Anyone know when these coaches were used? Thanks!!
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Suggest you use the information on this site: http://prr.railfan.net/diagrams/
Gerry posted:Anyone know when these coaches were used? Thanks!!
To answer your question, coaches of this style were used in the 1870s - 1880s. They are open vestibule. Vestibules started becoming partially enclosed in the late 1880s and were generally fully enclosed by the turn of the century.
(As an aside, some folks will try to tell you that open observation platforms on these older cars didn't exist--but don't buy that. There were observation cars with open platforms going back at least until the 1880s.)
The Pennsy started building steel cars a little after 1900. Part of the reason was that wooden cars would not be allowed in the tunnels into NYC because of potential fire hazard. I don't know when the last ones phased out.
You are probably good using them in a time frame prior to WW I (1914-1918). After that you might still see them on branch locals or some such.
This is worth some research. the PRRT&HS has a website and may have a place for questions and answers.
Some went into MOW service.
Attempting to run them behind a prototypical engine. I own an Atlantic, two H-10 Consolidations, a G-5, an A-5 and a set of BB-1 rats. Guessing the Atlantic, A-5 and BB-1s are the most correct...maybe as these cars were being phased out?
Let me know your thoughts...thank you.
Several of the Strasburg Railroad's open platform coaches came from the Boston and Maine where (I was told years ago) , they were still in commuter service into the 1950s. Strasburg maintains them in immaculate condition. If I remember correctly, these cars have B&M cast into their truck sideframes. So depending on how you think about them, some are still in everyday service, but all steel cars certainly became the norm after the early part of the 20th century.
Joe
I'm on board with you guys on these great looking cars.
My B&O's run with both my MTH and Lionel Atlantics. While my Ma & Pa's, thanks VInce's Trains, look good running behind my MTH Pennsy H10, which hopefully will sport Ma & Pa livery after some time at JDS!
>>Several of the Strasburg Railroad's open platform coaches came from the Boston and Maine where (I was told years ago) , they were still in commuter service into the 1950s
..AND many of those trains were hauled by 4-4-0's! In a quantum leap of technology, all were were replaced by RDC's.
Yes, yes, an argument can be made that they are still in operation today. But they were built in the 1870s and 1880s, and would look best being pulled by a 4-4-0 or 4-6-0--the time period where they were predominate--although you are certainly entitled to run them behind whatever you like!
While I don't have MTW woodside cars but I do have a three car scratch built train of open platform coaches that look pretty good behind an MTH 4-4-0. OP coaches were actually built into 1911(Ma & Pa). There are modern contemporary OP coaches built to copy narrow gauge cars on the Durango & Silverton and White Pass & Yukon tourist lines.
I stopped by Strasburg for a few minutes today and watched No. 90, their 2-10-0, returning with a seven car train at least three of which were wooden open platform coaches. Looked great to me.
Joe
Odd-d posted:OP coaches were actually built into 1911(Ma & Pa).
These were outliers. They were already being phased out in the 1890s.
According to Strasburg's online roster, the Boston & Maine open platform coaches were built from 1896 to 1910. Their Maryland & Pennsylvania coach was constructed in 1913.
That may be so, but the majority of open platform coaches in the country were build prior to the turn of the century.
Hey Steve, you old grouch. Old time equipment just kept rollin' on until they couldn't be used. I think it was B&M that used OP coaches in commuter service into the fifties. Besides it's his railroad let him have fun with it. Are you still firing on steam locos? ODD-D
