NYC Train #43 - Christmas Eve 1955

[Sokramiketes]

I need some peer pressure from the New York Central faithful as I try to model this train. What sticks out as incorrect, wrong scheme, wrong assumptions… for 1955. 

First, the consist that started the journey. Jim Singer sent this along as he saw me working on a Q jeep. This consist has one, along with some other cool stuff!

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[Sokramiketes]

Ok, engine 5442 in the lead. So we have a Hudson. 5442 May have had a big PT tender at this time. Still trying to verify. For now sister engine fills in from Bachmann.

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[Sokramiketes]

First three express cars. Man I love express cars.

NJ international express reefer is up first. Painted and lettered, modified with MDC trucks. I haven’t found a photo of the exact car in the consist so this is one where I chose a number that definitely worked with the NJ model.

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Second car is a Q jeep. This is a resin Skytop Models converted troop kitchen car.

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And another NYC ex-milk car conversion. This one seemed to be a later series, no more ice bunkers. This is a chopped down MDC reefer with various details changed and a fishbelly sill added. These cars lost all ladders and running boards so it’s a good contrast to the NJ express reefer.

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[Sokramiketes]

Fourth car is another converted troop car. NYC, but here’s one I’m not sure on. Two tone paint in 1955? This door or the inset door? Anyway, another Skytop resin body for now.
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Car 5 is a really cool ACL steel express reefer in purple and silver. While MTL did this scheme, the carbody isn’t quite right. To mimic the earlier car, I sanded the roof panels smooth.

Oops, missing photo stand by.

Car 6 is a ubiquitous NYC 60’ steel baggage car. This is another Skytop resin build. I’m looking forward to learning more about these cars from Roger Hinman at the RPM at Indy Junction next month.

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[Sokramiketes]

Car 7, lightweight baggage car. This Lowell Smith car just arrived in two tone paint, which I think is more era appropriate than the all-gray car I had before. That make sense?  I’m pondering a new set of doors. And maybe the end door to make this more NYC friendly.

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Last two cars are single window coaches. But what scheme?

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[bbussey]

This may help regarding your lightweight baggage car.  Rapido produced an NSC-built end-door baggage decorated for NYC.  It may take some doing to hunt one down, but it is prototypical.

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[thomasjmdavis]

I don't want to split hairs over the definition of "prototypical", but the doors on the Rapido car are much closer to center than on the NYC prototype.  The Rapido car is correct in that it has end doors, but here is a photo of a NYC car of the 9100 series-


EDIT: I see that the photo I posted has disappeared. Not sure if I inadvertently violated the Canada Southern posting policies, or maybe Railwire's, or maybe just a fluke, but anyway, here is the url link
http://canadasouthern.com/caso/images/nyc-9138.jpg
and just for good measure, here is a link to another photo, from the Barriger collection
https://www.flickr.com/photos/barrigerlibrary/35034545282

Clearly, the door spacing is different. I would argue that the Walthers/Railsmith is closer, in terms of door spacing, although the larger door is too small.

Sides for these cars are (were?) available from Laser Horizons.  Years ago, I had a set that were one of my early failures in car building when whatever adhesive I used caused major distortions.

Here, for reference, is the end door detail, courtesy of John Barriger collection:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/barrigerlibrary/35034557622

[Sokramiketes]

I don't want to split hairs over the definition of "prototypical", but the doors on the Rapido car are much closer to center than on the NYC prototype.  The Rapido car is correct in that it has end doors, but here is a photo of a NYC car of the 9100 series-


Clearly, the door spacing is different. I would argue that the Walthers/Railsmith is closer, in terms of door spacing, although the larger door is too small.

Sides for these cars are (were?) available from Laser Horizons.  Years ago, I had a set that were one of my early failures in car building when whatever adhesive I used caused major distortions.

Here, for reference, is the end door detail, courtesy of John Barriger collection:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/barrigerlibrary/35034557622

Ok yes. The diagram shows a 6’ and 8’ door. Walthers/RailSmith car is 6’ and 7’. I can carve out the extra foot and print new doors. Had to do new doors for the CGW car anyway. I think it looks more proportional than the Rapido car. Is the Rapido car 70’?  Does it match a different series of NYC cars?

[thomasjmdavis]

Measuring both cars  over the ends of the carbody, I get 5.29" for the Walthers car (just over 70' 6" in N scale), and 5.527" for the Rapido car (just over 73'8"). The CN diagrams show the car as 73'6 over end sills, and refer to it as a 73' car. 

The NYC diagrams show the 9100 series cars as 71' 1.125" over end "frames" (I assume the same as "sills") on diagrams on the Canada Southern site.  So, the Walthers car is 7" short, the Rapido car about 30" too long. I am going to resist the temptation to search through every copy of MR and RMC I have to see if I have something with the copy of the CGW car that the Walthers is based on.
NYC car shown below.
https://www.canadasouthern.com/caso/images/lot-2180.jpg

[wcfn100]

I am going to resist the temptation to search through every copy of MR and RMC I have to see if I have something with the copy of the CGW car that the Walthers is based on.

A drawing is in the Pullman Standard Vol. 9 CNW book.

Jason

[Sokramiketes]

Measuring both cars  over the ends of the carbody, I get 5.29" for the Walthers car (just over 70' 6" in N scale), and 5.527" for the Rapido car (just over 73'8"). The CN diagrams show the car as 73'6 over end sills, and refer to it as a 73' car. 

The NYC diagrams show the 9100 series cars as 71' 1.125" over end "frames" (I assume the same as "sills") on diagrams on the Canada Southern site.  So, the Walthers car is 7" short, the Rapido car about 30" too long. I am going to resist the temptation to search through every copy of MR and RMC I have to see if I have something with the copy of the CGW car that the Walthers is based on.
NYC car shown below.

So a 3D printed end replacement with the end door detail should be 7" thick?  Sounds like a plan!

[Sokramiketes]

Here’s the missing ACL express reefer. Stock Micro-Trains scheme but roof modified (sanded the diagonal panels flat) to mimic the earlier cars. This works for the 1950-ish REA red/green/silver scheme too!

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[thomasjmdavis]

Here’s the missing ACL express reefer. Stock Micro-Trains scheme but roof modified (sanded the diagonal panels flat) to mimic the earlier cars. This works for the 1950-ish REA red/green/silver scheme too!

Nicely done. 

But now that I know the roof is wrong for those earlier cars, I need to add projects 1039 through 1043 to my list of things to do....and that is just express reefers. Now you have me thinking that maybe I can resurrect some of my ancient Roco, etc. single sheathed boxcars- the ones with 1925 ARA bodies and 1960 era roofs.

[Cajonpassfan]

I know Tom, right? So many projects, so little time...
Nice train, Mike! Is the Bachmann Hudson a good runner?
Otto

[Sokramiketes]

I know Tom, right? So many projects, so little time...
Nice train, Mike! Is the Bachmann Hudson a good runner?
Otto

Yes!  It runs smooth and pulls well.  Bachmann nailed this one.