NY Central Passenger coaches for my layout

[RufusRoc]

Hi All,

This is my first post here, looks like a great forum. I've been away from the hobby for many years and am excited to be getting back into it.

Anyway, I am currently putting together a small 4X8 HO layout that has two ovals with 22" and 18" radii and just pre-ordered a Broadway Limited New York Central J1e Hudson 4-6-4 loco, which apparently can run on an 18" radius.

I'm looking for some passenger rolling stock (preferably Pullman coaches) and saw that Branchline and Walthers make some, but apparently they only run on a 24" minimum radius. So I was wondering if anyone knows of other manufacturers that make NY Central rolling stock that will run with my layout or are there ways to alter the Branchline and Walthers products so they will correctly run on my layout?

Cheers!

[Orange Irish]

I just bought some Con-Cor Branchline series heavyweights in NYC Pullman green.

Bad - they are not prototype, and they cost about $60.

Good - they are well made, have full interiors, are lighted, and run just fine on 18".

Con-Cor also has a $30 version, but it's longer so may not run on 18", and not as detailed and I don't believe they are lighted either.

FWIW, I didn't intend on running passenger trains, but I took a chance and I'm very pleased with my purchase. Also, it's quite a coincidence but I just ordered a BLI Hudson as well.

[otiscnj]

Con-Cor also has a line of shorty (73') smoothside coaches, in I believe the 1938 Century scheme, as well as at least 1 other NYC gray passenger scheme. AHM and IHC have also made passenger cars in NYC, although they are probably not prototypical. Athearn for years made NYC 'Streamlined' and 'Standard' cars, in shorty, 73' versions. You can always put in NYC and see what comes up on _bay....

[Iron Horseman]

Originally Posted by RufusRoc

I'm looking for some passenger rolling stock (preferably Pullman coaches) and saw that Branchline and Walthers make some, but apparently they only run on a 24" minimum radius. So I was wondering if anyone knows of other manufacturers that make NY Central rolling stock that will run with my layout or are there ways to alter the Branchline and Walthers products so they will correctly run on my layout?

Well the short answer is no. Walther's cars REALLY need about 30" to run OK and 32" to run well. I cut a notch on the center frame beam to let the trucks turn tighter. Walther's does make a 70' coach. They are Santa Fe prototype but nothing says they couldn't be painted NYC. I do not know their minimum radius.

But for other brands, there are always the old AHM/Rivarossi cars that had offset center trucks with the couplers mounted on them. I have a set in the grey shadow scheme, that I like. Run them with an AHM Dreyfus Hudson. They are not necessarily prototypical for NYC but 90% of the people would not know this.

Then there are the old Athearn shorties. Once again not prototypical but on those tight curves they will work much better. They also have truck mounted couplers. None of the general population looking at the trains would notice they were too short, and I'm guessing at least 25% of the model railroad population would not notice either.

[RufusRoc]

Thanks guys, At this point, i think i'll look for the con-cor or Rivarossi to fit my setup.

[Orange Irish]

http://rrmodelcraftsman.com/reviews/...sengercars.php

You may want to read this product review.

[RufusRoc]

Thanks, Orange, really good review!

[Orange Irish]

Sent you a PM Rufus.