can someone help finding N&W passenger cars

[mcgilles]

I got an N scale Norfolk and Western Class J-611 for Christmas. this locomotive is special to me, I was too young to really remember it at all, but I used to ride on it while they did their excursions until 94. I also grew up in Roanoke and have visited the real thing in its new home at the museum a few times. I went last week to get some updated pictures now that I have the N scale model.

I went to my local train store figuring that it would not no big deal to pick up a few cars for it but the guy there said that my prospects were not good at all. he said that the proper cars for it aren't really available right now, except maybe used! he's got them in O and HO, but they just aren't there for N. this really bumms me out, I didn't think it would be a problem to pick up some cars for it at all. I'm looking for the same type of cars that it would have pulled during the excursions. 1950's era streamlined N&W coaches painted maroon. I wanted to have a baggage car, maybe a dome, an observation car and coaches. 10-15 cars total by the time I'm done collecting. I was hoping to find the type with the 3 axle trucks and lights. I've looked online, I know they exist because I've seen them in youtube videos, can anyone help me find some?

thanks,

[UP2CSX]

Like these?

http://www.modeltrainstuff.com/v/vspfiles/photos/CCR-0001-04001B-1-2.jpg

Con-Cor makes them and they do go in and out of stock. This coach is in stock at http://www.modeltrainstuff.com/product_p/ccr-0001-04001b-1.htm. Check around different train web sites like Hobbylinc and ToyTrainHeaven. Con-Cor did make four and seven car sets that do show up on e-bay so check there also.

BTW, the N&W didn't own any dome cars until they merged with the Wabash and used some ex-Wabash dome cars for a short time. These were stainless steel Budd cars and only had the Norfolk and Western name added to the blue Wabash letterboard. Any plain top undecorated Budd corrugated dome from Con-Cor would be easy to make into an N&W car with some Wabash blue paint and some N&W decals.

[CSX Robert]

I am far from being an expert in passenger cars, but I don't think there are any streamlined cars with three axle trucks other than some special instances(such as the articulated kitchen car on the Southern Pacific Daylight). If you want three axle trucks, you'll have to go with heavyweights. Con-cor sales two sets of Norfolk and Western heavyweights that they show as being in stock here:6 Car Heavyweight Passenger Sets (http://con-cor.com/instock/nrivheav.htm), and Walthers shows one of the sets in stock here:Norfolk and Western Passenger Cars (http://www.walthers.com/exec/search?category=Passenger&scale=N&manu=&item=&keywords=norfolk+western&words=restrict&instock=Q&split=30&Submit=Search).

Con-Cor made smoothside cars that they sale individually and in sets. They show all of the Smoothsides in stock here:85' Smooth Side Passenger Cars (http://con-cor.com/instock/n85sspas.htm) and walthers shows them in stock here:Norfolk and Western Passenger Cars (http://www.walthers.com/exec/search?category=Passenger&scale=N&manu=&item=&keywords=norfolk+western&words=restrict&instock=Q&split=30&Submit=Search). There is also currently a set on e-bay here:Con -Cor Passenger Set (http://cgi.ebay.com/CON-COR-N-LIMITED-EDITION-BACHMANN-J-PASSENGER-CAR-SET_W0QQitemZ300283937796QQihZ020QQcategoryZ19123Q QssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem).

I don't know of any lighted Norfolk and Western passenger cars in N-Scale.

I don't know how current the in-stock status is on Con-Cor's website, but I believe that Walther's stays pretty current. I would think that your local train store would be able to order from Walthers for you, mine can usually get me a discount on stuff from Walthers, otherwise you'll have to pay full retail unless Walthers happens to have it on sale.