McKeen Motor Car

NOt that I am aware of. Possibly O scale but NOT O gauge. MTH did announce but Later cancelled the project due to lack of preorders.

None of the train companies have made one (as mentioned MTH canceled their plans).

 

There was a thread over on the Tinplate Forum where somebody posted pictures of a McKeen project that somebody made. As I recall, it looked really great. The thread wasn't all that long ago and doing a search should find it.

>>>Has anyone ever made a McKeen car in O Gauge?<<

That car looked incredible on tricked out trains.

Here is a STG photo. The car belongs to Navy Seal on this forum.

Here's the one in Nevada. Kckeen also made coaches that matched the engine. I was going to buy one from MTH as many railroads used them. I think MTH made a mistake dropping them. Folks would have purchased them after they saw how really cool they looked. Don

This is why I love this forum.  You ol' timers, or better yet, those guys I envy because they "know"...are what make this a great place.  The more I do O Gauge, the more I find myself becoming a railfan.  First, thank you.  The hobby wouldn't go on if it weren't for those who know, and second, thanks for the info on the McKeen.  Its items like this that I think would keep our hobby going.  I know Legacy, and I know DCC, but History is where it starts.  We'll see it someday. 

Dick Mayer of Rich Art made McKeen cars and trailers in standard Gauge handmade Tin Plate. Nice stuff. Hard to come by though.

I'd love to have a McKeen car, but it would have to be lettered for the Bellingham Bay & British Columbia, a Milwaukee Road subsidiary that did have a Windsplitter. The picture below is an old postcard of a McKeen car on the streets of Bellingham. I was hoping that whenever MTH did its second run, it would catch up on the other roads that had them, including SP as well as the BB&BC. The MTH catalog announcement listed them in Norfolk Southern, Union Pacific, Pennsylvania, and Virginia & Truckee. 

 

 

 

Yeah, I'm finding out if you just want more, it's not so bad, but if you want what was, it takes a little bit of change.  If it was even ever made before.  I see these posts for "what would you like to see made",  but if its its not road names or numbers, rarely do I see history being made.  Don't get me wrong, I've bought those road names and numbers, but the history goes way back.  The McKeen would be a good example.  We see doodle's all the time.  But what got it started?  Let's see that in  "O".

I know we're in a different world now, but it would be nice to see road names that "were" at one time.  I agree, those off name roads would be great.

If you really want it go to Shapeways or some other 3Dprinter site and commission some drawings to print out panels to make a kit of parts yourself. I bet more than a few here would like it as well as some SteamPunk Scifi fans.

Precision Scale imported these years ago along with trailer cars.  You see them for sale periodically.

 

Kidder imported them many years ago in O, S, and HO; O & S had prototypically operational clutches in the drive system.  I've only ever seen one of the O scale ones for sale

jpos, we prefer to be called old geezers, not ol' timers.  You don't know how your comment hit me about history. I produced a show called "MY 20th Century" for television. It was sponsored by one of the larges oil companies and banks in the country. It made millions of dollars a year for the company I worked for. New management came in and said "history has no place in television" and they dropped the show after two and a half years. OK enough rant. Here is a little history on the Mckeen cars. "The McKeen Motor Car Company of Omaha, Nebraska was a builder of internal combustion-engined railroad motor cars (railcars), constructing 152 between 1905–1917.^[1] Founded by William McKeen, the Union Pacific Railroad's Superintendent of Motive Power and Machinery, the company was essentially an offshoot of the Union Pacific and the first cars were constructed by the UP before McKeen leased shop space in the UP's Omaha Shops in Omaha, Nebraska. The UP had asked him to develop a way of running small passenger trains more economically, and McKeen produced a design that was ahead of its time. Unfortunately, internal combustion engine technology was not, and the McKeen cars never found a truly reliable powerplant." Don

Not a matter of wanting it, but yes, I do.  Its a matter for me, "myself" doing what I can to keep the history going.  We run these trains for the heck of it most of the time, I do it 99% of the time.  BUT....for me, I'd like to take it a bit further, and this to me is what the hobby is about...Learn it, before you run it.  I want to know when my grandaughter asks me "What is that and why", I'm not feeding her a line of bull***.

Sir, if you knew me, there was no disrespect intended.  I am all about you Ol' Geezers...I just wish you wouldn't keep leaving us.

 

My father passed this past year in 2012.  He, at that time was my "Ol' Timer".  At 65 years old from Alzheimers was way too early, but that's my problem.  The gift that I can bring here was that stubborn ol' polocks love for the rails.  He bred it in to me, and if I could, I'd thank him today, and bring his knowldege to the table as best as possible.  But, you can't bottle that stuff.....

 

I write this with a tear in my eye, because I lost alot when my pop left.  We've all been through it at some point, but he was my connection, and my lead-in to keeping me in O Gauge.  I miss my Dad.  And please understand that anything I ask, or anything I say, is done to keep his thoughts and memory alive.

