I've been around model railroading for decades, but only into O for the last few years. I've always known traditional or steel passenger cars to be referred to as "heavyweights" as opposed to the more modern "lightweight" cars. But in O-Gauge circles heavyweight cars are referred to as "Madison" passenger cars. Why is that? Can someone fill me in on the history of the name? Just curious. Thanks.
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I think O gaugers got caught up in the terminology because of the years of the Pre/postwar Lionel cars being called Madisons, so everybody incorrectly continued calling cars of the heavyweight style "Madisons" even if not the ones made by Lionel. I think MTH even calls their cars Madisons, even the scale sized ones.
So it began with Lionel, but why did Lionel use the name Madison?
BTW, I am a passenger train fan - IMO the prettiest sight in railroading is a steam locomotive pulling a sting of heavyweights, or Madisons, no matter what the name!
I copied this directly from the internet………As an attempt to answer your question only…….
THE MADISON COACH CARS
The Madison Coach Cars were first released in 1946, and aside from the Sheet Metal Cars, they would be the only heavy-weight cars Lionel would offer during post-war years. During the first year of production Lionel would issue this car with only the No. 2625 and the IRVINGTON name painted on the sides.
Collectors have designated these the MADISON cars to distinguish them from their pre-war predecessors. In 1947 Lionel would offer three different names, but they all would bear the No. 2625.
Starting in 1948, Lionel would assign the No. 2627 to the MADISON car, and No. 2628 to the MANHATTAN car.
These cars are all made out of BLACK bakelite and would be painted TUSCAN with WHITE lettering. A premium today is paid for paint that is un-marred by chips or flaking paint. The vestibule ends were made out of sheet metal and the doors opened. They had a spring to hold them in the normally closed position. However, these springs are often broken.
As with the majority of the prototype equipment, Lionel equipped these cars with six wheel trucks. The center axle on each truck has the wheel flanges removed to negotiate their tight 31 inch diameter curved O Gauge track.
In their last year of production in 1950, Lionel would install window inserts with people silhouettes. These cars became more desirable than the earlier cars with plain inserts. Reproductions of people silhouetted inserts have been available for many years and collectors have retro-fitted many of the earlier cars with these window inserts.
What ever window inserts are in these cars, those that have excellent or better paint are highly sought after by collectors today.
Hope this helps…...
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