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Passenger Cars Articles

10 Steps to Great-looking Passenger Cars

The article covers techniques for applying paint and decals. It shows how to plan the project, checking the parts, planning the painting sequence, painting the underbody, masking the underbody to paint the main body, and additional masking to paint a second color on parts of the sides, applying decals and the finish.

20th Century Limited

Scaled drawings of the NYC's RPO, coach, and Pullman cars' sides. Just drawings; no text.

8 Pike-size Passenger Trains

Creating passenger trains that are shorter than the typical Class 1 railroad's. However, there are prototype trains that only carried a handful of passenger cars.

A Guide to Passenger Car Underbody Detailing

The author couldn't find much information about detailing passengers cars, so he set about doing the research. This article covers underframes, brakes, heating, water systems, lighting, and air conditioning. Included with the article are prototype photos, photos of parts available in S- and HO-scale, and diagrams of brake rigging and parts placement.

A Modeler-Friendly Approach for Upgrading the GGD 1938 Super Chief Part 1

Making some improvements to the Super Chief trains by Golden Gate Depot.

A Modeler-Friendly Approach for Upgrading the GGD 1938 Super Chief Part 2

This installment covers how the author upgraded the interior of the GGD Super Chief set.

A Most Unusual Car...

This car was owned by James Hill, son of Louis Hill the famous GN magnate. The passenger car provided accommodations for the traveling railroader, including storage for his automobile. Prototype photos and scale drawings are included.

A PSC Harriman Goes Western Pacific

The author describes how he converted a Precision Scale Southern Pacific Harriman 60' baggage car into a head-end car for "The Exposition Flyer" train he is building. Includes lots of model and prototype photos.

A Twice-kitbashed Passenger Car

The author didn't want to get rid of his award-winning 1:32n20 gauge passenger car, so he converted it to a shed for a new yard has was building. He cut a 1:29 or 1:25 figure down so that it would fit in this structure.

A Wood Passenger Car

Since the author is building a 10'x20' Sn3 logging layout, he needed some wooden passenger cars, so this article describes how he built one. Includes construction photos.

Add Realistic Diaphragms to Your AF Passenger Cars

The author describes how to modify the American Models' diaphragms for use with AF passenger cars.

Air-conditioning for a Heavyweight Coach

Adding various details to the a Branchline NYC coach.

American Models Heavyweight Coach

The author replaces the 4-wheel trucks with 6-wheel ones, installed Kadee KD802 couplers, adds window shades, and installed diaphragm. Includes two model photos.

Amtrak Merchandise-handling Cars

61-foot cars that were built in 1986 to provide mail and express service in passenger trains. Prototype photos and scale drawings are included.

Amtrak Passenger Car Differences

Differences between Amfleet and Horizon fleet cars.

Amtrak's Mail and Express Fleet

This article offers suggestions for modeling the mail and express fleet in HO-scale. Includes many photos of the various cars.

Amtrak's Material Handling Car

A prototype photo and scale drawings of this mail and express packages car accompany the article.

An Unusual Business Car

Modeling a private car that could transport the owner's automobile. Includes a prototype photo.

Back Shop

American Models introduced the Great Northern Empire Builder train set, which included the post-WWII streamlined/smoothsided baggage/dormitory car (ACF), the coach car (ACF), a sleeper car (Pullman), and a vista dome car and an observation car (Budd). All of these cars measure a scale 85 feet and come as an easy-to-assemble kit. The author reviews these models. He also previews the Modern Models' D&RGW-based wide-vision brass cabooses (two variations are being imported). He also previews the Omnicon PRR 2-8-2 brass model.

Building Amtrak Superliners

The author shares how he resin-cast parts to build models of the 1970s-era Amtrak cars.

Building Heavyweight Passenger Cars

The author describes how he converted A.C. Gilbert heavyweight passenger cars into credible models. Includes photos and drawings.

Building Osgood-Bradley "American Flyer" Coaches Pt. 1

This installment covers the prototype of this car, and how to model it using an American Flyer coach passenger car. Includes prototype and model photos.

Building Osgood-Bradley "American Flyer" Coaches Pt. 2

(part 1 was published in the Winter 2012 issue). This installment covers window arrangements, skirting, Lehigh Valley model variations, and adding many details.

Building the Budd 10-6 Sleeper

The author shows how he built the UP sleeper car, to show that it is fairly easy to build a lightweight 80-foot passenger car.

Building the Gilbert 'Radio' Car

The author found a photo of the A.C. Gilbert Radio car, and describes how he built one.

Building Wood Cars from Styrene

Although the subject is a Barre & Chelsea RR wood combine, the article is not a step-by-step how-to article about how to build this particular car, but rather a general one about how the author builds wooden passenger cars using styrene. Includes model and prototype photos, a construction detail diagram, and a parts list.

Canadian Pacific Dynamometer Car

Prototype photos, scale drawings.

CB&Q Vista-Dome Coach

Prototype photos and scale drawings accompany this short article on the car.

Circus Advance Car

A review of the purpose of this special car, and how the author created an S-scale model of it.

Class MP54 "Steam Hauled" Cars

The Funaro and Camerlengo company released an electrified version of the MP54 electric coaches, but the author converted it to be of use by steam engines. The article includes modification photos, a bill of materials, and references.

Colonial Crafts

This is an ex-PRR lounge-sleeper passenger car. The brief article is about the car being part of a train ride in 2013, and has a short history of the car.

Computer Detailing a Diner

The author photographed a dining car table setting using authentic china and silverware, and then use the computer to manipulate and print the photo. The print-out was then cut and glued to the tables of his HO-scale dining car. With interior lighting you can see that the tables are properly set.

Create Your Own 'Polar Express' Using Heavyweight AF Passenger Cars

The authro described how he converted Lionel S-scale passenger cars into "Polar Express" cars. Shows two models.

Detailing a Pullman Underbody

The author describes how he details the underbody of the NASG passenger cars, manufactured by American Models.

Detailing American Model's Passenger-Car Trucks

The author describes how he super-details the rather bland American Models passenger car trucks. Includes a diagrams, a couple of model photos, and a parts list.

Diaphragms Made for Curves

How to make passenger car diaphragms that flex as the cars pass through curves.

Diner Conversion

The author describes how to convert an NH A.F. coach car into a diner one.

Dinner in the Diner

The author describes the process he went through to build a diner/lounge car for the D&RGW "Royal Gorge" train. He started with an American Models model, but had to significantly modify it. Includes some photos.

Early 1863 B&O Truss Rod Coach

Scale drawing of car #20 and #21.

Ex-PRR Business Car Philadelphia, #7507, for Sale

The history of the car, how M.W. Clement found and restored the car, and a general description of the car's state. Includes one exterior and many interior photos.

Ex-PRR Catalpa falls Undergoing Extensive Upgrading

A brief note about The Catalpa Falls Group's PRR passenger cars.

Ex-PRR Pullmans to be Scrapped

A couple of photos and some information about the cars.

Great Northern Fire Instruction Car

This brief article includes scaled drawings of the Great Northern's baggage and express car converted to a training program car.

Heavyweight Passenger Cars From Spliced Flyer Combines Part 1

This installment starts off with the body assembly and roof modifications. Includes completed model photos, and some detailed drawings.

Heavyweight Passenger Cars From Spliced Flyer Combines Part 2

This installment covers the interior detailing, sides, ends, handrails, and underbody. Includes many diagrams, including one for all the typical details found under a passenger car.

Heavyweight Passenger Cars From Spliced Flyer Combines Part 3

This installment concludes the series by building the underbody and interior detailing, lighting, painting, and lettering.

Heavyweight Pullmans - Plans 4158 and 4172

Prototype photos of the Elm Trail and Oak Wood pullmans and accompanied by scale drawings.

Historical Passenger Cars of S Scale

The article reviews some of the older manufacturers that produced S-scale passenger car kits. It is essentially a photo-essay article featuring models from Super Scale, Dayton, Train Stuff, Strafford, and Chester.

How to Convert a Weaver Troop Kitchen Car to Close Coupling and Narrower Trucks

The author describes and shows how he did the conversions for this car. Includes close-up photos.

Illuminating Observation Car Marker Lights

The author describes how he was able to install lighted marker lights on a new Lionel heavyweight observation car. Includes photos and wiring diagram for powering these from the rail.

Improving Bachmann's Amfleet Cars

Replacing Rapido couplers with a close-coupling drawbar.

Improving the Tracking of River Raisin's 43R Trucks

The trucks used in the previous article's project looked great but didn't not function correctly. It was discovered that that run had too thick of a paint layer. This article explains how to remedy that.

Interior Detail Sets for S Scale Pullman Cars

Introduction of the passenger car interior details made available in a joint special project between the NASG and Palace Car Co.

Interiors for Your American Models Heavyweights

The author shares how he fitted the American Models Budd car interior into a heavyweight coach car. Includes several photos.

Jeff's Junction

Jeff reviews the, then, current state of S-scale passenger cars.

Kitbash a Canadian Pacific Railway 60-foot Mail Car

Using an MDC Harriman RPO, the author built a model of this passenger car. Includes prototype and model photos, as well as a materials list.

Kitbashing a Business Car

Kitbashing a Freelanced Combine

The author converted a MDC old-time passenger car into a pre-WW1 combine for the author's CP-based layout.

Kitbashing a Mail-storage Car Part I

The author builds a UP baggage car from American Models cars. The article describes how he did it, and includes construction photos and drawings, as well as a parts list.

Kitbashing A Mail-storage Car Part II

This installment covers the underbody detailing, installing diaphragms, and painting and lettering the model. Includes detail diagrams for the underbody piping and parts installation, the making of several detail parts, and a few photos.

Kitbashing a Payroll Car

Using a coach car, the author converted it into a payroll car, including burglary bars. Includes a materials list and photos on how to make the bars.

Kitbashing a Pittsburgh Railways Interurban Car

The author describes how he designed and had custom-made the sides for this car, and then used a LaBelle car kit for the remaining parts.

Kitbashing a Union Pacific Rules Car

Using two MDC Pullman Palace kit bodies the author built this car.

Kitbashing an Erie Stillwell Coach in N Scale

The author took Model Power heavyweight passenger cars and converted them into these uniquely-shaped cars for the Erie. One prototype photo and many model photos are included, as well as a materials list. No scaled drawings.

Kitbashing Harriman coaches

After explaining the history behind the "Harriman" name, the author describes how he modeled the car using an S-Helper Service passenger cafe car kit as a starter. Includes prototype and model photos, cut diagrams, and a description of the Harriman cars owned by the SP.

Kitbashing Techniques: Building an NS Exhibition Car

Using this prototype as an example, the author describes how easy it is to kitbash an existing kit into a unique model. It includes the various tools a beginner should invest in to make kitbashing easier.

Lessons in Passenger Car Part 2

This installment covers modeling the Conrail 21 car, which is a track geometry car. Includes prototype photos of this ex-SF car, and many step-by-step modeling photos.

Metroliner Diaphragm by Shapeways

A review of the Spark and Wire Models (Nicholas Gotwalt) 3D-printed diaphragm for Walthers Metroliner cab ends.

Milwaukee Road/Canadian National Sleepers - P-S-1948

Scale drawings and prototype photos, as well as a listing of the road numbers/names of this car are the main part of the article.

Minor Adjustments: Fixing the American Models Passenger Trucks

The early-production streamlined passenger car trucks from AM showed a tendency to fall apart. This article describes how to fix that.

Modeler's Guide to Lightweight Passenger Trucks

Covers in great detail how to identify individual trucks on passenger cars. Includes technical and historical information, and prototype photos. A side bar and modeling trucks only covers HO-scale models. Another side bar covers the Budd disk brake system.

Modeling a Pennsy BM70nb RPO

The author used a Rivarossi model as a starting point, replacing the roof and adding many other details to make an accurate model of this car, which was a rebuild done in the 1950s. Includes a prototype photo, some model photos, and a parts list.

Modeling a PRR BM70KA Baggage-Mail Car

The author details, with text and many photos, how he built one of these cars starting with an NKP Car Company model. Includes prototype photos.

Modeling a PRR Camp Car

The author built a model of the PRR passenger car that was recycled as a work train service car. Includes one prototype and several model photos

Modeling Congressional/Senator Parlor Cars

Information about these cars, as well as how to model one.

Modeling Pennsy's Class P70gsR Coach

As part of the Cincinnati Limited, the author describes the prototype car, and shows how he modeled it.