 

 

Good Lord, OGRR, in a matter of seconds, I'm balling here.  Thank you so much for everything.  In a minute, I'll go about and run my Pops 52 Sante Fe set for the heck of it.....'cause it just feels right.

 

P.S...If I don't get censored, you're still ol' Farts, and man, I'd love to sit a spell or two with you.

Thanks for posting that SH.  As a Western alum and Milwaukee fan I'll buy ANYTHING in BB&BC.  I figured the Atlas reefers in BB&BC and 3-B Beer would be the only pieces we'd ever see.  If we can get MTH to re-catalog the McKeen I'd certain throw in an order.

Amen on the BB&BC McKeen car! The Northern Pacific had one as well that operated in Western Washington, and there is a great writeup with photos of it in a recent edition of the NPRHA Mainstreeter.  I would buy them both!

I don't think those of us in three rail or AC trains (Flyer), as a group, have any less

knowledge or interest in the history of railroading than the scale modelers.   It is all

about history of railroading, whether a new diesel model introduced last week or this much lamented McKeen, history we watch pass, or history we have read about.  Since this subject keeps popping up, about a three rail version, clearly there is interest in one, and that interest is not only the province of scale modelers in the various scales that own the Kidder and Precision Scale versions. It's unusual shape makes it appear

to be difficult to build from scratch..although there was one done and shown on this

forum.

I'd be in for the BB&BC, too! Cool looking rig;especially, the pointed pilot.

 

 

Rick

Rick B,

   I would like to own one myself, very cool train.  I do believe MTH made a mistake canceling their production, I definitely wanted one.

PCRR/Dave

Dave,

 

If MTH committed to producing a top notch model, I think it would easily sell itself.

 

That contraption just exudes quirkiness, in a very cool way.

 

Rick

http://museums.nevadaculture.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=415:restoration-program&catid=16&Itemid=142

 

This is link to the Nevada museum car. Saw it in operation in past during a visit very cool.

'

I had talked with MTH at a past show saying that when they wanted to make something new like this car they should let people know they are considering it perhaps a pre announcement and ask folks to let them know what road names they would be intersted in. Then do some research often customers help with this and provide photos and info. Then put the new model out in a catalogue with a list of the many road names that could be offered if sufficient orders were received.

 

Same with the Turbo train many wanted the VIA And other amtrak paint schemes but not sure if they will ever make it some are buying only what was announced.

 

This way they would get many orders to justify a new mold the greatest cost in a new model.

 

The BB&BC I would take one as well as many others at our local club. I had been trying to find some info on it. Found some info that it was a MeKeen car but this is the first photo (painting of it) Looks good.

Really interesting vehicle many would be happy to have one on their layout even with road names that it never really came in.

 

 

The rounded porthole area reminds me of something you'd see in a Jules Verne movie.

 

 

Rick

If MTH is reading this, I'd like to chime in that I'd replace my order for a McKeen car and trailer, should they decide to do it.  Apparently they had most of the design work done for the car and I wonder if they might have even started on the tooling.  Be a shame to throw away all that work and investment, for naught.

 

Speaking of Motor Cars;  probably 12 or 15 years ago, MTH made a credible model of an EMC gas-electric, motor car.  I bought and own one of these (actually two because I also bought the dummy unit called a trailer), but it hasn't seen operation for many years because I only operate with command control and this car had Proto 1 control and sound.  If it could be altered a little bit, MTH could bring the unit back again, include DCS, offer it with only one motor (two motors is really overkill for gas-electrics) and hopefully, add about 5 inches to it's length to make it prototypically correct.  I'd step up to the plate for one of those, too.

 

Paul Fischer

That would be the Rail King Doodlebug. I have one with Proto-2. MTH only made one run of them with Proto-2, in UP and, I think, PRR. They also did a 2-car set with a rather strange-looking version of the Santa Fe Warbonnet paint scheme. I'm planning to remove the UP lettering from mine and reletter it for Milwaukee Road, as their later passenger trains were painted in the UP yellow scheme. 

>>>I would like to own one myself, very cool train.  I do believe MTH made a mistake canceling their production, I definitely wanted one.<<

 

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YmOSWNmjfsY

Yep...certainly one of my favorites.  I had my order in with MTH and would reorder if they would reconsider....

 

Alan

Speaking of the RailKing Doodlebug, I have that and have wanted to kitbash it into

a verified version, such as a Brill car.  There were quite a few makers of these gas

electrics, and making the mold for a model of an actual one wouldn't have cost any

more than making a generic one.  Walthers with their kit of the C&NW, with little

modification in the HO version, offered it as a Gulf, Mobile, and Ohio version, which

was not offered in O scale, as was the C&NW version.  This indicates how little difference there was among different RR's, for some of the factory versions.  (However, some were severely modified by their owners)  I would like to see a

model of an Edwards car, once seen all over the south and elsewhere, and usually a

shorter car than those from some other makers.  General Electric was a big early

player, with cars rounded somewhat like a McKeen, but without prow or portholes.

