Polar Express Combo Car - Footprints Backwards?

If you're a tinkerer.

@herewegOagain, can you provide Lionel's product number so that we can try looking up an exploded parts list to check if this is possible -- assuming they've put the list online?

Mike

@Grampstrains posted:

It isn't that hard to unscrew it and turn it around.

It is, unfortunately. The window printing is not bi-directional, and the roof/window lining is molded as a single piece. Tried that. Haha!

@Mellow Hudson Mike posted:

If you're a tinkerer.

@herewegOagain, can you provide Lionel's product number so that we can try looking up an exploded parts list to check if this is possible -- assuming they've put the list online?

Mike

6-83249 but didn’t have any luck on the Lionel site.

@Grampstrains posted:

I think I'm wrong on those cars.  I roof snaps in.  There are a couple of windows on each side that are thicker that the others.  You have to push them in and pull the top up.

Yeah that’s correct. Popped them out hoping I could rotate, then realized the window printing issue, so assumed the roof screws onto the window, but then realized all one piece. I have to assume it’s an oversight from Lionel but seems really silly!

You have a rare factory error!

You are correct. I added one to mine a few years and noticed the same thing.  I'm no expert on combine cars, but I would think the baggage portion would make sense to face forward, especially if you already have one of the baggage cars in your consist.  I tried to look at reversing the roof, but I don't think it will work.

Rob

@robmcc posted:

You are correct. I added one to mine a few years and noticed the same thing.  I'm no expert on combine cars, but I would think the baggage portion would make sense to face forward, especially if you already have one of the baggage cars in your consist.  I tried to look at reversing the roof, but I don't think it will work.

Rob

Okay this is exactly what I was looking for. Just making sure I didn’t get a one-off error. It’s insane that they missed this, but considering it’s LionChief and the intended audience, I can only expect so much I guess. Just suuuuper un-prototypical (if you can really use that in this example lol) to run baggage in trail, especially when behind a full-on baggage car. Oh well! Thanks!

Turn it around, put it ahead of the baggage car, and put jail cell bars on the windows.

@Dtrainmaster posted:

Turn it around, put it ahead of the baggage car, and put jail cell bars on the windows.

🤣 excellent

If you're worried about it being "backwards", prototypically, don't worry. Prototypically there was no combine (or baggage service) on the Polar Express.

@Magicland posted:

If you're worried about it being "backwards", prototypically, don't worry. Prototypically there was no combine (or baggage service) on the Polar Express.

Hard to find any "prototypical" references to the Polar Express.

@Magicland posted:

If you're worried about it being "backwards", prototypically, don't worry. Prototypically there was no combine (or baggage service) on the Polar Express.

Haha touché. 🤣

@gunrunnerjohn posted:

Hard to find any "prototypical" references to the Polar Express.

Haha I cringed as I typed it.

Building on my earlier idea, you don't need the bars, just make a sign under the window area with:
"Coal Recipients"
or
"They Didn't Hear the Bell"
etc.

@herewegOagain posted:

Haha I cringed as I typed it.

I find it hard to resist a target that large!

@gunrunnerjohn posted:

I find it hard to resist a target that large!

Woulda done the same! 😄

@Dtrainmaster posted:

Building on my earlier idea, you don't need the bars, just make a sign under the window area with:
"Coal Recipients"
or
"They Didn't Hear the Bell"
etc.

Ha! That’s great!

The atlas cars are the same. We’re these cars supposed to be for the crew?

There's a much darker history to the Combo Car...

Jon

@wb47 posted:

The atlas cars are the same. We’re these cars supposed to be for the crew?

As a matter of fact, these cars were sometimes run with the baggage compartment to the rear and the seats used by dead-heading employees.  It is absolutely OK to run it with the seats forward (and without bars on the windows).  It may be where the dancing hot chocolate team rides or vacationing elves returning to the North Pole or even a track gang that had been working on the track that had been flooded out or the steep drop that roller coaster enthusiasts envy.

Well, you could remove the roof/window and make a cut a bit above the window line to separate the roof from the windows. Then, replace the windows correctly and turn the roof section around.

@palallin posted:

As a matter of fact, these cars were sometimes run with the baggage compartment to the rear and the seats used by dead-heading employees.  It is absolutely OK to run it with the seats forward (and without bars on the windows).  It may be where the dancing hot chocolate team rides or vacationing elves returning to the North Pole or even a track gang that had been working on the track that had been flooded out or the steep drop that roller coaster enthusiasts envy.

Good stuff, thanks!

@Big Jim posted:

Well, you could remove the roof/window and make a cut a bit above the window line to separate the roof from the windows. Then, replace the windows correctly and turn the roof section around.

Great point, I’m not above that. I drilled out the observation ccar for an LED light install already. Thanks!

@herewegOagain posted:

Great point, I’m not above that. I drilled out the observation ccar for an LED light install already. Thanks!

That was one of my first mods to the set.