Modeling Pennsy's Class POS211 Observation

The author kitbashed a Rivarossi observation car body and Laser Horizons' side panels. Covers the history and includes a prototype photo.

Modeling PRR's Unique Class X42 Mail Storage Cars

The X42 60-foot box car was used to store mail (pre-sorted and bagged). The author describes how he built the Funaro&Camerlengo resin kit of this car.

Modeling Secondhand Parlor Cars for the LIRR

In 1961 the LIRR bought 26 heavy-weight parlor car from its parent the PRR. These were re-painted. Some PRR-leased cars were also used (kept in the PRR color scheme). The author describes how he modeled them using Walthers' cars. Includes LIRR and PRR prototype photos, and a couple of completed model photos.

Modeling the Amtrak Merchandise-handling Car

The author scratchbuilds one of these cars. Detail drawings, model construction photos, and a bill of materials are all included. Especially impressive is the underbody electrical wiring that he installed on this model.

Modeling the B-27 Baggage Car

Using the Model Railroad Warehouse etched brass sides and ends for the B-27 Horse-Baggage car, and several other parts, the author describes how he built this B&O car (some prototype history is included). Includes many construction photos.

Modeling the Shasta Daylight Part Two

In this installment the author covers underbody details, external details, dealing with the triple-unit diner, and the parlor/observation car (the author's most difficult part of the project).

Modifying American Models' Streamlined Passenger Cars

The author describes how he improved the American Models lightweight streamlined passenger cars. He added interior lighting and the improved trucks available from American Models. He also added interior and exterior details and some weight, because those models are made entirely of plastic and so are very light.

Moving Baggage in "S" Scale

This article covers modeling the New Haven Railway's RPO car, the PRR's B-60 baggage car, the PRR Theater Scenery car, and the New Haven baggage express car. All with photos and construction-detail drawings.

Moving Passengers in "S" Scale

After covering the prototype history of the New Haven's Pullman-Standard passenger coach cars ordered after the 1930s, the author continues by describing how A.C. Gilbert American Flyer and American Hi-Rail passenger cars can be used to model these prototype cars. Includes model photos, a 1958 New Haven main line diagram, and construction drawings.

Moving Passengers in "S" Scale

Parlor cars were first-class coaches operated by Pullman or the railroads themselves, which had individual revolving seats that were much like reclining living room chairs. The author describes how to model one of these in S-scale using various manufacturers' cars as base models. Includes detail drawings for kitbashing.

N Scale Express Car

The article kitbashes a Con-Cor 80-foot standard baggage car into a 60-foot NYC express car. Includes cutting diagrams, and construction photos.

Narrow Gauge Pullman Sleeper

Three-foot gauge sleeping cars of the D&RGW. Prototype photos and scale drawings are included.

NASG Pullman Car Project

In this article the author answers questions raised about the joint NASG/American Models/Artist-Aid heavyweight Pullman passenger cars.

Parlor-Observation Queen Mary Scrapped

Announces the destruction of the passenger car and provides its history and a couple of photos.

Passenger Car Details

The author describes his own experiences with trying to learn more about details under passenger cars.

Passenger Car Modeling

Learning that there is no one right way to do things, the author describes how he built three D&H passenger cars from various parts, some scratchbuilding, and all three were built using different methods. The cars and his modified AF PA1 are shown in the accompanying photos.

Passenger Cars Part 1

The article is about building the cars you want for your fleet by combining unique sides with common carbodies. The author started with an HO-scale Eastern Car Works car, removed the molded-on details, added the new sides, updated the underbody detail, installed grab irons, added an interior, painted and applied decals, and installed diaphragms and window shades.

Passenger Cars From Core Kits Part 2

The articles covers how to build a Southern Railway Pullman sleeper using NKP Car Works etched-metal sides and a Train Station Products' core kit for an HO model. Next, the author shows how to convert a Bachmann coach car into an N-scale RPO for the Monon.

Pennsylvania RR 10-6 Sleeping Car

This article describes the riveted lightweight cars built by American Car & Foundry for the PRR. They were also seen in blue, silver, and gray of the Missouri Pacific's Eagles, and in both the two-tone gray Overland scheme and the yellow-and-gray City colors of the Union Pacific. Includes prototype photos, scaled drawings of the outside, interior, and underbody details. Hints for how to model them in N-, HO-, and O-scale are also provided.

