correct passenger cars for 1900 era ICRR

[malletman]

Ok, on the night Casey Jones rode into glory, he was pulling 6 cars, what was considered a very light load for the Rodgers ten wheeler. According to what I have read, he had a express baggage car, RPO, 2 coaches and 2 sleepers. The train was considered the New Orleans Fast Mail train number 1 according to offical IC documents. What did the IC use back then, While the little MDC Overtons are nicely painted for the ICRR Fast Mail, I suspect he was pulling cars with more length to them. Would they have been open platform cars still, or did the IC use the closed vestibule Harriman cars with 2 axle trucks for the RPO, Baggage and coaches, and the longer 86' pullman sleepers with 3 axle trucks? I can find very little on what passenger cars the IC was using around 1900. The pictures of the wreckage are thought to be fake, and of another wreck later in the 1900's From other reading, I have read that the rail used on a some of the line he ran was quite light, so I have my doubts about heavy 6 axle pullman sleepers running there. But then it was a fast era of growth in both locomotives and rolling stock during that time frame. I believe that most of the cars had the clestitory roofs that matched the roof on the 382.

 

[malletman]

Looking at the 2 wreck photos, they are believed to be correct of the wreck, just that one is exposed in reverse, something easily done in 1900. The 50' pullman baggage looks like a good match, then two of the 50' overland coaches and 2 of the 6 axle pullman sleepers. That leaves what style of RPO was in the train. The Harriman style lacks the correct roof styling, I am wondering if it was a 50' pullman combine car with the post office at one end or did they have a dedicated RPO with the clerestory roof. The long pullman palace sleepers have a roof style like that. Anybody have any pics of what passenger cars were used around 1900 on the IC? Mike

 

[UP2CSX]

I suspect this Baggage/RPO would be a close match.

This is a typical truss rod open platform coach

There would have been no rounded roof Harriman cars on the train since they were first introduced in 1906. It looks like Athearn is going to be reissuing the old Roundhouse 85' Pullman Palace cars although they seem to be behind schedule (again). Looks like you can order them at http://www.modelrailcraft.com/PhotoGallery.asp?ProductCode=480-85364 and hope for the best.

 

[malletman]

Thats what I figured on the round roof harriman cars, they came along later. The bottom pic reminds me of the Roundhouse 50' overland cars. Those would just need painted pullman green and decaled. Thanks for the pics. Mike

 

[Cjcrescent]

You could also build some Labelle passenger cars. But I'm not sure how sturdy your cars would need to be.

 

[malletman]

I wish someone made metal sprung passenger trucks with a short wheelbase like the ones on the MDC Overton cars. Would make lighting my cars much easier if I had metal trucks, but I would want sprung ones. I know CV did old style trucks, but with the longer wheel base, those would work for the Labelle cars, but are to long to work on the MDC cars. The MDC passenger trucks are no much longer than a freight truck in overall wheel base. Maybe some early high speed caboose trucks would look close. There has to be something out there. Mike

 

[GN.2-6-8-0]

I suspect this Baggage/RPO would be a close match.

This is a typical truss rod open platform coach

There would have been no rounded roof Harriman cars on the train since they were first introduced in 1906. It looks like Athearn is going to be reissuing the old Roundhouse 85' Pullman Palace cars although they seem to be behind schedule (again). Looks like you can order them at http://www.modelrailcraft.com/PhotoGallery.asp?ProductCode=480-85364 and hope for the best.

Jus' checked that site and one of the roadnames their listing for the Pullman Palace cars is the Great Northern Oriental Limited.
I have over the last year or two been actively seeking out these cars for that exact train ARRRRRGH!! have 8 or 9 of'em, Good news I guess is that there are no' zip' nada decals or dry transfers for the Oriental Limited to be found anywhere.
So had given up and decided I would have to do the Empire Builder instead.

 

[UP2CSX]

GN, at the rate production has fallen behind on these Palace cars, it may be a moot point anyway.

MM, you might want to think about using Rapido's Easy Peasy lights at http://rapidotrains.com/details4.html. No track power to worry about and installation is dead easy. You can shorten up the lighting board if you need to.

 

[malletman]

Now those are KEWL lights!! Thanks Jim. Those are a definatly possiblity. Just make a cut in the middle of the translucent center part and shorten them accordingly. That would be darn short to, not much space up in those Overton roofs. Might just copy the design and make my own. Granted it wouldnt have the "magic wand", but the roofs are easily removed on the MDC cars. They will all get metal wheels though, they roll so much better and it adds a bit of weight. I have all my cars built and waiting for Kaydee couplers and metal wheels. Hopefully my Monon C420 with DCC/Sound will sell this week, then I can get my engine out of layaway at the local shop. $150 with less than 1 hours use on it, if anybody is interested. Thanks for the link on the lights. I am betting that only 1 of the two LEDs would fit, time you fit the batteries in there. Mike

 

[UP2CSX]

MM, you could copy it pretty easily although I'm not sure you'd save much money. I'd cut it down and use the two LED's. There are only two 3 volt round watch batteries to install and they are pretty small. I'm not sure that one LED would give you enough light but you could order one of the shorty boards and experiment. Don't discount the "Magic Wand" thing either. I assume it's a magnet and is used to activate a magnetic reed switch. Pulling all the roofs off the cars to turn on and turn off the lights is not only tiresome but it's a great way to break something eventually.

 

[malletman]

True, right now I need to go get some green translucent plastic, like used to cover school book reports to put in the clerestory windows on the cars. I may get one of the circuits and experiment with one, see if it needs 1 or 2 LEDs. I think 1 might be more realistic, the lighting would have been dim oil lanterns in that era anyway. Not sure when you started to see dynamo powered lights in passenger cars. definatly nothing power wise from the locomotive, the 382 sported a lima carbide arc headlight, pretty powerfull for its day compared to a oil burning headlight. Looks like the slower freight engines on the IC had the oil burning lights around that time, where as the faster passenger power sported the arc head lights. Its a shame that a better pic of the 382 in the ditch after the wreck doesnt exhist, would have been interested to see how tore up she was. Caseys special whistle survived, the bell was saved but with a huge chunk missing. I suspect the headlight, stack, class lights all were totaly destroyed when the caboose was hit. Mike