but I for one would prefer the boxcar for the height difference.
I havent seen the domeobs, but I think I;ve seen a porch style obs similar to the Kato.
the CIty of San Francisco is the dome-lounge-obs, but it can also operate mid-train.
Ah ha.One of those.
Depending on how accurate you want your train to be, you could stick with the Rivarossi cars. If you want an extremely accurate train, your only option would be brass for the passenger cars. For the theater car, your only option would be the Idaho which was imported by Overland Models. I think that you will find the car to be your best investment and it will put any of the plastic cars to shame detail wise. The express box travels with the steam engines as it contains the stairs and other equipment needed. Also, for Sherman Hill the souvineer car, your only option is brass as it is a former RPO Baggage.
Charlie
If you want the best then you will pay for it. In fact you can find ALL of the 844 cars made by OMI (Overland). In fact they are all over Ebay. Now some cars are cheap (Like around $390.00each) if nobody else is looking. But be prepaired to pay at least $500.00 to $600.00 each for them. They are the most detailed cars out there. The Rapido, Walthers, Rivarossi cars can’t hold a candle to them. I have the whole train in OMI brass, including the 844 with the extra water (turbine) tender. I have $2300.00 just in the engine. And roughly $560.00+ in 19 cars (EACH). So it is a extreamly huge investment.
Mike
The Overland Models Union Pacific excursion cars are the best. I first rode behind the 3985 in 2001 and after that ride I started collecting the OMI excursion cars. At the time Canadian Model Trains had a huge inventory of them. At first I wanted the 13 cars I had rode behind with the 3985 and then it turned into 30 of the excursion cars. They are beautifuly done. Overland Models is re-running the dome cars in 2010. They are the hardest and most expensive cars to find. Caboose Hobbies was a good source to find the excursion cars. Like Mike said you have to be prepaired to spend big $$. You will find good deals. I used to check Caboose Hobbies consigned web page every day and was able to get the Columbine and Challenger Dome cars for $395 each. On ebay I have seen it go over $600 per dome. I spent on average about $400-450 per car. Of the 30 cars I have, I bought 12 of them brand new from Canadian Model Trains between 2001-2005 and spent about $400 per car. When the 3985 stopped in St. Louis in 2003 I went to a LHS and got the Fox River Inspection car for $350. You don’t have to spent $500+ to get the cars. If you look hard enough you will find good deals. They might cost alot of money but they are well worth it!
Muzzlez,
I would love to see that train. I also have the OMI Challenger that pulled them. Below is a pic of the FEF & Challenger. Do you have any of the head-end units like below? If you do that’s roughly a $17,000.00 train, LOL. [bow] Also, WELCOME to the forum.
Mike
