subway cars

[propmeup1]

Asking for a friend, really.  He asked me if anyone makes subway cars. I said I have no idea and that I would post that here. So does anyone make subway cars.  He wasn't specific either.

Thank you,
KTB

[thomasjmdavis]

In N scale, the short answer is yes- the longer answer is - yes, in the form of carbody shells- and you will need to do some work to paint them and fit a chassis. As far as I know, no US prototype subway cars have ever been available ready-to-run in N or Z, but (a) I don't know everything and (b) I am wrong a lot of the time.
Over the years, several companies have produced car bodies in resin for NYC and Chicago subways. These have become rarities, but do show up on eBay every once in a long while.
However, at least one of the former resin casters (Island Modelworks?) and several other designers, currently market 3D print subway car bodies on Shapeways.

These car bodies (both the resin and the 3D) are generally for use with Tomytec or similar chassis, or with a loco chassis that you modify to fit.

The shells I have in my collection of stuff I've never gotten around to working on are resin castings made by "IHP" - at one time, I could have told you what the initials stood for. I've never found appropriate decals for the 1950s timeframe I model.

To prove it can be done, here is an N scale diorama by a German modeler of the Chicago El. (El cars and subway cars in Chicago are generally one and the same- although which cars were used on a given line varied over time- and some cars had trolley poles, and those never ventured underground).
https://forum.mrhmag.com/post/chicago-south-side-cta-elevated-12204340

[ZZone]

There is some Japanese equipment that I feel could pass for North American subway equipment, as long as you're going for a generic appearance vs. a specific prototype.

I picked up a 6 car set of these a few years ago: https://www.ebay.com/itm/363560790950

I was thinking of using them for their chassis for North American shells, but, I was rather satisfied with their looks. Unfortunately, Hobby Search's website seems to be down right now so I can't dig up some of the other equipment I felt had a North American appearance.

[hegstad1]

http://www.spookshow.net/loco/irsubway.html

[MetroRedLine]

The problem with subway cars (in any scale, not just N) is that they're highly specialized to a certain city/transit agency. Unlike mainline freight/passenger railroads, there is no standard loading/car height/car width standards. Some cities even have multiple train dimension standards (NYC, Boston). Because of that, it's impractical for model manufacturers to mass-produce plastic models of a subway car set because they can't just release it in different liveries like they can for a 50' boxcar or an SD40-2 or an ES44AC.

So if you're set on modeling a prototype subway operation, your only option is to go the 3D printing route. If you're freelancing, then any Japanese or European subway train model would work just fine as a stand-in. Many US subway trains are made or designed overseas anyway, so all you'd need to do is to have different paint and signage.

[Mark5]

The problem with subway cars (in any scale, not just N) is that they're highly specialized to a certain city/transit agency. Unlike mainline freight/passenger railroads, there is no standard loading/car height/car width standards. Some cities even have multiple train dimension standards (NYC, Boston). Because of that, it's impractical for model manufacturers to mass-produce plastic models of a subway car set because they can't just release it in different liveries like they can for a 50' boxcar or an SD40-2 or an ES44AC.

One notable exception to this is in HO. Lifelike (then Walthers) NY City R17 subway cars:

https://www.walthers.com/proto-1000-r21-22-subway-car-4-pack-1-powered-3-unpowered-new-york-city-transit-7656-powered-7697-7703-7728-unpowered

Always thought it was strange that Lifelike decided to do these, for the reasons cited above.

Mark

[propmeup1]

Thank you, My friend, John,  is going to probably come aboard here. I told how well and informative the site is plus the people always being helpful..

[MetroRedLine]

One notable exception to this is in HO. Lifelike (then Walthers) NY City R17 subway cars:

https://www.walthers.com/proto-1000-r21-22-subway-car-4-pack-1-powered-3-unpowered-new-york-city-transit-7656-powered-7697-7703-7728-unpowered

Always thought it was strange that Lifelike decided to do these, for the reasons cited above.

Mark

Yeah even if NYC subway modelers represent a large subset of HO scale subway modelers (and they probably do), there's various eras and car types (IRT, IND, BMT) among that. The description says they're R21/R22 cars. I'm no expert spotter on NYC rolling stock differences but the 7xxx numbers they come in were R22 cars, which were the same types depicted in the 1974 movie, "The Taking of Pelham One Two Three," arguably the most famous movie ever made about subways.

[Mark5]

Yeah even if NYC subway modelers represent a large subset of HO scale subway modelers (and they probably do), there's various eras and car types (IRT, IND, BMT) among that. The description says they're R21/R22 cars. I'm no expert spotter on NYC rolling stock differences but the 7xxx numbers they come in were R22 cars, which were the same types depicted in the 1974 movie, "The Taking of Pelham One Two Three," arguably the most famous movie ever made about subways.

Oops, I was a klutz and grabbed the wrong link.

https://www.walthers.com/proto-1000-r17-subway-cars-4-pack-1-powered-3-unpowered-nyct-red-bird-6604-6513-6529-6619

(I don't know a damn thing about subway cars  )

[u18b]

Although they go for absurdly high prices, there have been some made in brass.   I once owned a broken R-46 set.

http://www.spookshow.net/loco/irsubway.html

[MetroRedLine]

Although they go for absurdly high prices, there have been some made in brass.   I once owned a broken R-46 set.

http://www.spookshow.net/loco/irsubway.html

If you ever visit NYC, go to The Red Caboose, it's a basement hobby shop in Midtown Manhattan, right near the Empire State Building. They have practically every model of NYC subway cars ever made.

[propmeup1]

I been there in Dec 2019. Time before that was in 1977.

[nickelplate759]

I been there in Dec 2019. Time before that was in 1977.

Last time I visited The Red Caboose was in the 1980s. They were on the 4th floor down the street from where they are now, and it was AWFUL.  Everything covered in dust, prices were made up on on the spot and exorbitant.    I know a lot can change in 40 years -  it it a reasonable place now?

[Mark5]

I cannot even begin to imagine what the rents are on Manhattan ...

https://www.theredcaboose.com

[MetroRedLine]

Last time I visited The Red Caboose was in the 1980s. They were on the 4th floor down the street from where they are now, and it was AWFUL.  Everything covered in dust, prices were made up on on the spot and exorbitant.    I know a lot can change in 40 years -  it it a reasonable place now?

Aside from the location, it's pretty much the same as what you described, LOL. It's still dusty, densely packed and generally disorganized. The owner/proprietor sits in a little cubbyhole counter surrounded by inventory. Everything is MSRP of course. They did have a lot of N scale but it was nearly all NOS. I was hoping that since this is a NYC hobby shop I could find stuff trains from my western roads that might not be as in demand out there, and if it was hard to find I wouldn't mind paying MSRP, but really -- after browsing for an hour, I could not find anything that I really wanted to buy. I've been there twice - December 2014 and October 2019. Pretty much looked the same both visits. It's worth a visit once just to browse though!

Taken during my last visit in October 2019: