Pennsylvania Passenger Cars (Steam Era)

[Shaggy170]

Hey all, hopefully this is the right spot for this topic. Moderators, feel free to move if needed.

I have a question for all the Pennsy fans out there.

My dad wanted a small to midsize steam engine to run with some passenger cars. So I found a Bachmann K4 (non-streamlined). Now I need some N Scale passenger cars. I was looking to make a semi-accurate train for him to run. I know BLI has the P70s (which I have hear mostly good things about) but I was wondering if there is anything else out there that is Pennsy specific that I could add to the train. Like a express cars, RPO, lounge, diner, etc. etc.

I am not looking to recreate the Broadway Limited or Spirit of St Loius. More like a small intercity/regional train. I found a list of consists (linked below) online which would help me figure out the consist. I lists thing like baggage cars, milk cars, sleepers, lounges, diners, etc. many of the trains that I would be trying to recreate (mostly runs between Philly and Pittsburgh).

Overall, I am just trying to figure out what is out there that is semi- to prototypically accurate. I have a MT baggage car but I think it needs an arched roof to be accurate. Other than that and the BLI P70s, I don't know what is out there.

Thanks all in advance.

Link to 1939 consists - https://drive.google.com/file/d/1XP0DMxpZAbslSXdk6jqJnIomZGZAWOhn/view?usp=sharing

[ncbqguy]

The Micro-Trains heavyweight diner is a PRR prototype.
The RPO from the Kato Broadway Limited is also a PRR heavyweight.
The M-T Pullmans are good for PRR
The only car missing for a fairly full PRR heavyweight consist is a B60 baggage.
Lightweight cars were used starting a few years pre-WWII so they ran mixed with heavyweights behind steam as well.
Charlie Vlk

[thomasjmdavis]

Charlie beat me to it on the diner and Pullmans.

If you can find them, Hellgate models made kits for several head end cars, including a B60b baggage and a mail baggage.  They are fairly easy resin kits with nice detail.  There was also a resin kit made for an R50b express refrigerator by Michael Livingston (aka thbguy) with the help of GHQ. https://www.therailwire.net/forum/index.php?topic=37293.0

I'm not a PRR modeler, but I've built a couple of the Hellgate kits and one of the R50b, and all those make into fine models.

  Some or all of the head end cars are also available as shells or kits from Shapeways, but I have no experience with those and can't render an opinion.

[altohorn25]

I believe the old Model Power heavyweight coaches are PRR prototypes (with incorrect trucks on them).

Nate

[altohorn25]

This is always a good resource:  http://www.trainweb.org/fredatsf/

[nickelplate759]

The old Model Power Lima RPO/Baggage/Coach combine is also PRR, and has sort-of-correct-for-as-built trucks.
The Model Power Lima cars need some work to look really good, but John @Lemosteam Keystone Details http://www.keystonedetails.com/has some nice parts available to fix them up.

[bbussey]

The BLI P70 would be the defacto foundation for any PRR regional non-name consist.  As others have mentioned, the best options for the diner and RPO are the Micro-Trains class D78bR diner and the Kato class BM70M RPO respectively. The MTL 10-1-2 and 12-1 Pullmans are prototypically correct if you desire sleeping accommodations.  InterMountain offers various lightweight smoothside sleepers that would be prototypical for PRR, as does Kato.  Red Caboose X29 boxcars also would be correct for head-end equipment.  I don't know if milk cars would be included in PRR regional passenger consists, but the Athearn wood Pfaudler cars and the InterMountain steel Pfaudler cars are prototypical.

The Model Power combine is a fair representation of the PBM70 but it is of an early era and it has errors in the features.  The trucks are a PRR prototype though, but again, used in passenger service in earlier eras and later used on heavyweight freight equipment.  The Bachmann heavyweight coach is a very strong representation of the P70, but the BLI model is better and has more variations available.

[160pennsy]

  Some or all of the head end cars are also available as shells or kits from Shapeways, but I have no experience with those and can't render an opinion.

Posting link to the Shapeways site for the PRR head end car kits...........https://www.shapeways.com/shops/mmrrp?section=1%2F160+N+Scale&s=0

[Lemosteam]

The old Model Power RPO/Baggage/Coach combine is also PRR, and has sort-of-correct-for-as-built trucks.
The Model Power cars need some work to look really good, but John @Lemosteam Keystone Details http://www.keystonedetails.com/has some nice parts available to fix them up.

Small correction here, it is widely held that the MP version of the P70 is the same tooling as the Lima version, and while it may look identical, I can tell you unequivocally IT IS NOT.

-During the design process of the aforementioned parts, I fully measured several samples of both cars and there are large enough variations between the two versions of the car that the etchings will not fit the MP version.

Besides, by the time one buys a used Lima car, strips, repaints, buys a replacement roof, roof vents, ice boxes, interiors, trucks, wheels, decals and the etchings, the cost becomes equal to the RTR lighted BLI P70, with NONE of the hassle.

Here is a fully dressed Lima model with all of my details:



And most of my unfinished passenger fleet:



As for head-end cars, B60b, B70? classes, R50b Michaels Shapeways kits are great, here is my R50b of his Shapeways design which is every bit as good as the discontinued GHQ kit:



The MT Horse car can be converted to a B74b nicely with some of my parts, and here is mine:

[thomasjmdavis]

Small correction here, it is widely held that the MP version of the P70 is the same tooling as the Lima version, and while it may look identical, I can tell you unequivocally IT IS NOT.

-During the design process of the aforementioned parts, I fully measured several samples of both cars and there are large enough variations between the two versions of the car that the etchings will not fit the MP version.

Besides, by the time one buys a used Lima car, strips, repaints, buys a replacement roof, roof vents, ice boxes, interiors, trucks, wheels, decals and the etchings, the cost becomes equal to the RTR lighted BLI P70, with NONE of the hassle.

Here is a fully dressed Lima model with all of my details:

I can also attest to Lima and MP models being different tooling. At one time I kitbashed a couple to make a combine.  The belt rail of the MP is larger, and overall the sides of the MP do not align well with the sides of a Lima in a "cut and paste" kitbash.  The Lima detail is also much finer overall. 

At this point, for prototype modeler who hasn't been investing time and effort and cash over the last 50 years on updating their Lima's, I think the primary use for Lima cars is as kitbash fodder for various combines, short coaches, and such, and for folks running "retro" layouts with 70s era models.

That said, of course, the Lima coaches with revised trucks can make for a reasonable $50 passenger train, assuming you don't "buy it now" on eBay for $200 for a 4 car set. 

[thomasjmdavis]

I don't know how I missed it, but until @160pennsy  posted up above, I did not realize Michael had a shapeways shop.  Lot's of very nice stuff there. That R50b in Lemosteam's photo really does look as good as the resin model.