Info on rivarossi passenger cars.

minesweeper Jul 11, 2022

  1. minesweeper

    minesweeper TrainBoard Member

    636
    1,286
    37
    Hi folks, i have four Rivarossi passenger cars that I will use to beam to my layout in Italy behind a GG1 and a PA.
    I was not able to pick up data about some of these and which by a list of prototype cars are:
    COACH CAR: prototype is CN 5437 5654
    DOME CAR: prototype is UP 7000 7015

    unfortunately being in Italy I only have access to online info and could not get the relative books
    the others I could get info as these were actually PRR prototypes, and there is extensive PRR information, also got the blueprints.

    What I need is technical info on both:
    weight
    max allowed speed
    brake system
    I understand these would use steam powered heating and AC, but both GG1 and PA have it, so no issues.

    also would like some info on these trucks (which probably are not necessarily prototypical) like wheel diameter and max allowed speed
    ho-1930-smooth-side-dining-car-w-v-3294046000.jpg

    thanks to everybody
     
    Last edited: Jul 11, 2022
  2. Mr. Trainiac

    Mr. Trainiac TrainBoard Member

    1,540
    2,131
    46
    The wheel diameter is 36" on almost every US passenger car. The trucks generally aren't rated for a top speed, that's a more modern engineering protocol. The PRR and other railroads that had fast trains were using the same types of trucks as everybody else, so I don't think this is a big deal. The Rivarossi trucks looks similar to the Walthers GSC 41-HR trucks, although it's hard to say if they are an exact match. General Steel Castings used largely the same main truck body casting on many models, a lot of the variation comes from other equipment like bearing type, brake equipment, and snubbers or dampers, which makes researching the exact name and sub-model of each truck type very difficult.
     
    Doug Gosha and Hardcoaler like this.
  3. minesweeper

    minesweeper TrainBoard Member

    636
    1,286
    37
    Thank you Mr trainiac, therefore I think I can comfortably rate the cars for 90 MPH.
    Would definitely need the weight data as I am not really sure the single PA can haul four cars on a 2.5% grade at a decent speed (line is rated for 50MPH on grades) , the GG1 should have plenty of excess speed and power under wires.
     
  4. Mr. Trainiac

    Mr. Trainiac TrainBoard Member

    1,540
    2,131
    46
    Car weights generally depend on car type. Coaches would be lighter than diners and sleepers. Diners are heavy because of their kitchen equipment, dome cars can also be heavy because of all the glass up top. I would put most lightweight/streamlined cars in the 65 to 75 ton range.
     
    Hardcoaler likes this.

Share This Page