Pennsylvania RR's ACF 44-seat P85B coaches

This article describes this particular passenger. There is a paragraph at the end on how to model it in HO-scale. Includes one prototype photograph and scaled diagrams.

Perfect Passenger Trains

Prototype passenger trains. Explanations of the types of cars used in a passenger train. Shows diagram of Argentine Passenger Depot, as well as many prototype photos of exteriors and interiors of passenger cars.

Possibilities

Consider using etching brass to create your own passenger car sides that could be mounted to an American Models car body.

PRR Class M70 Postal Car

A one-page article about this car with one photo and scale drawings.

PRR Class P58 Coach

A brief description of this car, accompanied by a prototype photo and scale drawings.

Pullman Sun Room Cars on the PRR 1933-1965

Open platform observation cars were replaced by Pullman's new sun room, or solarium observation car. This article covers the Pullman "Plan 3975" cars' history (including photos), and their use in the PRR. HO-scale model photos are included, as well as drawings of the "Texas Ranger" car. A full historical listing of each sun room car is included, as is a full listing of the Pullman Lot 3975 PRR car assignments from 1932 through 1956.

Quick Modifications Create Realism

The author describes the various minor changes and detailing additions he has done to his American Flyer passenger cars to make them look more realistic.

Quick Upgrades for the Walthers B60b

The author discusses the changes he made to this model to make it even more accurate. Includes lots of model photos.

Re-writing History: Passenger Cars for My Maine Three-footer

The author describes how he kitbashed these wood-sheathed passenger cars. Includes finished model photos and a materials list

Reading RR Passenger Cars

Rear Platform Lanterns

A quick diagram about how to add working rear lights on a passenger car.

Restoration of ex-PRR parlor car Leonard Calvert, 7135

Leonard Calvert was one of 16 parlor cars Budd built in 1952 for The Congressional and The Senator service between Boston, New York and Washington. Includes one exterior and one interior photo.

Restoration Station

The author describes how he fixed the flickering issue of the lights in the Lionel Polar Express passenger cars.

S Scale Favorites

The author covers the construction of early prototype wooden passenger cars. He then mentions which manufacturers, in S-scale, have or are still producing wooden passenger cars.

S Scale Sleepers for the SP Lark

The author discusses the construction of Pullman-Standard sleepers for Southern Pacific's streamlined Lark and how to apply these same techniques to improve the old Chester and J-C Models car kits. Includes model photos.

Santa Fe Business Cars of 1907

Detailed historical information about these cars, as well photos, and scaled drawings are included with this article.

Scale Scene

The author describes the Chester Industrial Arts Company passenger car kits.

Scale Scene

The author describes the Sylvania Models (originally Midgage Models) passenger car kits.

Scale Scene

The author tackles detailing his streamlines American Models passenger cars. Includes construction photos.

Scale Scene

The author describes how to build steps for older wooden and heavyweight passenger cars. Includes photos of pre-manufactured ones. Please note that Rusty refers to an article on my web site in his article, but its web site address is now this one: https://www.pmrr.org/Articles/indexDiesel_LocomotivesPRR_NW23Convert_To_Scale.php (the same content, though).

Scale Scene

The author covers the two 6-wheel Commonwealth passenger car trucks available at the time, the American Models and Scenery Unlimited ones. Includes photos of both models. A photo of the SSL&S one is also shown.

Scale Scene

The author reviews the current (at the time) situation of heavyweight passenger cars in S-scale.

Scratchbuilding a Mixed-train Combine

This car has a baggage compartment in the center and two segregate passenger compartments. Includes parts list and many detailed construction photos and scale diagrams.

Scratchbuilding a Narrow-gauge Combine

This article describes how the author built his Sandy River & Rangeley combine no. 14. This is a step-by-step article, and includes prototype photos, dimensioned drawings, materials list, and many construction photos.

Scratchbuilding a Wood-bodied Business Car Part 1

After introducing the reason for this project, the author builds a number of subassemblies.

Scratchbuilding a Wood-bodied Business Car Part 2

In this installment the author takes the parts he built in the previous installment, and builds the car. Included are close-up photos and drawings (with a sidebar).

