Not only am I keeping my 15" and fewer 18" sets for our O72 minimum layout, I'm seriously looking forward to more and more of them coming onto the secondary market as the scale-bug takes hold.

When I was into HO....big time....I had no preference for anything  BUT scale-length passenger cars.....and the generous radii of trackwork that suited them.

But, now that I've left the dark side (), found freedom from pickers of nit, and my wrists have fully healed, I'm reveling in my basement realm of blissful compromise and fantasy.  And, in that regard and to the subject matter, I most certainly find the shorter passenger cars looking fine and dandy as they slither through the     O72-plus curves of the layout.  

Since O72  O3Rcurves are the equivalent to an 18" radius curve in the HO world, I already knew what a silver python with a bad case of hypermobility would look like.  Besides, my pre-teen experiences of navigating  the noisy, gyrating vestibules between cars on the 1:1 trains as we made our way to the dining car, the dome car, the observation car.....and back again!....several times on a trip!....said, 'Those poor 1:48 patrons will never make it to the dining car on their journey through 21"-ers if they step into the vestibule as it enters an O72 curve!'

Of course, TEHO.  It's just one of those pleasant compromises this part of the hobby affords me!

I've had enough discussions with the manufacturers at York and other venues to know that there's no future for them in the 15" passenger car market.   Not going to happen.  Even the recent Neil Young adventures in PRR and Texas Special trains with 15" cars were, apparently,....  18" cars....not so much.   "Bigger is Better".

So, please, please, please!......all you guys/gals with those gorgeous 'shorty' sets of passenger cars out there!.....let's get them onto the tables at York and other shows....or internet auctions!!   I'm ready!

And THANK YOU!!!!!

KD