Lowell Smith GN / NP sleepers

[Jimbo]

OK…. I did a bit of research…

1947 Builder had “Pass” series sleepers (8 duplex, 4 bedroom, 4 section.). These had the small windows above the upper berths.  (Some of these were rebuilt later in their career into 6 roomettes, 5 bedroom, 2 compartment.)

1951 Builder had “River” series sleepers (8 (or 7) duplex, 3 bedroom, 1 compartment, 4 sections - again- small windows above the upper berths.

North Coast Limited sleepers had 8 duplex, 4 bedroom, 6 roomettes.  (No names… NP numbered their sleepers.)

So the NCL sleepers would (trivially) look more similar to the “River” series sleepers than the “Pass” series.  But the Rapido car might look even closer.

Unless you’re a stickler, either will look great!

(As an aside, I was wrong about the CN cars that are represented by the Rapido car.  The floor plan does NOT match the Budd-built “Chateau” sleepers; “Chateau” sleepers are 8 duplex, 4 section, 3 bedroom, and 1 drawing room!)

Jim

[AlbertSpor]

The NP cars were originally named, when they were painted in original "Streamliner" or "Pine Tree" Scheme. Later they were just numbered when repainted to the "Loewy" scheme.
The GN had 2 different "Pass" series. The original 1947 8-4-4 series as represented by the Rapido version, or the close but reversed Railsmith version. The second "Pass" series were the 6 roomette-5 double bedroom-2 compartment cars, built in 1951 also. The Rapido cars are closer to the 1951 "River" series cars, but still need the upper windows for the "Sections". These could possibly be stolen from a KATO 6-6-4 sleeper.

[nkalanaga]

If you're modeling the Big Sky Blue era, not all of the 1951 "River" series had the upper windows.  Some were removed, probably when the cars were repainted.

[AlbertSpor]

I forgot to add that information, about 5 cars were converted from 7 roomette-4 section-3 double bedroom-1 compartment to 7 roomette-6 double bedroom-1 compartment by changing the sections and their bathrooms to 3 more bedrooms and losing the upper windows.

[Tad_T]

You guys are much more knowledgeable about specific cars than I am.

I like passenger trains and I have collected some specific named trains. I guess that I have focused more on finding something that was a suitable stand-in, in order to model the overall train. I am still working on some of these.

I have a bunch of RailSmith, Kato, Centralia Car Shops, Wheels of Time, Con-Cor, and I'm sure some others that I am forgetting.

I have his whole "City of Miami" consist and I ordered the Leased Sleeper/Dome pair.

I think it makes a nice train. I have a few cars to add in/supplement from a different official consist that I have and because I have the cars. They all go together pretty well, so far.

I also have the some of his other cars for other trains that I have been working on.

For someone like me, I think he has pretty nice cars.

[AlbertSpor]

Don't get me wrong, his cars are beautifully decorated, and for a lot of trains such as the City of Miami, they  are close enough for me as well. But I am trying to get my Pacific NW trains to be as accurate as possible. I have way too many of his cars already and plan on getting more as they are released.

[Jimbo]

You guys are much more knowledgeable about specific cars than I am.

I like passenger trains and I have collected some specific named trains. I guess that I have focused more on finding something that was a suitable stand-in, in order to model the overall train. I am still working on some of these.

I have a bunch of RailSmith, Kato, Centralia Car Shops, Wheels of Time, Con-Cor, and I'm sure some others that I am forgetting.

I have his whole "City of Miami" consist and I ordered the Leased Sleeper/Dome pair.

I think it makes a nice train. I have a few cars to add in/supplement from a different official consist that I have and because I have the cars. They all go together pretty well, so far.

I also have the some of his other cars for other trains that I have been working on.

For someone like me, I think he has pretty nice cars.

@Tad_T you and I think alike.  If the cars are high quality, and they look close, it works for me!

Some are more concerned about prototype fidelity; I think the intent here is to highlight where the differences are between model and prototype.  To me, stand-ins are more than acceptable.  For others, their interest may be matching the prototype as closely as possible.

There’s no wrong answer; I always follow “rule #1”!   

Jim

[nkalanaga]

I'll accept the Railsmith "River" sleepers not only because they look acceptable, and are very well made, but because the alternative is the old ConCor smoothside sleeper.  Yes, it was based on the GN "River" series, so is closer that Lowell's car, but it was also made mirror-reversed, and definitely looks "ancient".  The tooling actually looks coarser than the related Kato-made late 60s smoothsides.

On the other hand, I didn't buy his 1951 "Pass" series cars.  They're not nearly as close, and I already have Brass Car Sides versions.  His are a little more detailed, but BCS has the right window pattern!