Anyone converted MTH 64' passenger cars to NG?

Maybe I'm not envisioning what you have in mind, but a 64-foot ANYTHING in On30 would look awfully odd.

The ET&WNC, for example, had boxcars which were almost 40 feet long and they looked very strange when viewed from the side. Many NG fans who'd gone to see the D&RGW and then sauntered over to see the Tweetsie hauling freight were quite shocked at how long some of their freight cars were. And we're talking about something way shorter than what you have in mind...

The point was that the EBT used standard gauge freight at times (40ft boxcars, 48ft gondolas, etc...) and 50ft passenger cars so how big of a stretch would it be to use 64' passenger cars? I will be running 4-6-0s and 2-8-2s so the engines are fairly decent size. About the same as a standard gauge 19th century  2-8-0. I'm still waiting on my engines to be delivered so I'll have to see what they look like with the cars when they arrive.

I haven't seen any On30 engines produced to date that is near the size of a standard gauge loco. On30 is right between On2 and On3 in gauge, but most of the available equipment is similar to prototype 2 foot gauge equipment rather than 3 foot gauge.

I would agree that a 64' car would be a stretch when placed next to currently available On30 engines.

I'll try to get some photos up later today.

Jim

Some comparison photos:

MTH 64' passenger and Bachmann 2-6-0:

MTH 64' and Bachmann On30 passenger car:

Same pair:

64' placed in middle of On30 cars:

64' with Bachmann 2-8-0 Consolidation:

While narrow gauge trucks would bring the car down quite a bit in height, the overall dimensions dwarf the other equipment.

It might work in On3 since there are some larger engines available in that gauge, but On30 traditionally has only seen the smaller prototypes produced.

Jim

My 4-6-0s arrived today. It may be a bit of a stretch, but I don't think it's too bad. Especially when it gets lowered on the ng trucks. Considering that this 4-6-0 is probably the smallest engine I will own in On30 I don't think it is such a stretch. everything MMI has released in On3 has also been released in On30 so I don't see that as a real issue either.

Please don't take this the wrong way, but I'm not looking for opinions on whether or not I should do this. I wanted to know if anyone has done this. I guess it's safe to say that I will probably be the first.

If the EBT could swap trucks and haul standard gauge freight then I think it is entirely plausible that my freelance tourist railroad could have converted 64' standard gauge passenger cars to ng.

Sorry - guess I misinterpreted this part of your request.

Jim

Possible, yes.  Probably look a little too big on On30 even with larger On30 engines.

Suggest you look at the laser cut kits for EBT pass. equipment from Deerfield River that's designed to use Bachman frames and trucks to creat On30 EBT style cars.  They offer quite a selection of pass. cars and some freight stuff as well.

The EBT also had to use adapter knuckles when coupling on to a standard gauge car on 3' trucks.

Rusty

No worries Jim. Please don't take my comment the wrong way. I appreciate you taking the time to post photos.

Did any American 3-footer ever run varnish that long?

Now that I've seen the car, your motivation makes a lot more sense to me. That said, if I was given one of those cars, I'd be looking to split it down the centerline and take some material from between the doors and outer walls when viewed from the end. It's for sure shorten it, down to no longer than about 40 feet or so.

As it is, I think Jim did a very good job showing how it'd look, even on On30 trucks.

Most NG pass cars are single seats on each side of the aisle or at most a single and an uncomfortable double on the other!    Biggest problem will be clearances along the right of way.  Tunnel portals will look really wierd.  Structure set backs will be very far back as well.  I think you would be way ahead of the game to combine two Bachmann cars together if you really want a longer car.  I understand you already have the MTH cars so that of course is part of the deciding procedure, isn't it?  I don't have any MTH heavy weight cars so how does it come apart?  Is the roof a seperate piece?  Is the chassis a sheet metal or plastic chassis?  Russ