Has anyone done a Chrysler (Symington Gould-built) truck in n-scale?

[thbguy]

Hello all,

I was looking at some NYC fast freight boxcars and noticed that after the debacle of using Allied cushion trucks they started using these on some of the Pacemaker boxcars. I’d love to use a few sets to be able to tell the story.



Pretty close to a 50 ton Bettendorf truck with the shock absorber on the front.
More details are here:
https://www.allpar.com/threads/chrysler-railroad-cars-or-mopar-freight-trucks.229337/

Any ideas or thoughts would be welcome. It would be a pretty easy part to retrofit on an existing truck too.

Best regards,
Michael

[Point353]

http://www.spookshow.net/trucks/trucks.php

[Lemosteam]

I might be able to modify the top and bottom chord/ribs etc., of this Keystone Details PRR 2E-F2 class truck and put the shock in the center for a reasonable design time fee.  Contact me at keystonedetails@gmail.com if interested:

[thbguy]

http://www.spookshow.net/trucks/trucks.php

Yup, I’ve looked through Spookshow’s excellent freight truck archive, some Japanese prototypes, and Shapeways, but did not see any close matches. It is just different enough to be a desirable addition that may or may not be noticed.

[thbguy]

I might be able to modify the top and bottom chord/ribs etc., of this Keystone Details PRR 2E-F2 class truck and put the shock in the center for a reasonable design time fee.  Contact me at keystonedetails@gmail.com if interested:

Email sent. I really think these trucks are a worthy addition to N-scale. They were on the GAEX lease boxcars and other railroads used the Chrysler Design Trucks for fast or fragile freight like the Pennsy for their Merchandise Service boxcars, New York Central for their Pacemaker boxcars, B&M for mail cars, B&O for Express freight cars, UP for stock cars, ATSF for Express cars, Fruit Growers' Express on refrigerator cars, and the C&O on gondola cars.

[Point353]

Yup, I’ve looked through Spookshow’s excellent freight truck archive, some Japanese prototypes, and Shapeways, but did not see any close matches. It is just different enough to be a desirable addition that may or may not be noticed.

Aside from the shock absorber, isn't the Broadway Limited Symington truck quite similar?

[peteski]

Aside from the shock absorber, isn't the Broadway Limited Symington truck quite similar?

Does BLI sell N scale freight trucks?

[thomasjmdavis]

Email sent. I really think these trucks are a worthy addition to N-scale. They were on the GAEX lease boxcars and other railroads used the Chrysler Design Trucks for fast or fragile freight like the Pennsy for their Merchandise Service boxcars, New York Central for their Pacemaker boxcars, B&M for mail cars, B&O for Express freight cars, UP for stock cars, ATSF for Express cars, Fruit Growers' Express on refrigerator cars, and the C&O on gondola cars.

Does anyone make a GATX (GAEX) boxcar to put them under?  Granted, basically a late model AAR boxcar, but would still require revising the sill.  On the ATSF, the only express car I am aware of using them is express box 4179, and that was for testing purposes (per the Ellington/Shine Head End Car book).  I'm open to the idea that ATSF may have used them under some other cars or car types, but that was the only reference I could find.  Do you have better info?

Granted, ATSF DID adopt a similar snubber for use on their "semi-lightweight" cars, and some 1960s era express boxcars, but those were applied to a truck that is much more like a "BX" type.

[Point353]

Does BLI sell N scale freight trucks?

If, as the OP stated, only a few trucks are needed (and you claim to be fixing a model) it might be possible to order them:
http://bliservice.com/request-part/
http://www.broadway-limited2.com/support/N%20ARA%204-Bay%20Exploded%20View%20(4.23.2015).pdf

Or, if you really want that style of truck, buy the complete hopper car in order to get the trucks.

[peteski]

If, as the OP stated, only a few trucks are needed (and you claim to be fixing a model) it might be possible to order them:
http://bliservice.com/request-part/
http://www.broadway-limited2.com/support/N%20ARA%204-Bay%20Exploded%20View%20(4.23.2015).pdf

Or, if you really want that style of truck, buy the complete hopper car in order to get the trucks.

In my experience, getting parts from BLI is difficult (and that is even when I needed them for repairs or customizing one of their models I own).  THEY DO NOT OFFER SPARE PARTS SERVICE.  I was told that in no uncertain terms.

Michael  mentioned "Trucks for fast or fragile freight like the Pennsy for their Merchandise Service boxcars, New York Central for their Pacemaker boxcars, B&M for mail cars, B&O for Express freight cars, UP for stock cars, ATSF for Express cars, Fruit Growers' Express on refrigerator cars, and the C&O on gondola cars."  That seems that in most cases more than just few would be needed.  Buying a complete hopper car for the trucks seems a bit extreme, but if one wants to spend the money -- all the power to them.   I suspect that this is something John can whip out on his CAD station, and offer them on Shapeways.

[Teditor]

I have dealt with BLI on two occasions regarding spares for an HO Scale C&O T1 2-10-4 and they have been brilliant to deal with and I am down under in the  land of Kangaroos.

Ted (Teditor) Freeman from the Land Down Under

[Point353]

In my experience, getting parts from BLI is difficult (and that is even when I needed them for repairs or customizing one of their models I own).  THEY DO NOT OFFER SPARE PARTS SERVICE.  I was told that in no uncertain terms.

As I suggested, above, tell them that you're trying to fix a BLI model. All you can do is ask.

Michael  mentioned "Trucks for fast or fragile freight like the Pennsy for their Merchandise Service boxcars, New York Central for their Pacemaker boxcars, B&M for mail cars, B&O for Express freight cars, UP for stock cars, ATSF for Express cars, Fruit Growers' Express on refrigerator cars, and the C&O on gondola cars."  That seems that in most cases more than just few would be needed.  Buying a complete hopper car for the trucks seems a bit extreme, but if one wants to spend the money -- all the power to them.

It is stated in the first post that "I’d love to use a few sets to be able to tell the story." Depends upon how few is a few.
Buying a complete car just to get the trucks may seem a bit extreme, but, again, it depends upon how badly someone wants that style of truck.

[peteski]

As I suggested, above, tell them that you're trying to fix a BLI model. All you can do is ask.
It is stated in the first post that "I’d love to use a few sets to be able to tell the story." Depends upon how few is a few.
Buying a complete car just to get the trucks may seem a bit extreme, but, again, it depends upon how badly someone wants that style of truck.

Yes, you are absolutely right.

[thbguy]

Yup, I’m just looking to upgrade a couple of Pacemaker cars and make a correct GAEX car. I’m modeling different eras, so seeing the allied cushion trucks in 1946, and then these trucks in 1958 and later, but associated with high speed freight will be notable. The truck was made by Symington Gould, but is not the same as the BLI truck or really anything else out there.

There is also the fact that it was significantly more reliable and stable, and yet was not adopted. Another of the “Beta versus VHS” video tape stories that seems to happen over and over again where the better design is circumvented by marketing, bullying, or just an uninformed consumer. The “whisper campaign” by GM is something i need to understand better, but expect that it was just what it sounds like.

History and railroading is just so interesting.

[Point353]

The truck was made by Symington Gould, but is not the same as the BLI truck or really anything else out there.

You had indicated that the shock absorber/damper is a detail you would be willing to add to any truck.
Out of curiosity, how else, for your needs, does the BLI Symington truck not sufficiently resemble the Symington-Gould truck you're seeking to model?