Polar Express help needed

I will be happy to send you a photo of the interior. It will be later today when I go out to the barn.

Thank you sir!  

I have a question about this car.  What is the big open space supposed to represent.  I have two and they are both essentially empty at one end.  Is that supposed to be the kitchen/galley area?

Glad this was brought up......this has stumped me also......toward the back of the cars their appears to be an open doorway.....through the doorway when I shine a  flashlight i can see what appears to be small little posts that have holes on top...looks like the posts can accept screws......did Lionel (Chinese) leave something out.  Seems silly that half of the car has tables and people and the other half is empty

AND, while we are at it.......whats the story on the Observation Car......why is the window tint significantly darker than the other cars.........looks odd when coupled with the rest of the cars.

Finally, the abandoned toy car windows seem to be more opaque than the other cars.... Very hard to see inside those windows.

Just a few observations about cars that cost $150-$210.  

Brian,  could you post the pic of your  dining car....i would like to compare it with mine.

-Pete

I finally got all of the cars in this set.  There seems to be no consistency in window tint/color from one car to the next.  I still like them but, like you said, it looks odd with all of the other cars.  I would like to see a parts list for these cars in case I ever want to buy windows and swap them out so that all of the cars match.  I tried searching lionels parts listing but was not successful.

Exactly....there is no consistency in the window tinting.....It would have been better if they just left the window with a clear film.

just my 2cents

-Pete

I just realized the words "Polar Express" are above the windows on the toy cars, whereas in the movie they're below them. Not a big deal, just wondering why Lionel chose to do that?

Just an educated guess here, but isn't the Big empty area supposed to be the kitchen?

That is what I would put there.

I suspect they used a common floor part and just added the tables VS seats and a doorway.

All assumptions on my part from knowing how manufacturing costs drive things.

And the Legend below the window VS above may be a masking issue for the painting.

It's harder to get a good print near an edge than it is in the middle.

Pete, I have noticed that the interior of the Observation Car has greenish-blue seats just like the movie.  I think the blue window tint and the interior color give it an electric blue illumination as opposed the the warmer red interiors.   I concur that all the cars would probably be better served (detail wise) with clear lexan.

I think it is.  This is also the area where they hid the electronics for the StationSounds diners.  In my only StationSound diner, the windows in this area are frosted so you can't see inside.

In the future, I might explore adding kitchen details to this space, especially if I can find a chef figure.

Andy

This is going to wind up being the cheapest kitchen remodel I've ever done!    Here's a few images that, after some experimentation, came out halfway decent.  (I better keep my day job!)  Does everyone's diner car have a raw side where you can see the s-crew bosses, truck mount, swivel channel and wiring?  The "finished" side seems to have a tan-ish wall. 

Here is a blueprint from Pullman Car 3090.  This could get interesting!  

Looks like I'm buying styrene this weekend.  I simply can't have this coach in service unfinished.  The kids are hungry, and we need cookies asap!

That'll keep you busy for a spell doing that remodel!

Well I'm not having much luck finding some Chefs.  I may have to scratch some up from regular  S people.  Even butchers in aprons would work once you make the proper headgear. Most historical photos show two chefs in cramped quarters. 

John, I think I'm going with the stainless look.  Fridges, griddle, prep table, ovens, pantry storage and sinks are all squares (like me!).  Shouldn't be too hard.  Now if I was making a stack of plates, that might be a little difficult, but fun for sure!  

I was even thinking of making some small baking sheets on the prep table with brightly colored Christmas cookies on them and oversized hot chocolate cups.  The cups have me stumped... for now.

I'm going to have to take some measurements and make a drawing.  

But the elephant in the room remains that folks paid almost $200 max retail for this car. And this bare area didn't get caught by Lionel?  All they had to do was screen it.  geeez.  

Volphin......take a look at Artista # 1474..........its a Diner cook.....may have to repaint his pants white but looks like it might work for you.

Hope this helps,

-Pete

Thanks Pete!  I spent a few hours searching the interwebs with no luck...  This is a great find!

No problem, Glad I could help!

-Pete