Model Railroading > My 6th Ringling Bros. Red unit circus car

My 6th Red Unit circus car recycled from a Walthers ACF 44 seat coach. My train is coming along, slowly.

---

---

Bravo, BRAVO !

Another very nice car you created there... how many more are you planning to do (you might have had mentioned that in a previous post, hm) ?

Christian

This is going to be a great train. The rubber tube diaphragms - do they touch when coupled and do they operate without catching?

Christian
(Another!)



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/12/22 03:14 by Lighter.

Espeechris Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Bravo, BRAVO !
>
> Another very nice car you created there... how
> many more are you planning to do (you might have
> had mentioned that in a previous post, hm) ?
>
> Christian

I plan on a 36 car train. 26 coach, generator and stock cars and 8 89' flat cars with wagons and 2 89' concession flats w/containers.
I have all the cars I need on hand.

Posted from Android

Lighter Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> This is going to be a great train. The rubber tube
> diaphragms - do they touch when coupled and do
> they operate without catching?
>
> Christian
> (Another!)

I have to have a small gap between the diaphragms. If they tounch they will derail the car.

Posted from Android

HERITAGE of the prototype RBBX 43001:

RBBX 43001 
Original Reporting Marks:  UP 5493
Built in 1958 by the St. Louis Car Company [SLC]; LOT #1807
Ordered 7/58; Delivered 2/60 as a 44-seat Coach
Builder’s light weight:  135,480 lbs.
SLC Book – Reference Section 3164
 Ringling Bros.’ ownership data:  Acquired in 1986 from AMTRAK.
RBBB I.D. Tag # H0088. 
1960-1971: UP 5493  Union Pacific RR
1971-1983: AMTK 4556 AMTRAK
1973 - Rebuilt as a 60-seat Coach
1973-1983: AMTK 6061 AMTRAK
1984  -   SOLD, January 1984 to RBBB Circus
1984   -  W.Q. 6061 for ½ year, RECYCLED at ………….  VENICE, FL
1984-1985: RBX 88 BLUE UNIT Circus - Mid-year addition
1986-1989: RBX 87 BLUE UNIT Circus
1990-1991: RBX 88 BLUE UNIT Circus      
1992-1993: RBX 85 BLUE UNIT Circus
1994   -  RBX 186 BLUE UNIT Circus
1995-2007: RBBX 43001 (187) BLUE UNIT - Out of Blue; 12/07
2008  -   RBBX 43001 PALMETTO Shops  -  Stored / RECYCLE
2009-2012 RBBX 43001 (37) RED UNIT
2013-2017 RBBX 43001 (36) RED UNIT
2018-2022 - RNCX 400017 N.C. DOT – as of 2-22-19 stored at Momeyer, NC for planned future commuter train use out of Raleigh
 Car Body Type:  (AL) Aluminum Body w/ carbon steel underframe
Brake Valve Type:  ABDXL
Last Recycle Date:  12/30/1987
Previous Recycle Data:  2007
1997 Airbrake Test Date:  5/14/1997 
NOTES:Equipment characteristics of RBBX 43001: AAR car type M530 (M-O-W, Scale, Passenger, Caboose, and End-of-train information systems), plate type B, tare weight 135,400 pounds, total gross weight allowed 220,000 pounds, load limit 84,600 pounds, external dimensions (length 85' 6", width 10' 6", height 14' 4"). [Courtesy of [i]BNSF Equipment Characteristics[/i], October 1999]

Railcar fleet details for RBBX 43001: Maintenance of Way, Scale, Passenger, Caboose and End-of-Train, Mechanical Designation: PS; Outside Length: 85 ft 6 in; AAR Car Type Code: M530; Outside Extreme Width: 10 ft 6 in; Outside Extreme Height: 14 ft 4 in; Height of Extreme Width: 7 ft 3 in; Plate Clearance: B; Draft Gear: 5; Tare Weight: 135,400 lbs. [courtesy of [i]CSXT Railcar Fleet Details[/i], November 1999]



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/14/22 14:58 by rbx551985.

Excellent work! What is the source of these rubber diaphragms?  

Cheers,
Harry

tracktime Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Excellent work! What is the source of these rubber
> diaphragms?  
>
> Cheers,
> Harry

Looks like shrink fit tubing to me.

tracktime Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Excellent work! What is the source of these rubber
> diaphragms?  
>
> Cheers,
> Harry

I purchased the diaphragms from RailFan Models. They are prebuit and believe they are made from heat shrink tubing. They come assembled with styrene frame. They won't fit on Walthers Budd style cars, only the Pullman and ACF cars.
I modified them to be used on a Budd style car.

Posted from Android

> I modified them to be used on a Budd style car.

Train Station Products made the Budd style. Also sold under Detail Associates branding. Long, long gone from the usual places to buy parts. That auction site, for instance. Somewhere there is probably a dealer with a stash. They were hard plastic and didn't play well with coupled passenger cars.

Lighter Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> > I modified them to be used on a Budd style car.
>
> Train Station Products made the Budd style. Also
> sold under Detail Associates branding. Long, long
> gone from the usual places to buy parts. That
> auction site, for instance. Somewhere there is
> probably a dealer with a stash. They were hard
> plastic and didn't play well with coupled
> passenger cars.

I just have yo modify the styrene frame of the RailFan diaphragms to make the fit.
The Train Station diaphragms are worthless to me.

Posted from Android

Great work!

Looking like the prototype.  :-)

I have pics of most of the cars if you need anything.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/14/22 07:48 by ddavies.

---