Help choosing a freight car truck


austinrick

New Member
I'm working on an old, old Main Line kit, a Pacific Fruit Express 50' reefer. Old design, too, with rounded roof and K2 brakes, pullman green sides, etc.

The yellowed instructions call for simply "Pullman-Standard trucks." I'm not sure what that means in Kadee terms, for a PFE reefer, so I'm asking for guidance or recommendations. What would you use on this car to match the prototype? -thanks!
 
A quick search of Google leads me to believe that what you may be looking for are Walthers 920-2124. If that's not it, at least it'll get you close.
 
Maybe this will help?
This is Athearn Blue Box (remember them?) item #5330, an express reefer used in head end passenger service, done up as SLSF 5073, used as a head end car in Frisco passenger service. This was an undec Athearn kit, decorated by me using Champ's excellent duluxe gold decals. The car has express trucks with Kadee metal wheels, Cal Scale brake hoses, Cal Scale passenger steam and signal lines, and Kadee couplers.

express slsf.jpg
 
Thanks much! I'm going to try the Athearn #53308 Express Reefer trucks, which appear to be what you have, and I'm sure they'll do fine. The car I'm working on is not unlike what you have there. You did a great job with it.
Maybe this will help?

This is Athearn Blue Box (remember them?) item #5330, an express reefer used in head end passenger service, done up as SLSF 5073, used as a head end car in Frisco passenger service. This was an undec Athearn kit, decorated by me using Champ's excellent duluxe gold decals. The car has express trucks with Kadee metal wheels, Cal Scale brake hoses, Cal Scale passenger steam and signal lines, and Kadee couplers.

View attachment 60080
 
Thanks, bnsf971, I'm going to keep those trucks in mind for another project. They do look good. I'm going with an Athearn set for this car largely because of the design of the truck bolster, or cross member, which sits high. The same part on the Walther truck (including the one Railrunner130 suggested) is sunken and I don't think the bolster on the underside of the car would reach down in there, especially with those chromed screw heads in the way. I can see it working on a lot of molded plastic models, probably not on this wood kit. But I sure appreciate the input.

 
This is actually what you need:

http://bethlehemcarworks.com/Products/Kit_Bits/index.html#Trucks

#95A or 95B will work as stand ins, but #139 is preferred.


These will also work but they are pricey:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Precision-S...ssenger-Trucks-2-axle-RTR-Brass-/231941120740

The car you are building was often found in dedicated express reefer trains, mail trains and the head end of passenger trains. Their running gear had to conform to passenger car standards due to the speeds they saw. They also had steam & signal lines. The Athearn trucks are undersized. Terry's choice is only good for Pennsy cars. An 8 ft or 9 ft wheelbase is needed depending on the car being modeled. PS: Railrunner's choice is usable as well. They look much better with the wider stance the larger trucks provide. I've done several of the Athearn models with old Central Valley trucks under them.
 
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Okay, just went on another eBay shopping spree; came up with three sets of trucks:

MICRO MOTIVE FOUR WHEEL EXPRESS REEFER SPECIAL TRUCKS ITEM # TM-202 http://www.ebay.com/itm/142236799933

4 Wheel Passenger/Express Reefer trucks http://www.ebay.com/itm/322384467439

MDC Pennsy 4 Wheel Roller Bearing Express Trucks with Intermountain Metal Wheels http://www.ebay.com/itm/131966428114

One of the top two will go under the subject car.

I also have a Red Ball -Pennsylvania Railroad R506 Class (53 1/2') Express Reefer kit on order http://www.ebay.com/itm/152379313223
The MDC Pennsy trucks will hopefully work under that.

I know I asked for advice on matching the prototype; there are budgetary restrictions involved, however, and I just went a little wreckless, but thanks for the guidance! I don't have a layout, so my return to HO railroading is currently centered on building old 'craftsman' kits like these. When there are enough of them finished, I'll have no choice but to start a layout for them!
 
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EspeeFan:

I saw the Brass Expo advertised for next Fall on a Howard Zane site and is close by to me in northern Illinois. Is the Expo worth the visit and can you share you experiences of attending the expo.

Thanks.

Greg
 
Depends on your interests Greg. A day pass would be what I'd recommend. I did the after party, and it was ok but pricey. I also overspent :) Several interesting talks and tons of brass. Some good deals.
 
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Here's what I ended up with for this car. Micro Motive express reefer trucks and McHenry couplers.....
 

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Thanks, Alan. That's why I left the corner steps off for now, and even the coupler pockets may be a problem. Someday I'll have room to build a layout and will find out what radius she can work on! In the meantime I occupy myself building these kits. Now midway through a La Belle HO-49 gondola.
 
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