Here are pictures of the McKeen made for me by a friend. The motor car was done early last year and the trailing cars came this year. It is freelanced using photo's as a guide and compressed to run on my smaller portable layout at shows & meets. Power is a Marx diesel motor.

Here is a short video of all three pieces.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x6NIZtmlTsg

 

Steve

 

 

Steve,

   As I said before, fantastic work by your buddy here in Pittsburgh, Pa.

If MTH or Lionel do not sometime offer one I may have to look him up.

PCRR/Dave

I have made quite a few posts requesting a Mckeen motor car, having been one of many that were disappointed with MTH's cancellation. I would love to own one in both O and standard gauge. This seems a natural for an LCCA special production.

 

As suggested above, let's get a petition going!

 

Eric Hofberg

TCA, LCCA

Coloradohi:  The car that MTH did was a version of the Electro Motive Corporation's motor cars from the late 1920's, early 1930's.  They were powered with a Winton gasoline engine, driving a generator and had interurban type trucks and two motors on one truck.  There were quite a few variations made, over the years, and several are still in existence.  There was a Montana Western EMC motor car that was at EMD's 50th anniversary celebration when GM still owned EMD and the factory was still in LaGrange, IL.  I believe that that car was owned by the Mid-Continent RR musuem in North Freedom, WI, but I'm not sure that it is still there.

 

As a concession to tight curves, the Rail King model was shorter than a prototype car. Also, the model had two motors powering both trucks and the darned thing could pull a 20 car train of freight cars.

 

The actual model for the car was patterned after an HO model that I thought was made by Bachmann some years ago.  Another error that MTH made on their model was when they produced a "trailer car" they used the same basic carbody that was used for the powered car. including another front cab, except that it did not share the baggage compartment but had more passenger windows.  This variation came without power or electronics.  It really should be a real trailer with passenger vestibules at both ends.  To pick another "nit", my two cars are C&NW and MTH had them painted green with yellow striping in front.  On the Northwestern, these cars were always black with a red and white treatment to the front end.

 

Southwest Hi:  Bob, the MTH motor car or gas electric, depending on the nomenclature of the railroad, (NOT a doodlebug, in spite of MTH's insistence on the name) would not be correct for the Milwaukee Road.  I believe that their cars were originally built by Pullman but were so modified by the Milwaukee's own shops that they were pretty unrecognizable by the time they were done.  At any rate, none of the Milwaukee's motor cars made it into the U.P. color scheme.  I've always wanted to build a good model of one of the Milwaukee's cars but I'm by no means a talented scratch builder, perhaps a 'kit-basher" at best and I can't locate any decent model to begin with.

 

Paul Fischer

Paul

 

I'm aware that the EMC motor car is not authentic for the Milwaukee. Most of the Milwaukee ones had a giant pair of radiators directly over the cab, and were set up as baggage/express cars pulling one or two passenger coaches. Scribbins says these were built by Standard (presumably before the merger with Pullman). I have one photo of a different type of car, a combine with a round nose, but I don't know who built it. I don't know that any of them ever got painted in the Hiawatha maroon and orange, let alone UP yellow. Most of the extant photos are in black and white and appear to show an orange car with maroon letterboards. HOWEVER, I kind of like the MTH doodlebug and changing the UP decals to Milwaukee Road is pretty easy, so I'm going to do it as a fantasy piece - just before I start on the Hiawatha GG-1. 

Southwest Hiawatha, I redid a MTH to Milwaukee. Easy job. One of the Milwaukee bugs was originally built for the Northwestern Pacific in California. They may have used it as a line car. 

jpos "Sir, if you knew me, there was no disrespect intended.  I am all about you Ol' Geezers...I just wish you wouldn't keep leaving us" 

None taken.  Don

Amazing stuff.  I thank everyone so much for chiming in on this subject.   I agree with all thats been written, if it were announced again, or better yet actually produced, I'm in line.  I'm all about keeping the history alive.

Joe

MTH would have made them if there had been enough preorders. Many on this forum and others had the "I want to see it first" attitude. If they are offered again, get your order in or they will die again.

 

Steve

Don:  that shot of the MTH gas electric in Milw colors looks pretty good.  I'm not happy with the C&NW paint scheme that MTH chose and I might just say the "heck with it" and change mine to look a bit like yours.   i think that I might add those huge radiators that the Milwaukee motor cars sported after they were dieselized.  Also, as I recall, they had a great big bell,  obviously from a steam engine, hung out in front below the front windows, which would be fairly easy to install.  But I still do like what you have done with yours.  Man, you've got me thinkin'; of course, all I need is another project to work on.

 

How's the layout coming?  Anywhere ready for trains to run on it?

 

Paul Fischer