Model Railroading > New Walthers Heavyweight RPO

For me, the highlight of the National Train Show was discovering this newly-announced heavyweight RPO that was rather discreetly displayed at the Walthers booth.  Personally, I can't wait to dig into building one of these as an RI car.  These will come in both round roof and clearstory variations.  When I asked about which roofline the "Green, but unlettered" car would be, they said that they are still working on that, but they will only do one SKU for that, so I put in my vote for a round roof one.

- Jeff Carlson

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Here's one more view of the round roof car, along with a shot of the clearstory one as well.

Enjoy!
- Jeff Carlson

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It is a 'Harriman' car used by Union Pacific & Southern Pacific and possibly by Illinois Central.      Some years ago I was involved with Walthers  [ Dan Zylia] in getting them to do a series of Harriman cars I supplied both plans and photos of various cars.

Malcolm
New Zealand.

Out standing! On the KP, trains 69-369 and 370-70 will use these RPO/Baggage,s. wag216

The RPO does follow a general type of Common Standard (AKA "Harriman"), but the end roof countours seem slightly off for SP/UP Common Standard cars. The underframe is probably more like a stardard heavyweight. Common Standard cars had a straight type underframe. A more accurate car for SP/UP is made by Golden Gate Depot, despite whatever flaws those cars have, the roofs and underframe are accurate. As was previously mentioned, this car follows an IC prototype. 
 



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 08/13/18 10:55 by ATSF3751.

ATSF3751 Wrote:
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> The RPO does follow a general type of Common
> Standard (AKA "Harriman"), but the end roof
> countours seem slightly off for SP/UP Common
> Standard cars. The underframe is probably more
> like a stardard heavyweight. Common Standard cars
> had a straight type underframe. A more accurate
> car for SP/UP is made by Golden Gate Depot,
> despite whatever flaws those cars have, the roofs
> and underframe are accurate. As was previously
> mentioned, this car follows an IC prototype. 

Looks like they compromised on two stand-in quality foobies, instead of doing a prototypical  car and one fooby. Myself, I would have voted for the latter approach.

Jack

MMD Wrote:
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> It is a 'Harriman' car used by Union Pacific &
> Southern Pacific and possibly by Illinois
> Central.      Some years ago I was involved
> with Walthers  [ Dan Zylia] in getting them to do
> a series of Harriman cars I supplied both plans
> and photos of various cars.
>
> Malcolm
> New Zealand.

Actually, while this follows the general pattern of a "Harrriman" , the IC cars from 1914, ( of which this one seems to be modeled after) These particular IC cars were not built to Associated Lines Common Standard practices. (See page 136, Southern Pacific Passenger Cars, Volume 3). In 1911, IC began to specify built up underframes, as opposed to the Common Standard practice of a straight frame.  Still,maybe a good stand-in, but not really accurate for SP/UP. 



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/13/18 11:13 by ATSF3751.

ATSF3751 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Actually, while this follows the general pattern
> of a "Harrriman" , the IC cars from 1914, ( of
> which this one seems to be modeled after) These
> particular IC cars were not built to Associated
> Lines Common Standard practices. (See page 136,
> Southern Pacific Passenger Cars, Volume 3). In
> 1911, IC began to specify built up underframes, as
> opposed to the Common Standard practice of a
> straight frame.  Still,maybe a good stand-in, but
> not really accurate for SP/UP. 

I found some IC diagrams. IC it is, I believe.

Happy days for IC modelers.

Jack
 

I’ll take one or two also green/unlettered for me to RI up
Nice cars! Thanks for posting!
Hammer

Posted from iPhone

Hopefully, they will be available undec though I've modified some AHM RPO baggages that are pretty close for Wabash. The Wabash had both styles of roofs on their baggage cars.

Victor A. Baird
http://www.erstwhilepublications.com

Back to brass for my SP cars. One day they will get one right.

At least in the current run, they won't be doing them undec, unfortunately.  

I asked about that, and the closest we'll get is the green, but unlettered.

- Jeff

wabash2800 Wrote:
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> Hopefully, they will be available undec though
> I've modified some AHM RPO baggages that are
> pretty close for Wabash. The Wabash had both
> styles of roofs on their baggage cars.
>
> Victor A. Baird
> http://www.erstwhilepublications.com

Green and unlettered is better than nothing. Models do look really nice. The standard RPO is a good stand in for an ATSF car but not fully accurate.
Cheers
Charlie
MP 52.8 on the BNSF Topeka Sub

bnsfsd70 Wrote:
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> At least in the current run, they won't be doing
> them undec, unfortunately.  
>
> I asked about that, and the closest we'll get is
> the green, but unlettered.
>
> - Jeff
>
> wabash2800 Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Hopefully, they will be available undec though
> > I've modified some AHM RPO baggages that are
> > pretty close for Wabash. The Wabash had both
> > styles of roofs on their baggage cars.
> >
> > Victor A. Baird
> > http://www.erstwhilepublications.com

Thanks for providing the photo. Ok, so the green car can be repainted...but how easy will it be to diassemble the car to avoid painting the windows? Or perhaps the few windows could be masked.

Victor A. Baird
http://www.erstwhilepublications.com