Scratchbuilding N Scale Passenger Cars

The author describes and shows how he built passenger cars using sheet brass stock. Includes construction diagrams, how to form the shapes, interior details, and a scale drawing of the Milwaukee Road Lake Pepin car.

Six Wheel Passenger Trucks

When the 3/16 "S"cale Railroad magazine stopped publication, it never released the last column in the series of S-scale trucks, so this is that final column.

Sleeper Service on the Mountain Electric

A sleeper car for a traction line.

Sleeper-Lounge-Buffet-Observation Kitchi Gammi Club

The only Pullman heavyweight open section sleeping car still certified to operate on the U.S. and Canadian railroads.

Southern Pacific Sunset Limited Sleeper 9000-9029

Prototype photos and scale drawings of these SP cars.

SP Caboose/combine 401: an On30 to On3 Kitbash

The author kitbashed a Bachmann On30 passenger car into this combine. Includes model and prototype photos.

Starters Part 6

This installment covers roller-bearing passenger car trucks for high-speed freight cars.

Styrene to Streamliner

The author takes a step-by-step approach as he describes how he scratchbuilt a Nashville, Chattanooga & St. Louis' 4-roomette, 5-bedroom, 1-compartment, 4-section sleeping car Florida Sunset (Pullman-Standard floor plan no. 4196, built in December 1954). Includes lots of detailed photos and part drawings, as well as a parts list.

Superliner Marker Lights

Battery operated marker lights for the last car in a train.

Texas & Pacific No. 300 Baggage Dormitory Car Part 1

This is the first installment of a series describing how to build this car. This installment covers the prototype research, and includes prototype photos.

Texas & Pacific No. 300 Baggage Dormitory Car Part 2

This installment covers the tools and materials needed, and the start of the construction phase. The author is a professional model builder.

Texas & Pacific No. 300 Baggage Dormitory Car Part 3

This installment covers the construction of the car body. The article starts off with how to determine dimensions from a photograph when starting some known dimensions, such as a truck.

The Accurate American Flyer Streamlined Passenger Car

The author compares American Flyer passenger cars, as originally produced by A.C. Gilbert between 1950 and 1964, to their prototype. The article starts off with a history of the development of prototype passenger cars during that time period. It also describes how the cars were made by A.C. Gilbert, which is why most of the passengers cars were too short. Several photos of complete AF trains are included.

The Budd Cars: Stainless Fleet of Modern Trains

After a brief prototype introduction, the author covers the 74-foot, four-car Budd sets that American Models has released. Includes several prototype photos.

The Good News Chapel Car

A freelance car that came out of a desire to have equipment on a new outdoor layout, but with budgetary restrictions. It was scratchbuilt following plans of a HOn3 wooden kit.

The PRR PBM70A in HO Scale

"PBM" stands for passenger-baggage-mail car. This article covers painting an NJ Custom Brass PBM70.

The Scale Scene

The author covers passenger cars manufactured by Chester Industrial Arts, Midgage, Sylvania Models, Train Stuff, Strafford Metal Products, Super Scale Models, and Nimco.

The Scale Scene

How to add details to American Models' heavyweight baggage cars. Shows a couple of photos, a drawing, and a jig.

The Scale Scene

How to add handrail and brake wheels to American Models' heavyweight baggage cars. Shows a couple of photos and a jig drawing.

The Vestibule

The author describes how to make a vestibule in an American Models passenger car with some slight model surgery. He also covers diaphragms. Includes a couple of photos and detail drawings.

Truck Modification for Broadway Limited Imports PRR P70 and P70R HO Coaches

This article covers how to disassemble the trucks, and making the pick-ups function as equalizers.

Updating an Athearn Standard Coach

Includes diaphragms, how to use dividers to place details.

Wanderer and Voyager, Two Orphans

In 1927 Pullman offered the first single-occupancy room in its 14-single room Night-series cars. This article covers two of them. Includes photos and scaled drawings.

Window Bars From Tape

RPO and mail-handling passenger cars had bars on their windows to protect the mail. The author shows how to make those using tape.

Window Glass for Flyer or Seltzer Budd Cars

The author describes his system for getting the window glass to sit flush with the outside of the passenger car body, just like it is in the real world. Includes a couple construction photos.