Well started this thread Oct 11th and happy to say I have all three cars done today 11-1-2021
With the help of the train tender, eBay and Chuck for three rail.. and of course Chuck that sold them to me a while from the for sale in this forum I was able to get original copper journal 3 axle trucks they not only look better they run way better over the 022 switches
So what I read here is Rich Art has a stamped R from the insides BUT as you can see my has VW and the other two have VWE 97 and the other VWE 102 stamped from the bottom inwards and a sharpie written black and one with gold markers
Do you think these are early Williams cars? or still might be Rich Art Trains cars, have any idea ... here's some pictures
thanks for all the help along the way ...daniel
*************** UPDATED INFO,,.
with a little research from the article about rich Art trains is stated..
The blue cars were all equipped with 6-wheel trucks, just as the Lionel originals were, and the red and orange versions came with 4-wheel trucks, just as the originals were made. These products were initially developed through a partnership between Art Varney and Dick Wheeler and were later distributed by Bill Doomey
Which explains the V-W stamping on mine..
so it seems what I have are the pre Rich art trains that rich art must of got the molds (equipment) to keep making them this time using the R for his production
