New Bachmann passenger cars up on MBK

[thomasjmdavis]

Well....

Need to check my Head end car book on the baggage, but it does generally resemble an ATSF- thinking early one, since the fluting comes to the doors.

The coach/chair car does look like the ATSF Budd of 1953, or thereabouts, but definitely NOT the 3070, oddly the number they chose when 50 correct numbers were available.

Not sure what the observation is a model of, NYC perhaps?

http://www.modeltrainstuff.com/N-Scale-Passenger-Cars-s/1468.htm?searching=Y&sort=3&cat=1468&show=30&page=1&brand=Bachmann

edit - link and scale icon added. -gfh

[thomasjmdavis]

And BTW- although listed as "85'", the baggage sure looks more like 74'

[nickelplate759]

Been eagerly waiting to see what these would really look like.   For the price (even the MBK price), the details seem somewhat crude - especially the trucks (easily replaced I'm sure) and plain ends (not so much).

The coach appears to be the same prototype as the Con-Cor Santa Fe "twin-window" coach, but lacks the window dividers.
I also have no idea what the prototype for the observation might be, but the window pattern doesn't seem to match the NYC tall-end-window Budd observations (not enough tall windows).

<edited>

FOUND IT!  The window arrangement is that of the Rock Island car "La Mirada" - except that was a Pullman Standard car, so the fluting (esp. the roof) is all wrong 



George

[jmlaboda]

Would be better to hope that Kato will do the Texas Rocket... at least the observation car would be more accurate and, heck, if you get tired of offering some first-class accommodations you can always turn it into a baggage car like the RI did with #455 Missouri, which became RI baggage car #70 in 1965.  Too bad they didn't pattern it after one of the NYC sleeper - lounge observation cars... then they could have hit a Grand Slam instead of a dud.

[thomasjmdavis]

Assuming the baggage is supposed to be  ATSF, but if so, it is a sort of cross between a 3432 series (steps under the doors, fluting coming to door frame) and a 3500 (full length letter board, but with fluting cut back around doors, and doors on 3500 are same size).

On the other hand, I know Rock Island had some cars very similar to the ATSF 3500, could it be that the baggage is a RI prototype?

[Mark5]

I saw these at MBK today - major disappointment to me. My main disappointment is that the windows are not flush (unlike the heavyweight coach where the windows are flush).

The paint aint so great in my opinion. Honestly though I pretty much stopped looking at them after I saw that the windows were not flush. All in all they look to me like 1970s tooling.

There may be something good on these though (example: the trucks have an interesting pickup system, perhaps Pete will dissect one!).

Weird. Bachmann.

Mark

[Chris333]

I saw these at MBK today - major disappointment to me. My main disappointment is that the windows are not flush (unlike the heavyweight coach where the windows are flush).

The paint aint so great in my opinion. Honestly though I pretty much stopped looking at them after I saw that the windows were not flush. All in all they look to me like 1970s tooling.

There may be something good on these though (example: the trucks have an interesting pickup system, perhaps Pete will dissect one!).

Weird. Bachmann.

Mark

Maybe that is why the heavyweights are $50 more 

[Cajonpassfan]

Recent Bachmann steam is *mostly* respectable. Their cars, really? And the pricing? Really? Its like a different company... They can't even get the lettering anywhere near right Back to the seventies
Otto K.

[peteski]

I saw these at MBK today - major disappointment to me. My main disappointment is that the windows are not flush (unlike the heavyweight coach where the windows are flush).
The paint aint so great in my opinion. Honestly though I pretty much stopped looking at them after I saw that the windows were not flush. All in all they look to me like 1970s tooling.
There may be something good on these though (example: the trucks have an interesting pickup system, perhaps Pete will dissect one!).
Weird. Bachmann.

I'm not planning on buying one of those. Funny about the windows, especially since their heavyweight car has flush windows. 

[MRLX1020]

Bachmann leaves me scratching my head - the trucks are great if you model Seaboard, C&EI or Southern Pacific, as this was a specially designed disc brake inside swing hanger truck.
The Seaboard Sun Lounge cars used them, other select SAL sleepers, C&EI Budd Coaches and the entire run of 1950 SP Sunset Limited Budd equipment (except the RPO's).

The obs car is obviously based off the Golden State La Mirada, but with some select mods could be a stand in for SOU/L&N/A&WP Crescent Royal series cars, or the 2 Big Window NYC cars.

The Baggage looks more like the Kato Pre-war built Budd Baggage car than the later built 1953 Santa Fe cars.

The Coach is a nice looking dead ringer for a 1953 Santa Fe 48 seat El Capitan chair car.

My $0.02 worth -  I would have rather had a correct Budd or PS observation car instead of this hybrid thingy they created....  The end sheets are horrible, no detail at all resembling a Budd car...

Being around the real ones for the last 15 years has had an effect on me...

[Nato]

                Interesting ,it will be possible to model part of the Rock Island's proposed "Golden Rocket" the cars were built, think old Atlas Rivirossi baggage dorm car another RI Golden Rocket car. All the cars still lettered for the GR were operated on the "Golden State" ,later the red paint was removed cars re lettered RI. The La Marida was given a hack job in later years by Rock Island it's rear end was squared off for mid train service, the large windows on the rear sides were left in place, one could with much work probably bash this car into Southern Railway "Look Out" lounge cars also used on the "New Royal Palm" and later the "Royal Palm" trains to Florida. Only a passenger fanzee like myself or maybe Jerry would love this car, it make no sense for Bachmann to model a one of a kind non generic car  a generic would look better. I guess I will have to order one along with the other two cars.      Nate Goodman (Nato).

[bbussey]

Bachmann leaves me scratching my head - the trucks are great if you model Seaboard, C&EI or Southern Pacific, as this was a specially designed disc brake inside swing hanger truck.
The Seaboard Sun Lounge cars used them, other select SAL sleepers, C&EI Budd Coaches and the entire run of 1950 SP Sunset Limited Budd equipment (except the RPO's)...

Good to know regarding the trucks. I will pick some up when Bachmann eventually makes them available as parts.

[thomasjmdavis]

it make no sense for Bachmann to model a one of a kind non generic car

I think in point of fact they "modeled" a non-existant car- the car with that window pattern being Pullman Standard, therefore fluting and roof are much different than the Bachmann product. 

I suppose, maybe, that you could shave off the upper fluting, apply some Union Station fluting above the windows, and trade out the roof for a Kato Super Chief obs roof and get to the point  of a rough approximation.

Brings up a question- has anyone taken one of these apart yet?  Is the roof a separate part (with or without the window glazing)? 

[arbomambo]

Good to know regarding the trucks. I will pick some up when Bachmann eventually makes them available as parts.

Likewise....
otherwise this is a complete bust from Bachmann for me (the baggage looks as if the steps could be modified to suit the ATSF version)...and that lettering?!....
Bruce

[thomasjmdavis]

"and that lettering?!...."

I was going to mention that too, but wasn't sure if what I was looking at was an actual photo or something photoshopped.  It looks like the same oversized font used when they made the big domes 40 years ago.