Any interest in 3rd rail bringing back the PRR P54's?

And with a few modifications they would appeal to LIRR fans also.

Yes I would consider some accurate non electrified o scale prr versions of the coaches to pull with my E6 Atlantic and K4s. I think the portholes on the ends provide interesting design elements. I wonder if a ggd heavyweight mail/baggage car would be out of place in the consist.

I would like a set of these cars.  They would work well with the G5.

Norm

A couple of York's ago Scott and Robert Heil asked what projects I would like to see 3rdRail/GGD do.  I said the P54s as they had done them in brass along with the MP54s and already had most of the technical documentation.    I got a nod of interest.

We also discussed the open frame, 3-tier auto carriers of the 1960s.  The only model we were aware of was the brass kit produced by Avid Anderson.

Jan

We also discussed the open frame, 3-tier auto carriers of the 1960s.  The only model we were aware of was the brass kit produced by Avid Anderson.

Jan

As well as the numerous two and three deck Quality Craft kits.

I guess scott could try an announcement and see if there was enough interest.   Unfortunately, there always seems to be a few of them available at O scale trains shows.    I wonder if there is much interest since the brass still seem to be available.

Another point is that these were commuter cars.   I don't think they were ever used much in long distance service.    For me and from a prototype view, this is not a problem.    Commuter trains were much more common around the cities that the blue ribbon fleet.    However, many modelers seem to want to reproduce the famous name trains.

On a side note, I have seen a reference to the last time a P54 ran in the Pittsburgh area and the date was quite late.    Does anyone have any information on the use of P54 in the Pittsburgh area.

This brass model of Long Island Railroad P54 #178 by Sunset/3^rd Rail is the finest passenger car model that I own. Very heavy and the trucks are outstanding. If produced again, I think they probably would be done in plastic. Sixteen inches in length.

MELGAR

I would be very interested in a set in PRSL livery.  I have the larger P70 (80') GGD cars, I have had the Lionel cars and the Atlas cars (sold them) and have the PRSL MTH Madison cars.  Always looking for better quality.  I'm in!

@MELGAR posted:

This brass model of Long Island Railroad P54 #178 by Sunset/3^rd Rail is the finest passenger car model that I own. Very heavy and the trucks are outstanding. If produced again, I think they probably would be done in plastic. Sixteen inches in length.

MELGAR

I have seen other photos of the Sunset P54 cars and they have captured my interest. I don't model the long distance PRR passenger trains only because I don't have wide enough curves and enough straight areas on my layout to display the P70 cars to get the full impact of those great cars. Thanks for posting your photos.

Personally, I'd prefer a set of MP54s.  I have the Lionel MP54 set which is not terrible that I have plans to convert to 2 rail, but if offered properly as a 2 rail model I'd likely abandon those plans.

@GG1 4877 posted:

Personally, I'd prefer a set of MP54s.  I have the Lionel MP54 set which is not terrible that I have plans to convert to 2 rail, but if offered properly as a 2 rail model I'd likely abandon those plans.

I have compared photos of the Sunset version and Lionel and can see rivet details is a little different but the the window and trucks placement seem to be the same but the window size is difficult to compare. How do your Lionel cars stack up scalewise, dimensionally and window and rivet placement.

I would love to see 3rd Rail do the LIRR MP70 double deckers.

@chris lepore posted:

I would love to see 3rd Rail do the LIRR MP70 double deckers.

The double-deckers are something for which I would pay a premium. I rode them on the LIRR as a youngster.

MELGAR

@pennsynut posted:

I have compared photos of the Sunset version and Lionel and can see rivet details is a little different but the the window and trucks placement seem to be the same but the window size is difficult to compare. How do your Lionel cars stack up scalewise, dimensionally and window and rivet placement.

That is an excellent question and one I'll need to look into.  I bought the set from a friend who no longer had any use for them and they went straight into storage for "future planning".  I'll need to get a car out and look it for accuracy.  They certainly feel proportional, but until I pull out a scale, I can't be sure.

3rdRail did tbhe MP54s in brass about the same decade they did the P54s.  Has anyone compared the Lionel, K-Line, and Railking MP54s?

Jan

I would go for a set of Erie and PRR.

George

@Jan posted:

3rdRail did tbhe MP54s in brass about the same decade they did the P54s.  Has anyone compared the Lionel, K-Line, and Railking MP54s?

Jan

I have no familiarity with the RK MP54s, but had both sets of the K-Line versions.  The 18" cars, while nicely done are not at all accurate.  They are based on the Pacific Electric cars if I recall correctly.  They are 8' too long scale wise.  I sold that set years ago.  The 15" K-Line set is closer at 60' scale feet, but proportionately the cars are slightly undersized.  I still have that set, but it will be sold when I get around to it.  It is not a bad set and even has some basic sound, but it does not accurately reflect the MP54.  As I mentioned above, Lionel appears to have done a fairly decent job with the detailing and has come the closest in the plastic world of O scale, but I really need to compare mine.

In the brass world, Custom Brass did some gorgeous cars in 2 rail O, but they are not easy to come by and often pricey.  I don't see the Sunset Brass MP54s come up very often at all.

This is the set I was referring two.  It is a two car "interurban" set.

K-Line 15" K-27802

A cute little set, just doesn't fit with my needs anymore.

@Jan posted:

3rdRail did tbhe MP54s in brass about the same decade they did the P54s.  Has anyone compared the Lionel, K-Line, and Railking MP54s?

Jan

I can tell you that only 3rd Rail has the correct truck sideframes.

FWIW, during my web research about these cars, I came across a topic "mP54 vs P54 was mPBM54?" . I found it interesting how particular car designations were formulated.

@GG1 4877 posted:

This is the set I was referring two.  It is a two car "interurban" set.

K-Line 15" K-27802

A cute little set, just doesn't fit with my needs anymore.

Thanks for the response.  

Asked Scott a long time ago to redo these in LIRR 1960’s paint scheme— still hoping I’d buy  them in a heartbeat

LIRR yes!

I would be very interested in the GGD ABS version of the cars (PRR) especially if the same design trucks (for me 3 rail) were made. But in the meantime, has anyone measured the length, width and height of the Lionel and Mth models to see if they are dimensionally accurate? The Lionel and MTH versions seem pretty close from photos. Wondering about the quality and how they operate.

These are spectacular cars that I’d love to see reissued.  The working drop plate in the vestibule to use the stairs is such a nice touch. As others have noted, these things weigh a ton.

Does anyone with the Sunset P54s know how to open there up? I have some little people to install, but the 8 screws on the underbody don’t seem to loosen anything. Doesn’t seem like this is a car with the removable roof either. Scott said the drawings weren’t 3D for these, so wasn’t able to get any info there.