Pecos River Plastic Rolling Stock

Mark,I don't have any myself,but they've got some nice looking stuff. I'm into 1985-2015,but there was a day when I'd have went crazy for those B&O/C&O boxcars they have listed on ebay.

What little I was told about them,is they're no longer in production.

Hope this helps.

Al Hummel

I have bought a bunch of 3R on ebay for 15-20ea through the years. I weathered (sold) and kept a few for my collection.

Truck side lettering is stamped on the metal, very nice as no one else ever did that feature.

Don't care for the chunky grab irons.

These "O" cars are slightly wider in size than anything else produced.

The door guides will scrape tunnel walls on 042 curves in which I had to sand down the foam a bit.

Photos of them on the link below. Not sure which album they are in?

 

S. 

These are nice cars that have a level of detail comparable to Atlas Trainman or the early MTH Premier freight cars that were tooled in the 1990s.  Unlike many  O scale efforts from smaller companies these cars have good quality diecast trucks and reliable (3 rail) couplers.

 

There are three variations of 50 foot boxcars. They all have Murphy rectangular panel roofs and dreadnought end(s) typical of AAR style cars built from the late 1930s until the mid 40s.  They would fit on a layout set into the 1970s or early 80s, even later if you restrict them to company service.

 

The most common variation appears to be the double door boxcar. Several road names are available.

 

The single door boxcar is the only plastic model available for a late 30s to mid 40s built single door 50 footer.  I have one in Erie.

 

There is also a version with opening A end doors.  They latch differently than the Lionel automobile boxcar but function nicely and look great.  If you find one of the models with end door I'd grab it.

On another note:

For some reason no one else in the industry made a plastic SINGLE DOOR 50 foot AAR like these.

Very common style car in RR history but MTH and others never marketed any.

Just another potential sales over site by others I guess?

Definitely worth buying. All the ones I have bought all came with Atlas Trucks. Ted is right the DD is common, Single door is hard to come by. The Pecos River also made kits, if you don't mind building kits. I have also bought these. mounting Kadees are an issue but easily over come. The kits come with Kadee mounts the screw into the metal frame.

I have a few cars that I bought direct from Pecos John in the 3 rail version.  I think that his cars are very well done and were ahead of some of the products that came out afterwards.

 

Norm

I bought a total of seven of them, the four Santa Fes, the KCS, and two Burlington single doors.  Never paid over $25.00 for any of them.  Great value .

Regards,

GNNPNUT

I don't care for the look of the PRB 50' cars when mixed in a train of brass and plastic cars with finer details.  IMO today's modeling standards are generally higher than when Pecos River cars were tooled in the 1990's.  At the Chicago show there were several large stacks of PRB 50' box cars offered at heavily discounted prices(lower than eBay) - and the stacks didn't appear to be going down.  Buy one at a relatively low price and judge for yourself if you want any more.

 

Ed Rappe

 

 

What vender and can you get contact info?

Sorry - can't help you with a vender as I was in the "observing" vice buying mode for PSC box cars.   I headed home yesterday afternoon otherwise if I were in the hall today I'd get you an address. Typically the lowest prices were from small basement operators.  The lowest price I saw was $20 with several dealers asking $25.

 

Ed Rappe

Ed

 

I thought I would ask. Thanks

I agree with Ed's response but, then, I don't think John was trying to compete with Intermountain, hoping that there was a market for a less detailed, sturdier but still accurate car.  The one thing I very much appreciate about the cars is that they have brackets cast on for uncoupling levers, saving a pita process one has to go through with IM and Lionel cars.

 

Allan

This has all been most helpful; please feel free to keep the opinions coming!

 

Mark in Oregon

Mark, I think the best way to describe the Pecos River 50' cars is that they are 50-foot versions of the old Atlas boxcars from the 70's but with more weight and better trucks.  I have about 10 of them and they operate well without parts falling off or breaking like Intermountain cars.

That's pretty much the type of comparision I'm looking for. Thanks.

 

Mark in Oregon

I have a couple and I have no complaints. I think I even used 1 of them for a Kadee coupler conversion on my YouTube Channel.

Ted is right the DD is common, Single door is hard to come by.

 

Actually, the CB&Q and Erie single door boxcars are still available through the Public Delivery Track.  They have SP, NYC and ATSF double door cars too.  The end door automobile cars are very hard to find. 

 

http://www.publicdeliverytrack.com/other-1/

 

I have a couple of the 50ft boxcars,  very Atlas like to me,  trucks are good quality.  I would recommend them,  price wise very good buy these days.............

 

Mark