Scale by Different Manufacturers

The differences COULD be that they are models of different prototypes.

For instance, a PS-1 boxcar is much taller than an AAR boxcar and that, in turn, is taller than the 1930's Pennsy boxcar (whatever its designation is).

Yes, real cars vary in dimensions. There is some "license" in the modeling, also, for

whatever reason. And the marketing.

WBB markets a "scale" SD90. It is not. Too short. But they use that frame in many applications.

The Pennsy X-29 is the prototype for the 1923 ARA car modeled by Atlas.   It is correct for the X-29 and close for the roadnames but some rivets patterns may vary.

This car had a 9 ft inside height and 40 ft length.    The 1937 ARA car had 10 1/2 ft inside length, but was also 40 ft in length.   I think the PS-1 was pretty close to the 1937 ARA car.   

Most mfg made cars with slightly different dimensions so all these cars are probably scale or close, just representing different prototype cars.   

It is kind of like model airplanes, P51s, P47, and P38 are all fighters, but they all look different and are different sizes.

I've noticed small differences, for example in the PFE wood-sided reefers I have from MTH, Lionel, and Atlas.  As was noted above, actuall rolling stock varied, but most of my 35 cars seem to fall into one of two types, and within each, the three companies are within about 1/8 inch of one another - six inches.  

So dimensions don't vary enough to bother me: I can mix or match them as i want without worry.

Color - the hue of the paint, varies a lot, even among, say, two different Lionel offerings, and certianly between the three companies.  But again, that varied in the real world, too.

You can only compare the exact same prototypes. As stated a 'scale' X-29 is visibly smaller than a PS-1. Look up on YouTube for footage of 1940-50 freight trains......'house' cars (box) of all different heights and lengths....and materials! I like a little variety in my rolling stock......just don't run a Lionel 'Baby Ruth' box car with a modern 50ft steel box!    

Bob

The K-Line "scale" box cars are based off of old tooling and aren't a 1/48 scale model of a specific prototype box car.

The early MTH 40 foot Premier line box car is a 1/48 scale model of a Pullman Standard built PS-1 box car and is scale dimensioned and well detailed by the standard of the 1990s when it was introduced.  It features Pullman's uniquely shaped ends and "bow tie" roof.  Weaver and Lionel also make 1/48 scale models of 40 foot PS-1 box cars.  All have very similar overall dimensions. Lionel offers both 6 and 8 foot wide doors and has the finest details.

The Atlas Trainman 40 foot sliding door box car is a 1/48 scale model of a boxcar as constructed  by several car builders in the late 1940s into the 50s with a diagonal panel roof and R+3/4 improved Dreadnaught ends.

Atlas, Weaver and MTH scale stock cars are all similar in dimensions to post WW II box cars.  In fact the Atlas Trainman and Weaver boxcars and stock cars share roof and end tooling.  The current Lionel Standard O and K-Line stock cars are similar in dimensions to pre-WW II box cars like the USRA and X-29.

In the late steam and early diesel era there was a huge variation in roof height and width among boxcars, stock cars and reefers as this Ron Nixon photo shows.

For more info on O scale stock cars have a look here:

https://ogrforum.com/t...car-guide-stock-cars

Also with Williams by Bachmann you need to watch out for non-prototypical engines; classic example is the new SD-90ACe for Norfolk Southern railroad heritage diesels, as they(Norfolk Southern) did SD-70ACe's and not the SD-90's. "Shame on Bachmann for getting it so wrong!!"

Their claim is that; 'it is toy trains so it really don't matter that much.'

However I won't buy the N.S. heritage diesel if it is the wrong engine type. I am not what you call a rivet counter but I want the engine to be the correct model if I am going to spend my money for one, especially when I pay around $300.00 for an engine.

Lionel or MTH have the correct version of the Norfolk Southern diesel engine, the SD-70ACe.

Lee Fritz

I agree.  In fact I have two Lionel cars that are semi-scale, but are such quality and detailed, I run them with the scale stuff.  BTW, I converted the Atlas by ROCO with Weaver trucks, and am very satisfied with it.

 In fact I have two Lionel cars that are semi-scale, but are such quality and detailed, I run them with the scale stuff. 

This brings up another interesting point. Some "traditional size" or "semi-scale" freight cars are, in fact, scale size. This is the case, for instance, with the K-Line enclosed side vat cars. I once got my hands on a set of scale drawings for the prototype cars and the K-Line models, which are nominally traditional size, are in fact almost exactly scale dimensions. Another candidate is the small multi-dome tank cars. I've never run across a scale drawing for one, but I've seen two- and three-dome prototype cars and they are quite small. The Lionel, K-Line, and Rail King models are probably pretty close to scale size.