Hi everyone!
I've wanted to model the PRR Queen Mary depressed flatcar for some time. My problem is the 4 axle trucks. I can't find any for sale at all. I know Lionel makes them for some large locomotive tenders... but I'm not willing to buy locomotives just to harvest some trucks off the tenders.
Does anyone have any suggestions where I might be able to find something like that? Thanks!
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I started same car. Bought mine from MTH, tender trucks. Got plans then made wood template. Then been sitting,other projects took(the krupp car sitting also) presentance. My 2cts.
You can purchase the 4 axle tender trucks from Lionel's PRR S2 turbine from their parts page for $36 each. There are likely other models you can find with similar trucks that would also be available through their parts department.
haha yeah persistence is definitely required for these projects! Once I have the trucks it actually wont be that bad. My design is only between 4 and 6 parts milled on my CNC. I'm won't be sure of the design until I have the trucks in hand.
That's an incredible find Jake! Thank you! I just ordered everything I need from Lionel. I actually checked the parts department for J1A tender trucks probably a year ago when I first thought of making this car and they didn't have any in stock. They must have gotten a shipment or something...? Either way, thanks again! The truck problem is solved.
I have another question for you guys, do you know of any schematics or technical drawings of the car? I spent hours looking around online and came up empty handed. My model so far is just based off of photos and an overall length.
PRRTHS had a book on flat cars. They had pics of both Queen Mary and the( Queen Elizabeth- someone told me that name) that's the well car same trucks. In back of book there are dimensions.
Never heard the name Queen Elizabeth. IIRC the well was built by Penn Central and was used interchangeably with the depressed center deck on the same set of span bolster trucks.
Just looked at the book. The FW 1- well car body, used with the trucks from the FD2(QUEEN MARY)United Engineering and Foundry of Vandergrift Pa ,1960 ,welded up the body used it once. Then sold it to the PRR. According to the book. The FD2 dimensions are in the front cover,FW1 on back cover. There are flat cars I never saw before in the book. The FD2 , I lived in Latrobe and spent a lot of time watching trains with my grandfather. I saw the car in Latrobe empty though.
Kohs has it for $1500.00
That should be some project!
SDBOB1- Thanks for the info! Just to make sure before I order it... is this the correct book?
Pennsylvania Railroad Flat Cars – Revenue & Work Equipment, 1881 – 1968 by Elden Gatwood and Al Buchan 2008
CSXJOE, Yeah I saw that. It's a beautiful model and exceptionally detailed! Way more life-like then I could ever make a model train car. I like making my own interpretation of cars though... it's kinda my thing ya know? lol (Austin Powers Reference) Also mine's only going to cost me a Saturday and $275... Something to consider!
Coach Joe, Yeah I'm excited! But the 2 to 3 weeks wait time on the 8 wheel trucks took the wind out of my sails a bit.
Yes that's the book. The dimensions shown in my opinion (a oh)will give you what you need.My version will be hand made(some day). I'm thinking aluminum body.Those available cars are impressive. Hope this info helps.
Great, thanks! Yeah I'm sure it'll be sufficient. I don't need every dimension, just a few overall dimensions will do.
Aluminum huh? That would be very nice! How do you plan to make the parts? Are you going to machine them?
No I was going to bend the aluminum to the depressed center form. Have a wooden template of side view. Thought about brass. I suppose model makers would have better ideas.Like I said other projects have taken over,cars, home,tractor repairs,etc.
That's an interesting method of manufacture! Sounds similar to the KOHS car's assembly. It's interesting how they just tack the brass pieces together. My method is much more crude... I just hog the shapes out of solid pieces of wood. The wood actually paints quite well too after a fine sanding and a good primer. I haven't done much with paint though, like you said real projects get priority lol
I remember many years ago MR had an article on building a depressed center flat using plexiglas. They made a jig shaped top and bottom with bolts that could be tightened then softened it in an oven, tighten, reheat and etc.
That's an impressive car and project. Please keep us posted.
That's very cool Scotie! I never would have thought to use plexiglass. That's neat!
Thanks Matt! Will do! I'm on holding pattern until I get the trucks and book with the dimensions. Will likely be 2 weeks until I have any real update.
Well gents it's been a month rather than 2 weeks but I finally have an update.
I got the book in the mail and the trucks from Lionel. The book has about 90% of the dimensions I was looking for so I was able to do a rough model of the car in CAD.
There are a few major problems with the trucks though. Starting off it was about $175 for all the trucks and couplers shipped. One of them looks like its been stepped on, 2 of the axles on it don't turn and I haven't been able to get in touch with Lionel to try and get it replaced. They just don't pick up the phone when I call. So strange.
That's not the most significant problem though... see below pic. The Lionel trucks have extra "decorations" on them that the trucks on the real Queen Mary didn't have. In order to have a prototypical model the decorations need to go away. The coupler bracket on the trucks is on the wrong end and the brake decorations stick out too far on the end that faces the load bed. Basically I'd have to remove a ton of die cast metal and repaint them. It seems these trucks are not a great solution. Admittedly I could modify the design of the car by changing dimensions to accommodate the problems. But I really don't want to as I believe it would change the character of the car too much.
Do you guys know of any 4 axle trucks that don't have these problems?
Thanks!
Few years of delays later... lol finally milled the parts from 6061 aluminum and had them anodized red. The red is too bright unfortunately but it doesnt really bother me. Opinions on the color? I still need to finalize it with brake wheels, steps, railings and pathways
This appears to be fine Will, unless you have something specific you're looking for. 'Old eyes' prevent me from seeing if you have any detail in the sides of the body but I would imagine with some rivets, plates, and the like plus a slight weathering it will look incredible! I like it sir. Quite an ambitious project I might add.
Impressive!
My opinion on the color is if I put that amount of time, money and effort into a project like this, I would paint it the correct color. I am looking forward to seeing it completed.
What a nice project, can't wait to see more.
Thanks guys! I agree, I think this project requires nice paint and weathering. I'm not sure exactly how to go about that though
I got distracted yesterday by the arrival of my 89' flatcars. They're bead blasted anodized black, and I'm quite happy with the finish. Working on making the custom wood decks now 
Honestly I festered about the trucks for a few months lol I'm so busy with work I don't have much time to put into trains these days. But after a while I just said screw it and I took the trucks to the most aggressive sander in my shop and sanded off everything that couldn't stay lol I still need to paint the spots that were sanded.
I was concerned the ball joint wasn't going to operate well under the load of a heavy train behind it, and I wasn't sure what tolerance I needed for the anodizing. Happy to say I pulled this around the layout last night for 2hrs with no problems
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