Older B&O We are looking for B&O engine, freight, and passenger markings before the Civil War. Only have a couple pictures, mostly 1860s or 1830s. Background: My wife is modeling B&O in the 1850s, western Maryland.
Older B&O Yes, we have a few of those. Here are some photos from The B&O Centenary Catalog. We may have to get decals custom-made. (We have too many engines and rolling stock to use dry transfers.) Not sure of the colors.
That coach looks much like the Bachmann nineteenth century coach. No one sells the RPO car, although B-mann does sell a combine that is based on the coach. I am not sure about the paint, either, but you can buy lettering sheets for the lettering. Below is an image from B-mann's website of the Royal Blue trainset. The set has not yet appeared, but the locomotive has.
Older B&O We are having a hard time -- short cars and short steamers are 1) Hard to find, 2) Hard to work on, and 3) Have a hard time even on code 80 turnouts. We haven't resorted to scratchbuilding, but we are heavily modifying N-scale engines and rolling stock. It's still pretty rewarding when you get it right.
You need to work with track with powered frogs. Both Kato and Bachmann have turnouts with powered frogs which just about anything will got through without stalling. You can also get Atlas and Peco C55 turnouts with powered (or the ability to power) frogs. This is a situation where Atlas C80 snap track is not the best alternative.
Older B&O Yes, we tried code 55. Had to replace it with code 80. We put fine-scale wheels on the rolling stock, but the engines bounced on the ties (as posted elsewhere -- everywhere -- on the internet). Turnouts will be in another thread. We are still looking for hints on the colors of 1850s B&O equipment.
Peco code 55 not only has no spike heads on the inner rail to cause that thumping issue but the turnouts have powered frogs. perfect for your problem.
Do full size trains count for the B & O post. I caught this picture of what looks like to be a B & O heavy weight passenger car on a siding on the way to work one day.
