Mystery Stock Car HOn3 or Standard Gauge?

[dcarrell8]

I recently picked up four stock cars off of ebay.  The description stated that they were kit built HOn3.  Of course the photographs did not compare the cars to anything of known size. 

When I first opened them up I immediately though "crap I got taken."    The cars appeared to be HO standard gauge cars with HOn3 trucks added.  But when I placed them on the layout and compared them to an HOn3 stock car and Standard a gauge Box car, I'm not so sure.  They are the same width as a narrow gauge stock car but are taller but not as tall as a standard box.

Now I'm wondering if there are other prototypes that match these dimensions and I just haven't seen them.  Or, is this a standard stock car from a much earlier era and yes, someone put narrow gauge trucks on it to sell as a HOn3?

Also does anyone recognize the kit?

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[Dave V]

I've never seen that before. I feel like it's pretty big for HOn3 and is maybe more appropriate for early standard gauge.

[Erock482]

I would agree with Dave's assesment, these appear to be similar to 1860's/1880's standard Gauge

[dcarrell8]

Thanks guys, I was pretty sure I knew the answer.  I was hoping maybe I was wrong. 

[nkalanaga]

Or, there's this one, from a Durango webcam in 2009.  I'm sorry, but this was the full-size picture!



321 x 272 pixels

[dcarrell8]

Or, there's this one, from a Durango webcam in 2009.  I'm sorry, but this was the full-size picture!



321 x 272 pixels

This looks hopeful, do you know anything about it?  Was it converted or purpose built?

[Dave V]

Those cars at Durango were standard gauge cars sitting on narrow gauge trucks. Some of them had their frames narrowed and sides repurposed for the open excursion cars.

[dcarrell8]

Those cars at Durango were standard gauge cars sitting on narrow gauge trucks. Some of them had their frames narrowed and sides repurposed for the open excursion cars.

Did they ever function as stock cars? 

[Dave V]

Did they ever function as stock cars?

On the narrow gauge? I haven't seen any evidence to suggest it, but I can't say no for sure.

But, regardless, those cars at Durango were D&RGW 39xxx-series 40-foot steel-underframed and steel-braced stock cars, nothing at all like what you bought.   

[nkalanaga]

Thank you!  I'd never heard anything about them, and the camera didn't do anything except post pictures.  I've wondered what was going on.

If you're freelancing, there's no reason your narrow gauge couldn't use early standard gauge cars.  The EBT and CN in Newfoundland ran post-WW II standard gauge with no trouble.  There really was no "standard" for most narrow gauge cars.

[dcarrell8]

Thank you!  I'd never heard anything about them, and the camera didn't do anything except post pictures.  I've wondered what was going on.

If you're freelancing, there's no reason your narrow gauge couldn't use early standard gauge cars.  The EBT and CN in Newfoundland ran post-WW II standard gauge with no trouble.  There really was no "standard" for most narrow gauge cars.

I'm definitely Freelance, but I do like some basis in reality.  I imagine that most narrow gaugers cringe when they see what I'm doing!!  It's good to know that there is some evidence to support a believable story if I chose to use them. 

I posted the same question on a different forum and someone suggested they may have been dedicated horse cars.  I haven't taken the time to measure yet, but I assumed that the normal single deck stock car was tall enough for toting horses as needed.

[nkalanaga]

I'd say that you were safe from the rivet counters and nit pickers as long as the cars are era-appropriate.  A standard gauge car from a decade before your era could very easily be on the narrow gauge, and the construction wouldn't be any different than the "real" narrow gauge equipment. 

If anyone complains, just tell them that the "wide gauge" upgraded their freight cars, and your line got the old ones cheap.  After all, most narrow gauge lines weren't exactly rolling in money!

[Buck.H]

It’s an elephant car.

[dcarrell8]

In another forum... someone suggested they were Southern Pacific.  I wonder how tall an Elephant measures at the withers? 

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[Chris333]

Did it look like this:
https://www.printables.com/model/528946-hon30-bellevue-and-cascade-stockcar

If so I think Puffing Billy made them in HOn3 a while back.