Hell Gate Models N Scale PRR B60b Baggage/Express Cars

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Now if Hellgate would just do the B&O C-15.  It is actually pretty similar to the Pennsy B60, except that it is only 50' long and has just one, centered door per side.  It also has some rather unique trucks that aren't available anywhere in N scale, so maybe a source of C-15 models would motivate somebody to make those trucks. 

Sounds like a great idea... You know the folks lining up!

[chessie system fan]

The C-15 is high on my scratchbuilding and casting list, though if someone beats me to it I won't complain. 

[draskouasshat]

Good choice.  You definitely need PRR B60b cars for your ATSF Fast Mail. 

You are absolutely correct! This will make 3 total.
Drasko

[Cajonpassfan]

We do.  What are our options out there?

Sadly, not too many of the heavyweight era.
PRB brass 73' ATSF baggage cars with and without fishbelly sides, sometimes available on Feebay.
Roberto Martari's beautiful stainless steel etched side baggage car overlays, with or without fishbellies, hard to get.
Fine N Scale resin wood sided express reefers, before rebuilding with steel sides.
Rivarossi etc. baggage, a one of a kind car, but reasonably prototypical.
Did I miss anything?
Otto K.

[draskouasshat]

Sadly, not too many of the heavyweight era.
PRB brass 73' ATSF baggage cars with and without fishbelly sides, sometimes available on Feebay.
Roberto Martari's beautiful stainless steel etched side baggage car overlays, with or without fishbellies, hard to get.
Fine N Scale resin wood sided express reefers, before rebuilding with steel sides.
Rivarossi etc. baggage, a one of a kind car, but reasonably prototypical.
Did I miss anything?
Otto K.

That's pretty much it Otto. Hey @Joetrain59, fish belly baggage cares!!!!!!

Drasko

[thomasjmdavis]

The Rivarossi is actually a few scale feet short of its prototype.  And while it is "one of a kind" there were a fair number of similar cars rebuilt from old baggage-library and baggage-lounge cars.  And the combine can be cut up and baggage ends spliced together to make a fair representation of the baggage cars (the ones with 2 big doors) that were rebuilt from early steel coaches- although that did not happen in earnest until the early 50s.

But while one can occupy some time chopping up Rivarossi cars, we really, really do need more baggage, coaches, RPOs, diners, and lounges with sills and steam ejector AC (well, no AC on baggage cars).

[Cajonpassfan]

Yes, the RR baggage is about 2' too short, but still a very reasonable representation of car 1849, down to the rivet lines. It's just an odd prototype to pick, out of hundreds of head end cars...
Otto K.

[thomasjmdavis]

I think the choice of prototype for Rivarossi cars had to do with the drawings being readily available - as were the rider baggage-coach (another odd choice) and the diner.  And they wanted things that could all fit on the same frame- at least we have had a plausible ATSF baggage car from the beginning.  I think Atlas just plucked drawings from various Kalmbach and Carstens publications and sent them to Italy along with the ATSF car plan book from the 1950s.  (And let us all give thanks for whoever it was that got Roberto Martari interested in making models of SP and ATSF cars)

Given that the MT baggage car seems to sell well, and that they have rerun it in many road names, that Hellgate can sell 75% of a run of B60b's in 24 hours, and that Rivarossi must have sold many thousands of a rather unique ATSF design (of course, they did have a HW monopoly for 30 years), and that Atlas new baggage car sold out at some online outlets in hours, should tell manufacturers something.  Which is- we want more baggage cars.  And more head end cars generally.

[bman]

What suggestions are there for the stirrups?  I've been looking over photos of PC's Spirit of St Louis and have noticed these in the consist as well as #13 Mail and Express that also ran over the Panhandle.  Since I've somehow backdated some rolling stock to 1970 I am all of a sudden interested in these.  And are there any left?  I'm about to go out and railfan with a few PRR guys as I now nothing about PC's passenger service pre-Amtrak and am going to be asking lots o' questions of them.   Thanks for any help and suggestions.

[dougnelson]

I have a very few left. For the stirrups, I recommend Gold Medal Models Kato Smoothside details, part #3. There may be other etched metal options.

[bman]

Thanks and email sent.  I guess I should have looked for the website as parts listings suggestions were there. 

[thomasjmdavis]

Mine just showed up in the mailbox. That was quick. Thanks, Gentlemen!

[cgw]

Wow,  placed order on Saturday and got in on Monday,(Arrived from California to Michigan and delivered by noon Monday on the door step ).     That is express service Pennsy style.    Thank you !!!   Now ill have to wait for the trucks from Shape Ways via snail service.      At least I have some  time to paint and prep the bodies.  Castings are top notch with little flash and some minor sanding required to remove some small amount of flash.   Not bad.       

[GhengisKong]

Wow,  placed order on Saturday and got in on Monday,(Arrived from California to Michigan and delivered by noon Monday on the door step ).     That is express service Pennsy style.    Thank you !!!   Now ill have to wait for the trucks from Shape Ways via snail service.      At least I have some  time to paint and prep the bodies.  Castings are top notch with little flash and some minor sanding required to remove some small amount of flash.   Not bad.     

Yeah shapeways has me 7 days til the ship date right now.

[SP-Wolf]

Received my car yesterday -- outstanding!! Thanks.

Now, without opening a huge can of worms --- what brand of paint has a good color for a circa 1955 car-?
Is there a reasonable version of Tuscan Red out there - ?

Thanks,
Wolf