taking so much interest in '40s and ‘50s US named passenger trains, I have the intention of purchasing the now being delivered Walthers’ Hiawatha cars. Well, with regard to these models, I have to say that I feel a bit perplexed: in fact, stating in advance that, being in Europe, I’ve seen them only by photos without taking cars in my hands, my hesitation derives from comparing each other prototype photos and H0 model ones, displayed both on following website:
As an example, it seems to me that H0 Hiawatha model lacks vestibule access steps or stairway, whereas it can be clearly seen in prototype photos observable on the same page.
While not claiming any expertise on the Hiawatha cars, I suspect that the Walthers version replicates the cars as built, and that they probably had retractable steps. All of the prototype photos showed the car much later in its life, and it is quite likely that the steps were modified to a fixed type due to maintenance issues.
So far I have received the 30 seat parlor car and 52 seat coach. At each vestibule end they have access steps in a folded up and back, or retracted, position. They are beneath and inboard of the vestibule side doors and are visible from the side and from the end. They are orange, although Walther’s crossbucks.com illustrations show them as black making them difficult to distinguish from the black underframe.
I say sincerely THANK YOU, Randy and acgilbert, for your kindly answers.
Well, so they had retractable steps as delivered from the builder. I’m really happy to hear it because I like the look of all of the Hiawatha’s cars Milwaukee Road put in service.