3rd Rail Hospital cars

Check the York photo thread.  Thought that's where I saw a photo posted with a blurb announcing the car.  Not a fancy flyer or anything... Just a paper mentioning the cars would be made of brass along with an estimated price-point.

David

Understood, but any new cars for the WWII niche is welcome.

Indeed, there was an announcement of brass hospital cars from Sunset Models. These cars will be posted on the 3rd Rail website for reservation in the near future.

 

They will be true models of the hospital cars - essentially what appears to be a passenger car painted olive drab with the red cross insignia on them.

 

I had several folks ask about the communication cars. No decision on them yet but certainly a viable possibility.

I don't want to be contrary, but I do not believe that any hospital cars would have run with the troop cars.  Both had different purposes, and I don't believe would have been mixed together.

 

I wonder why brass and not aluminum.  At $400 each, a group of six or eight cars will get pricey pretty quickly.

 

On the other hand, the pics look pretty cool.

 

Jim

Jim,

I would agree the troop and hospital cars typically would not have run together, but a number of people have said that is what they will do with them. These cars were previously announced at the Chicago March Meet 2 rail show last month, and that is among the comments I received.

 

Why brass? Because we don't expect to be able to sell enough hospital cars to justify the expense of an aluminum extrusion for the car. An aluminum extrusion becomes cost effective for say 400 or more cars. When I have questioned folks who have shown interest in the hospital cars they have said they only want to purchase one or two cars.

Rheil,

 

Thanks for the reply.

 

Although I won't be ordering any, I hope these cars are made as they are an important part of our railroading history.

 

Kudos to Sunset/3rd Rail for once again offering product that no one else is interested in doing so.

 

Jim