Polar Express Bell as a load/ Photo

You got me to thinking.  Why not use a Mint car?  Remove the gold load

and put a bell in each window.

I bought a bunch of these bells at the Lionel open house in Ohio this past August, and I was also thinking about hanging them on a frame over a flat car in such a way that they can hit each other.  Don't know how good it will sound, but it should be a fun little project.

Andy

Seems like Lionel is thinking of the same idea, as this item has been on their shipping list for a while now.

That's a great idea. Tie it down with thin ribbon instead of chain and you're good to go.

Ed h where did you see that item?  I can't find it on the Lionel web site.

POTRZBE, thought it was just me, I can't find it either.

Jerry

Lionel Products Shipping schedule

One of the products is:

But it doesn't show up in any of the searches including the Advanced Search.

6-81117 The Polar Express Flatcar with Silver Bell gives you:

http://www.lionel.com/Products/Finder/SearchResults.cfm?doAction=search&Keywords=6-81117+The+Polar+Express+

Flatcar+with+Silver+Bell+&CategoryID=&Gauge=&RailLineID

=&CatalogID=&CollectionID=&searchWithin=Current

Or just the number 6-81117:

http://www.lionel.com/Products/Finder/

SearchResults.cfm?doAction=search&Keywords=6-81117+&CategoryID=&Gauge=&RailLineID=&CatalogID=&

CollectionID=&searchWithin=Current

What catalog is it supposed to be in?

Jerry

Beats me, I just did a Google search for the number and followed it down to the source.

So far the Lionel silver bell car shows up only in their shipping schedule, along with these other 2 items:

Maybe a very late 2013 annoucement or perhaps a LRRC club offering ?

Looks like I wasn't the only one who thinks this is a good idea.  Now I need to come up with a de-ressed flat car.

I was picturing the bell swinging from a frame on the flat car so it might ring occasionaly.

Anyone good a sketching out some plans ?

Doug

Seems as though I have a Hallmark ornament PE bell that plays a line from (Santa, I think) the movie when touched. This idea could take off. 

The swinging bell sounds hazardous. How about something like an IBC (interbox connector) PlasTruct beams?

I have started on the frame work so thought I'd post a couple pictures.  It still needs sanding and painting.

Other than the PE colors blue and dk red,  please offer suggestions on what to paint which color.

It is a "special car" of the type constructed by railroads for a specific use from an existing car or from scratch. The color can be whatever suits you. It doesn't need to be of the standard livery. Only the numbering and such should be in keeping with the rr's scheme.

Nice rendition. It looks fine in red. Detailing the lumber will have a greater visual impact. That's my 2¢.

Edit: Perhaps "North Pole Forge" as a special shipping car in their livery.

Add snow to the entire car. 

A little paint added.

Very neat little project.

Here is Lionel's version:

http://www.lionelstore.com/lrr...ilver-bell-lrrc.html

A super project and looks fun to pull around the Pike!!

Thanks for the compliments ,  it was a fun project to make.

Matt,  yes it does swing freely,  I left about 1/4"  at the bottom.

Boomer, that looks great. 

Another idea I had was to unscrew the center beam of a center beam flatcar then fabricate another beam from which one could hang the bell...

redrockbill

The flat car is an old Lionel.    After seeing a picture of the Lionel bell car I have to agree wIth you.  It doesn't  look like they put any thought into design.

quote:

It doesn't  look like they put any thought into design.

You can say that again!

quote:

It doesn't  look like they put any thought into design.

Shades of "Greenie-stick'em-a-windows", how do they keep that bell from rolling off?
Of course, everyone who believes in "the Emperor's new clothes" will be eating these things up.

Boomer, that blue paint makes a world of difference!

Boomer, fantastic looking car. Makes Lionel's version look puny, anemic and "cheap" in comparison. I'm cwertain many on forum would appreciate and benefit from you posting detailed plans for construction of the bell frame (detailed blue prints with sizes, materials used for construction, paint manufacturer and colors used as well as specific model # and manufacturer of the depressed flatbed.

BTW, have you thought of possibly custom building your version of this car for fellow forum members who are into the PE but not adept or savy enough to build their own version?

Again, very nicely done.

Kenn

Thanks Kenn,

First off,  I want to thank Keith S. in Edmond, Ok.  for donating this depressed flat car to me for this project.  There in no model # on the car,  it's just an older Lionel.

Blueprints ???  It started on a napkin in Dairy Queen over a Frosty.  Then to my printshop program where I could put some lines together.  You'll laugh when you see it.

The frame is 1/4" X 1/4" stock from Lowe's.

The paint is from Michaels,  acrylic by Americanna;

Blue is Night Sky  with some black added

Red is Dark Scarlet  with some black added ( car has been repainted with this color 

The truck frames are;  Testors Silver

Also,  I found a mini Miter Box with saw at JoAnn's  for about $16. and with a 50% coupon I couldn't pass it up.  It was very helpful and well worth it.

Here is a picture of my "Blueprint"  LOL

Hey thats looks great! Thanks for sharing!

The bell depressed flatcar car & the animated 10th. Anniv. Billboard is available to LRRC members and is shown in the new issue of the Inside track.

Pat

My Polar Express bell car came today.  They made a cheap plastic insert to

fit in the bottom of the flat car to hold the bell.  

How about a few pictures of it ?

Doug, That sounds like a great idea. The pictures also look VERY GOOD. Thanks for sharing the idea and pictures.