Lionel Burlington Northern passenger cars

Check out Scale City Designs

scalecitydesigns.com

Here is one of the parts they offer:  48-103 CENTER MOUNT PASSENGER CAR ANTENNA SUPPORTS 

MojaveMike, Please post pics of your BN cars. Thanks!

Just received the 4-pack of BN cars last night.  Haven’t opened them yet.....on 12 hour shifts at work until Friday night.  I can post photos on Saturday.  Found some brass antenna mounts by Cal Scale, ordered them from P&D.  Still haven’t had time to look into scale wheels for these, but it looks like NWSL 36” wheels #18278-4 look about right for the Lionel E-8 axles.  I’ll doublecheck that tonight before ordering.  

I have  the UP excursion set. It's very nice. I even did a mini-review, but the thread got locked after some people started flaming each other and got off-topic. While I still live in both the 2-rail and 3-rail world, I'm switching them over to Kadees and looking to switch to scale wheels. Thinking about using rechargeable batteries in the baggage car to power the lights and generator sounds. Any recommendation on replacement scale wheels?

Matt, Looking to do the same for the UP Excursion set I bought as well.  Kadees were fairly easy after I threw away that adapter piece.  I simply removed the claw and mounted the Kadee right on the piece of plastic that held in the kinematic claw coupler.  I marked the hole for the kadee and then drilled and tapped for 2-56.  Works great and provides perfect close coupling at the correct height, no further shims or adapters required.

Mike DeBerg posted:

Matt, Looking to do the same for the UP Excursion set I bought as well.  Kadees were fairly easy after I threw away that adapter piece.  I simply removed the claw and mounted the Kadee right on the piece of plastic that held in the kinematic claw coupler.  I marked the hole for the kadee and then drilled and tapped for 2-56.  Works great and provides perfect close coupling at the correct height, no further shims or adapters required.

Hey Mike, could you go into a little more detail on what you did? So you did not use the included kadee mounting pad? 

Mike DeBerg posted:

Matt, Looking to do the same for the UP Excursion set I bought as well.  Kadees were fairly easy after I threw away that adapter piece.  I simply removed the claw and mounted the Kadee right on the piece of plastic that held in the kinematic claw coupler.  I marked the hole for the kadee and then drilled and tapped for 2-56.  Works great and provides perfect close coupling at the correct height, no further shims or adapters required.

My suspicion is that the mounting hardware was for use with the hi-rail wheelsets in place. I'd like to install 36" scale wheels but I'm not sure which ones to use.

I’m checking the NWSL website.  The 3 kits that look promising are 18250-4, 18288-4, and 18274-4, depending what type of axle is used (and if the axle diameter matches as well as Shoulder, pointed, or flush ends.   But I hope to re-use the Lionel axles, particularly with that motion flywheel in the diner car.  I’ll check when I get home.

My experience has been to use the NWSL axles. Have not had any problems with Lionel trucks.

Looking at the passenger car trucks, it appears the sideframe screws mount from the top where the floor is, so it appears the body has to come off to get access.  I can’t tell if the axles are pointed or shouldered.  They definitely are not flush.  Maybe someone who already has theirs apart can advise.  Looking at my Sunset E-8’s, the wheels look unusually small.....the same diameter as the passenger truck wheels.  Gonna have to take them apart and measure with my caliper to see if they really are scale 36” in diameter.  

Surefire posted:

Mike DeBerg posted:

Matt, Looking to do the same for the UP Excursion set I bought as well.  Kadees were fairly easy after I threw away that adapter piece.  I simply removed the claw and mounted the Kadee right on the piece of plastic that held in the kinematic claw coupler.  I marked the hole for the kadee and then drilled and tapped for 2-56.  Works great and provides perfect close coupling at the correct height, no further shims or adapters required.

Hey Mike, could you go into a little more detail on what you did? So you did not use the included kadee mounting pad? 

Sure.  Absolutely did not use the adapter that came with the car. 

Took these quick photos but should help explain.

Mojave Mike posted:

Looking at the passenger car trucks, it appears the sideframe screws mount from the top where the floor is, so it appears the body has to come off to get access.  I can’t tell if the axles are pointed or shouldered.  They definitely are not flush.  Maybe someone who already has theirs apart can advise.  Looking at my Sunset E-8’s, the wheels look unusually small.....the same diameter as the passenger truck wheels.  Gonna have to take them apart and measure with my caliper to see if they really are scale 36” in diameter.  

MM, I'm with you.  Once I open them up and place some passengers, do a little more detailing on the inside I will replace the wheelsets.

Okay, I’ve received all 7 of my BN passenger cars.  Forgive the poor quallity photos....a cameraman I’m not.  With the exception of the flimsy antenna mounts on the diner and coupler hardware unpackaged with one car, I’ve experienced no problems and noted no defects.  I’ve  fitted all the cars with Kadee couplers but no scale wheels yet.  The Lionel scale wheelset I ordered for another project will not work in these trucks as these trucks have all metal frames and the Lionel scale wheelsets are insulted in the middle of the axle instead of on one wheel hub.  Been checking NWSL 33” wheels online and they just might work.  I plan to order some 36” wheels for the locomotives as well.  The only change I’ve made so far is to paint the rooftop rotary beacon orange on the powered unit.  I have the P&D pilots but so far I’m too nervous about cutting into these locomotives.  

I’m an even worse videographer.   These are placed on my two-rail layout..... I ran a piece of scrap rail under the locomitves to supply power to the rollers.  The powered unit gives off good smoke, the dummy unit just gives off light wafts (despite the sound of fans running inside).  Maybe needs more fluid.  I still haven’t figured out the diner sounds.  With my standard controller all I get is klunks and wheel squeal.  Guess its time to purchase a Legacy system.  

Mike, Looks like a great set of cars and locomotives.  Are you planning to convert the locomotives as well to 2R operation?

Yes.  All the stats I found say these used 36” wheels, but the diameter on the tinplate wheel tread looks considerably larger.  My Sunset E8’s have the smaller wheels.  I’m pondering my options now.  Will probably need some fiber or plastic washers to help insulation on one side as well as limit wheel slop.  Cutting into the pilot for the P&D replacements will be the scary part.