Passenger cars

I have a G scale Durango and Silverton on my ceiling  layout.   I say whatever you want works.   

Well, you'd probably want something that stands out, maybe the SP Daylight or perhaps the Milwaukee Road Hiawatha.  A cool idea if you can fit it in is to add a single switch and a siding.  That way you can have two trains and alternate occasionally which one runs.

I think just about every 3 rail passenger car will run on 072 including 21" cars. I would limit it to 18" cars though due to the excessive overhang which will be more evident depending on your shelf width. If you want cars with interiors then later (post 2000) MTH, Lionel and K-Line 18" have them. Williams and early big three cars have silhouettes. All of the heavyweights are plastic. Lionel and K-Line streamliners are metal which many like as it replicates the prototypes much better but the lighter plastic MTH cars will allow for longer trains. There are a ton out there,  just take your time and check them all out.

Pete

  Some of the cheaper plastic trucks have a lower quality roller system. The plunger type on baby Madison's is my nemesis. I think any roller on a swing arm is superior.

The metal cars look great, but older stuff is especially heavy for pulling. It's a trade off between the types.

I think Madisons cover the widest era, looking right behind anything; but you can't beat a dome car.

Get a night light ready so you can see your controls in the dark .

There's nothing more elegant than the '38 20th century. But as John says, a siding holding the Empire State Express would certainly be dramatic.

On 72 curves even the longest cars will work...if it is up that high detail won't be a concern.  When you do buy something, I would recommend that you buy a set all at one time so that the train matches.  Also, if you have a theme for your other layout, you may want to purchase this passenger set to fit your theme.  My guess is that sooner or later, you will want to see this train better and run it on your layout.

I like the Rail-King and MTH passenger cars with detail interior. I buy people from a ebayer called "wehonest_cn" from japan. I have to cut there feet off but you can get like 50 for less than $15 including shipping if you watch and bid on her stuff instead of doing the buy it now. I see 30 for $14.99 but that's a buy it now price she will list the other way off and on but make sure your bidding/buying the seated ones. She has standing and also mix. I also only put in about 20 per car as it's not normal to see every seat full. 

Been involved in several high on the wall / ceiling layouts.  Speaking as a died in the wool  0 scaler, 0 equipment gets lost that far up/away.  Remember to see that high one needs to stand further back.  Especially older sore neck people.

I would go G scale only.

My HO neighbor was going to do a 0 gauge ceiling loop but switched to G for the same reason. 

Years ago when still in residential contracting, we did an oval recessed tray ceiling to feature a customers trains around the inner lip.   The overall job was  really slick!  Very impressive.  However it was rather disappointing because the client was running an 0 gauge Big Boy powered train.  The train thing kinda turned out to be a minor accent to the ceiling job.

The stores which run ceiling trains,  did you ever see anything but an G gauge train?  I only know of one.

Sometimes the length of a passenger train depends on how much your transformer output is. I would use a transformer of at least 100 watts because of having lighted passenger cars.

I like the Atlas 21 inch Amtrak passenger cars, very well detailed, but don't have the room to run them on my layout.

Lee Fritz