The Fine Arts/Smithsonian 20th Century Limited and Broadway Limited passenger cars shared components and tooling - unfortunately incorrectly for the Broadway. While Pullman Standard produced both prototype trains in 1938 (they debuted on the same day!) there were differences in window arrangement. One difference relates to the observation car floor plan. To offer views of the Hudson river running westbound in the late afternoon the NYC ordered their cars with the rooms on the left and the aisle on the right. On the PRR management had the aisle & room placement flipped so that their premium passengers had a view of the countryside unobstructed by trains running in the opposite direction. The floor plan difference noticeably impacts window arrangement. The NYC models are correct - the PRR ones not so.. IMO the worst car in the Fine Arts Broadway set from a prototype modelling perspective is the lounge. It is totally wrong in window arrangement - merely the NYC car in PRR paint and lettering.
Smithsonian/Fine Arts never offered a diner for their 38 Broadway apparently as it would have entailed significant additional tooling. The inaugural 38 Broadway diners were heavyweights modernized in the PRR's shops while the 20th's diners were new cars built by Pullman.
PRR shortcomings aside, the models were beautifully made (and very heavy).
Ed Rappe
