I am looking for manufacturers who make old style pre-WW1 wooden freight and passenger cars- 36 footers etc. La Belle is the obvious one and Roundhouse has made plastic kits in the past and now sells RTR equipment. Westerfield makes some resin kits that are of that era. I am looking for some of the more obscure smaller companies. Ideas? - Nevin
BTS - Better Than Scratch.
Alkem
Both sell laser kits of 1860-1880 era cars.
The Bachmann old timers need new trucks and under frames, but the superstructures are pretty good. Pocher made some cars (boxcar, tank car, ventilated boxcar, gondola) that are sold by a variety of importers, depending on the run, they may need new trucks and underframes. Mantua made several cars that are 1870-1880 era cars, their gondola, boxcar and ventilated boxcars are pretty good. many of their cars also have wood beam trucks.
Dave H.
MDC made a nice assortment of 36 footers .
If you can find them, maybe on e.bay a company called Juneco made a nice kit. They are wood and come less trucks and couplers. I made a number of these as they were the only ones I could find when I was in HO and about 1900 era. Just follow the instructions. They work.
Dave
How far pre-WW-I are you looking for? And how prototypical do you plan to be?
These Mather box cars were built in the time between the wars.
They are wood with outside bracing and rooftop brake wheels, a couple of characteristics which quickly distinguish them from transition-era cars. The models are nicely detailed, too. This one was built from a “time-saver” kit, which can be put together in an evening. The picture is one I built. It’s straight from the box, no painting, decalling or weathering, and all the small parts like the brake chain were included.
These are Proto kits, and best of all they are on sale at Walthers for $8.98. This was a limited run, no longer in production, and the price is designed to flush the inventory. Get them while they last.
Westerfield in resin kits. Saw his work at the PRRT&HS meeting last week. Outstanding!
Westwood made some. I don’t think they are in business anymore, but they show up on eBay from time to time.
Enjoy
Paul
Go to http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Civil_War_RRs/ . They are a Civil War modeling group, membership is free, and they have many links to manufacturers making equipment from the 1940’s to WWI and beyond. The Mather cars from Proto are circa 1920 - 1950’s. Mather was aquired by North American Car Co in the '60’s. My [2c]
In addition, look at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/EarlyRail/. The start of WWI is their cutoff date, so they’d be right up your alley.
This guy might have some. I have bought from him.
http://www.jaystrains.com/HO-HOn3/Rolling%20Stock/HO%20Rolling%20Stock/hors.htm
Real wood models.
http://www.yeoldehuffnpuff.com/HOFreight.HTM
http://www.remsmodels.com/HOKits.html
New Roundhouse
http://www.roundhousetrains.com/Default.aspx
The older MDC line. I have bought from them.
http://www.rivercityrailroad.com/
Resin models.
http://www.amesvilleshops.com/
New run of Mantua Classics.
http://store.modelpower.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWCATS&Category=30
Rich
Here is an example of a Rio Grande Models V & T ventilated boxcar. The kit is a pile of sticks, some laser cut peel and stick wood, wire and some castings. Not for the faint of heart, but the kits build out real nice.
http://www.riograndemodels.com/
Guy
Thanks to everyone for their responses. While I was familiar with some companies there were others that I had no idea existed. The V&T cars from Rio Grande Models are perfect and I had forgotten all about those. I hadn’t checked the BTS site in a long time. It is always amazing to me how many little companies there are out there making specialty kits. It is remarkable how much stuff is available if one looks hard enough. I just spent the morning installing a Freshwater Models Sellers turntable. If you need a small 60 footer in HO, check them out. I am impressed with it. Again most people don’t realize this stuff is out there. - Nevin
Nevin,
The Earlyrail Yahoo web site has already been mentioned as a source for information on models and kits that have been made of early freight cars. But of particular value to you and others seeking to locate such models is a detailed list of available 19th century freight cars compiled and kept on that site. This list provides information about what has been produced commercially for box cars, gons, reefers, etc. Go to:
http://www.earlyrail.org/freight-cars.html
Voyager
Nevin:
First of all I have to state that I am NOT an expert on what ran the rails in the mid to late 19th and early 20th centuries. And, I don’t think you mentioned how far “pre” of WW1 you are going? Or if you did…I missed it.
But…Unless you are looking to go back to the early 1800’s I would think that the PK2 Mather Box (already mentioned) along with the Atlas 36’ woodside reefer (#6100 series) the Accurail 40’ OB “all wood” box (#4098) and the old MDC shorty flats would fit just fine!
Also, I need to mention that I read somewhere, but I have no recall as to where and I may be WAY off!! 36’ passenger cars are an exception and not a norm, even in the mid 1800’s. Seems the longer 40 and 50 footers were the norm on most every road except on the narrow gauge and they only, supposedly, had a very few. Therefore, I would think the old MDC Overton 40’ and even 50’ baggage, combines and coaches would also fit into an early era pike.
Just my $'s (inflation) worth
If you ever consider passenger cars for that era, look at the Roundhouse 50’ Overland cars. I have seen them up close and are quite nice. They do need passengers though. Passenger trains running with no passengers or engine crew are not prototypical.[:)]
http://www.roundhousetrains.com/Search/Default.aspx?SearchTerm=50’+Overland&CatID=THRP
Check online stores for better prices. Not all are available though. One supplier has the four cars with old time Roundhouse steamer the last time I looked.
Rich
As long as he was modeling WW1 itself (actually the Atlas cars are more late 20’s, early 30’s cars). If you go anytime before WW1, they are not appropriate, if you go before 1910 the grab irons and lettering is not at all typical. By the time you get to 1890 they look like running double stacks on a transition era layout.
Prior to 1910, freight cars typically had grab irons or ladders on the sides or on the ends, but not both. They also had vertical grab irons on the corners and may not have had sill steps on all four corners. So if a car has grab irons or ladders on the sides and ends and has the reporting marks, CAPY, LD LMT, etc. all nicely grouped on one end of the car, then the paint scheme and/or the car isn’t appropriate for the pre-1910 era. Steel underframe cars started being produced in large numbers after the 1890’s but virtually all of them had fishbelly side sills until right before WW1 when the deep fishbelly center sill became popular.
I am in the process of backdating from 1950 to 1905. I have found that the USRA single and double sheathed cars look worse in a train than the USRA steel cars (think X29). Outside braced boxcars were relatively rare before WW1 and steel outside braced cars were very rare. In addition the USRA single and double sheathed cars tend to be 10 ft or 10’ 6" IH, while the USRA steel cars tend to be 8-9 ft IH. So in a string of 1890-1900 era cars, the shorter steel cars actually look better (in my opinion).
[quote]
36’ passenger cars are an exception and not a norm, even in the mid 1800’s. Seems the longer 40 and 50 footers were the
Thanks for the info. Dave!!
I now know more than I did this morning in regard to pre 1910…
I have the 4 pack of these in the B&M markings. They are fine runners right out of the box. Highly recommended!!! A little interior detail and they would be prefect.