My fondest desire was fulfilled when Branchline came out with Pullman kits that set a new standard of excellence. I’ve got about a dozen and more on order. Now, suprise, suprise, Walthers announces a series of Pullmans ready to run that duplicate most (but not all) of the Branchline offerings.
I’m speculating (with not a shred of proof) that Branchline contracted with somebody to produce the dies and do the casting (Intermountain would be a good guess given the quality and precision of the fit) while they did the marketing and that Walthers then stepped in to ship the parts to China for assembly and is marketing the RTR cars.
As I say, this is speculation and I’m not about to by one of the Walthers cars just for comparison’s sake but does anybody out there have the straight skinny on this. If my speculative analysis is right this is a blatant example of predatory competition.
Nope, the Walthers cars are definitely different tooling. The body design is different (Walthers uses the same type of interior box structure they did for their streamlined cars and the Branchline kit uses the same design they did for their coach), window dimensions are different, underframe detail is different, the interior is different (Walthers’ interior includes a respresentation of the upper berths folded up, which Branchline’s interior doesn’t ) and the trucks are completely different (with the Branchline ones being somewhat crisper and more accurate, to my eye).
The Walthers cars are quite nicely tooled, and would have set the standard for high-quality plastic heavyweight passenger cars had not Branchline beaten them to it with a kit that offers more options for making a truly accurate model of a given car. They’re mighty close, though.
Up…like Fritz said. Two totally different molds. I actually got both for Christmas, and if you look side by side…you can definately see a difference.
Craig
First, Branchline does their own tooling, and while the molding (not casting-different processes) is probably contracted out it is not to another model manufacturer. Branchline is American made. Walthers is done in China. Both are very good quality, and there are some issues with both. (see the passenger car list @Yahoo). Branchline requires assembly which takes time and care. Walthers are basically RTR which means you can have them on the layout the same day. Walthers cars come with decals for the car names ( be careful, many names included are not correct) Branchlines are already named which leaves only their selection of names. Which are better ? As the man says, “ya pays yer money and takes your choice”
They’re totally different cars. I have both on my layout. The Branchline are very interesting kits and even though they have zillions of parts, go together extremely well. The Walthers are really fine RTR, but I have problems with their paint schemes (transitional instead of good old Pullman Green), which are a little too ‘Circusy’ for the era I’m modeling. Thankfully, Walthers also offers a plain “Pullman” logo in the proper green colors, but when it comes to the diner, coach and observation, which classically were lettered for the RR running them, I’m going to have to paint and decal them when I get them, which means taking a RTR car apart , and was NOT what I had in mind. But I’m just thankful that two companies are offering basically correct cars that haven’t been available in a long, long time.
Tom
How are the Couplers on them??? Kevin
they’re bachmann ez mates on the walthers model. But I’m not surer about the brachline one
So the Walthers cars are not the Branchline. Are they the same or different as the Rivarossi cars that were produced in China?
If you’re talking about the Rivarossi ‘shorty’ 60-footers that Walthers came out with last year-- no. The Pullmans are quite different–scale 85’, though they will presumably take a 22" radius (though I wouldn’t bet the bank on it). They are, like the Rivarossi, made in China–at least my two are. The trucks and underframe are designed so that a lighting kit can be installed without having to replace either trucks or wheels, and the swiveling coupler pocket is much improved (I had a lot of trouble with coupler sag on the Rivarossi). The Pullman cars are very smooth rolling and well weighted and quite beautifully detailed, especially the roof portion. Now I’m hoping that Walthers will come out with some head-end cars (baggage, etc) to compliment them. I could be mistaken, but I think the ex-Rivarossi /Walthers 60’cars now exist as their ‘Trainline’ series. At least the cars in the ads look very similar.
Tom
I have the new Walthers pullman, it will not go around a 22" radius curve. I tried and it binds up when I back it in the ‘house’ track behind the depot. The material with the car notes that one must trim some of the center sill to allow it to take 22"radius or sharper curves. The cars are very nice, I have some of the others on order.
Jim Bernier