Modeling Chicago Transit

[mlrr]

So it looks like the Superliners are actually a couple of inches taller than the gallery cars. Thanks for posting those figures electricon. Where did you get them? I've been looking all over the web for these because I was hoping that it was just my missing something but prototype photos were telling a different story.

The Superliners are not meant to be coupled with the Gallery cars. The end vestibules of the gallery cars I believe line up with those of single-level equipment but I need confirmation on this.

I used the Superliner simply as a basis for comparison, nothing more. I should have pulled one of my PS Commuter Coaches out of storage for the photos instead of a Superliner as that might have been more appropriate (I still will if anyone requests this but I believe the initial point I was trying to make has been validated by subsequent posts). I do know that from past observations, that the scale models of the Superliners are slightly taller than the PS Commuter Cars. I assume that METRA sticks with a certain cross-section in their design specs when it comes to new cars because I believe all of their bi-level equipment has the same profile.

I did my due diligence as a modeler and regular IMW customer when I first noticed the problem by contacting IMW but I don't know if any time had been set aside to actually look into it for the mere fact that there's allot of stuff on their plate as it is. I also followed up with an inquiry about the Milwaukee cars as at that point, I was only willing to consider them if they mixed in with the cars I already had, otherwise it wouldn't be worth it (for me) to make the additional investment (especially on my tight budget).

Hopefully this discovery and discussion will help IMW to correct whatever is causing the issue if it ends up translating through to the Milwaukee version before the product goes live.

Here are a few photos showing the prototypical relationship between the F40 and Gallery Cars:
http://railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?i ... 7&nseq=226

http://railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?i ... 1&nseq=263

http://railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?i ... 2&nseq=719 This is probably the best (my new favorite). I was looking for another one but this is a perfect profile shot of the two.

This shows the prototype PS Commuter Coach mixed in with different variants of the Gallery Cars. As you can see the rooflines appear to match up evenly:
http://railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?i ... 9&nseq=256

[electricron]

So it looks like the Superliners are actually a couple of inches taller than the gallery cars. Thanks for posting those figures electricon. Where did you get them? I've been looking all over the web for these because I was hoping that it was just my missing something but prototype photos were telling a different story.

Here are the sources I used:
Galley
http://www.nipponsharyousa.com/products ... mu2005.htm
Superliner
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superliner_(railcar)
F40PH-2C
http://www.thedieselshop.us/Data%20MP%20F40PH-2C.HTML

[justalurker66]

Here are the sources I used:
Galley
http://www.nipponsharyousa.com/products ... mu2005.htm

That is the EMU (for the MED) but the diesel line cab cars/trailers have the same overall dimensions.
http://www.nipponsharyousa.com/products ... pc2002.htm

byte or jetfan ... can you check the schematics used and see what they said?

[Tadman]

@MLRR, I've never seen Galleries coupled to Superliners. However, there are plenty of photos of CNW and BN trains with gallery cars coupled to single-level coaches - they ran that way and still do (one train/day on UP-North). The Gallery car is effectively a single-level car with an afterthough second floor, while the Superliner is effectively a very tall coach with an afterthought "basement".

[mlrr]

@MLRR, I've never seen Galleries coupled to Superliners. However, there are plenty of photos of CNW and BN trains with gallery cars coupled to single-level coaches - they ran that way and still do (one train/day on UP-North). The Gallery car is effectively a single-level car with an afterthough second floor, while the Superliner is effectively a very tall coach with an afterthought "basement".

Agreed!

I used the Superliner because it is a bi-level passenger car and from seeing the prototypes in person, knew they should be close in height. I actually have PS Bi-Level Commuter coaches from Walthers in storage. I should have used those as a reference for my photos instead. I wasn't thinking and I'm kicking myself for not having thought of it before.

**If anyone wants to see these comparison photos with the Walthers Ex-CNW cars as well, let me know and I'll pull them out**

That's a good way of summarizing the difference between the Gallery car concept and Superliner concept. I never thought of articulating it that way before.

Thanks for confirming whether or not the Gallery cars are capable of coupling with single level equipment.

[dinwitty]

You could couple the 2 together, but I would have to get my mountain climbing gear on to go between cars... 8-D


note that the Rivarrossi equipment for HO was built closer to the OO scale than HO, this actually makes compromise for the deeper flanges to get a correct scaling, its a difference you just don't notice unless you drag out the rulers.

If the gallery cars in question are off an inch or so I won't have any serious complaints. If it fits in the NMRA clearances, fine, but you do want correct heights if your running say the IMW cars and then the Walthers and Katos all together in one train and you notice height differences between the cars. But you know how different manufacturers go, they are on their own realms, so differences happen.

We' will have to watch and see if IMW can do something if its serious or asthetically the thing to do to get an oddball measurement tweaked. He's probably made the casting for the line, a tweak would actually mean making a new casting and trashing the bad one. I think he is careful worker with a lot of credit behind his mad skilz.

[CSS803]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ErlonAK2_Rg

[metraRI]

Something new from Kato, sadly these are in N scale... I may have to switch.
http://www.katousa.com/N/SS-Bilevel/index.html

[metraRI]

Another new product in N scale from Kato.. this time they have decided to model the Schaumburg station. Another benefit of having a modeling company based in the Chicago area.
http://www.katousa.com/images/31-650.jpg

[JamesT4]

Another new product in N scale from Kato.. this time they have decided to model the Schaumburg station. Another benefit of having a modeling company based in the Chicago area.
http://www.katousa.com/images/31-650.jpg

Thats look good, but I wished they did it in HO scale, since that the scale I model, but I may have to try N scale thou.

Wonder what other Chicago models Kato will do.

[metraRI]

For those who have been waiting, and waiting, and waiting for True Line Trains to release the Metra MP36... its almost here:


https://fbcdn-sphotos-h-a.akamaihd.net/ ... 9077_o.jpg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
* "Ollie" unit is 401, not 427, and will be fixed by release.

[NicholasLEby]

Wish there was more activity in this forum! Any updates on new models, layouts, etc? Working on a website centered on Modeling Metra, anyone want to share pictures of their layouts?

[dinwitty]

I keep my eyes on this forum, working on my layout.