I just bought a RI 6-3 Walthers heavyweight sleeper. It is a sharp looking car and was already lettered "Glen Lawn". That leads me to believe the RI maybe had one car of this type, but I can't seem to find anything to support that. just wondering if anyone out there can confirm the legitimacy of this car or if I have to reletter it Pullman- Thanks-
These days the model manufacturers are much more likely to research car names than they were 20 years or so ago. I would bet that the Glen Lawn was one of the heavyweight cars that CRI&P bought from Pullman after the company was broken up in 1947 and had to sell all its equipment to the railroads. After that time the different railroads usually painted their name in place of the large Pullman above the windows in the middle of the car and painted Pullman in small letters at each end. The cars that remained in pool service between railroads usually retained the large Pullman lettering. The individual car names usually remained the same although some railroads like the SP dropped the names and gave the cars numbers only. If you are modeling the 1950s and 60s then the car would probably be correct. If you are modeling prior to 1947 then you would have to re-letter it.
Thanks for the info. In the last few years, I have become more interested in passenger trains and the cars in particular. Walthers makes some nice stuff, but I try to verify that the cars I buy actually existed in some close form of the model. As I become more educated, i've found that there is a difference in all those old heavyweight cars! (I used to think they all looked the same!). Anyway, that RI car will probably find its way into an Amtrak "Rainbow" consist or a short CNW 400 train. Or an excursion train. Or just remain boxed and stored like everything else I have!
Heavyweights The Walthers "Pullman" cars are excellent models. I have a 14 car train of them in various floor plans. The most common floor plan was the 12-1 which has twelve sections and one drawing room. By 1971 when Amtrak came on the scene most if not all the heavyweights were retired or in MofW service. Amtrak had no heavyweights. They wanted streamlined stainless steel equipment in excellent mechanical condition. The 6-3 Glen series were all room cars with no sections. Six compartment & three drawing rooms was the floorplan. Might add some passengers to the car when you get that far.
I also like these Wathers cars. A bit off topic; anyone have a way to quiet those squeeky wheels? Rich W
I think Walthers actually recommends lubing them with LaBelle 107 or some other plastic compatible oil. (they do, I just went and looked.)
As was said Labelle 108 oil should work for getting rid of the squeeks. Liquid graphite should work as well just be careful in applying it as liquid graphite likes to flow.
