Chuck Posted February 21 Share Posted February 21 I came across these cars recently! I never seen any made in "G" scale before. I believe that they're made in 1:32 scale as they measure under 4" wide x 30" long. Anybody have any idea who made them? They're basically 3 piece extruded aluminum construction with sheet aluminum floor and cast resin ends. I'd say made in the late 80's to early 90's as the combine car had a PH Hobbies steam sounds system in it. Professionally made as windows appeared to be punched out and drilled along with pad lettering...not decals. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rayman4449 Posted February 21 Share Posted February 21 That is an amazing find! As the years go on it never fails to surprise the unique items that keep coming up Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chuck Posted February 22 Author Share Posted February 22 I agree as this stuff is stashed away in closets and attics all over the country or countries! Here's a book that I have and one of the fold-outs is the Hiawatha. Matches up pretty good and even the car names! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chuck Posted February 23 Author Share Posted February 23 Think I figured out who made the trucks as I've seen that design and construction method before on Great Trains/ American Standard passenger cars which I believe were made by NWSL. The bottom black sideframe is a USA Trains design. I would like to compare the brown frame to a MTH design but all the trains are 150 miles west of me in a storage unit as I'm in the middle of moving to another state. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Screwy Nick Posted February 24 Share Posted February 24 Chuck, my first thought looking down the inside of the car was USAT, but don't think they made any 1:32?? Nice stuff for sure. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
enginear joe Posted February 24 Share Posted February 24 Hmmm What does the book say about it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
enginear joe Posted February 24 Share Posted February 24 Paul Huntington Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
enginear joe Posted February 24 Share Posted February 24 Paul Huntington Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
enginear joe Posted February 24 Share Posted February 24 can't find yours maybe Gauge One? funny how they drilled both axles just off center on those sideframes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
enginear joe Posted February 24 Share Posted February 24 Brass G scale / gauge one locomotives including a Big Boy, Hiawatha, one of one GG-1, and more at Stout Auctions on August 17th | O Gauge Railroading On Line Forum (ogaugerr.com) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
enginear joe Posted February 24 Share Posted February 24 Streamstyle Graphics - Project Gallery Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chuck Posted February 25 Author Share Posted February 25 None of the above as my cars have no underbody detail. I have thought that maybe they were made using the DeHanes extrusion dies? That line is all part of the J. E. Harmon/ Roberts/ Bob Thon line. http://www.tcawestern.org/dehanes.htm http://www.tcawestern.org/harmon.htm http://www.tcawestern.org/roberts.htm Lionel made the Hiawatha Train in Standard Gauge but those cars have removable roofs with detailed interiors. Far as engine to pull them I'll use the new MTH F units in Milwaukee Road grey/ orange paint! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
enginear joe Posted February 25 Share Posted February 25 but..... not a single mention of any Milwaukee Maybe they're Standard gauge cars with homemade truck sideframes for conversion? what's the cover of that book look like??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
enginear joe Posted February 25 Share Posted February 25 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chuck Posted February 26 Author Share Posted February 26 Oh here's the book cover.... Just messing with you as it's the same book that you show! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chuck Posted February 26 Author Share Posted February 26 On 2/25/2024 at 11:29 AM, enginear joe said: but..... not a single mention of any Milwaukee Maybe they're Standard gauge cars with homemade truck sideframes for conversion? what's the cover of that book look like??? I thought about them being standard gauge cars but I think that they're too "small" as measure out to 1:32...but maybe? The trucks look and are made same as Great Trains passenger trucks...then again I may be wrong. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Waterman Posted February 26 Share Posted February 26 Hi Chuck, Got your note. The parts of these cars are from Dana Barlow, the extrusions were used on the standard gauge 'Lee Lines' production and later for his 'G Action Models' brand in G scale. Not sure whether he or someone else made the beaver tail end, that piece is unique. The trucks and ends are his. I think I even have a few of those expanded metal 'fences' at the end of the car somewhere. Some of the windows were punched, some drilled and a few look like they were formed from the square punch at the end of the beaver tail car. Your set was likely a one off. I have been in touch with Dana Barlow lately, he is 82 and posted on Facebook a couple of times. I'll have to ask him about this set. I make these cars today using the same extrusions in standard gauge, and have a mold for the PRR Congressional flat end, and the round end which requires bending the sides. I use the same ends and trucks today for standard gauge with modifications. Jim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
enginear joe Posted February 26 Share Posted February 26 Wow, great stuff. could that end be the Lionel Standard gauge piece? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chuck Posted February 27 Author Share Posted February 27 Hi Jim, Thanks much for replying and I figured that if anybody knew about these cars it would be you! Seems a few years ago (or quite a few) that I watched you on a live stream showing the cars and engines that you make in standard gauge...seems you showed a Hiawatha set you made or were making for a client?...nice work! I would like to add-on to this set by at least 3 cars and it is good to know that you have the parts, tooling etc. But that won't happen until next fall...at the earliest! Joe; You were right about them being standard gauge cars! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
enginear joe Posted February 27 Share Posted February 27 Just a guess on what was found in a search. I've heard of one off runs for customers or buyers/builders who dabbled with this kind of stuff over the years. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chuck Posted February 27 Author Share Posted February 27 I've often thought about getting into standard gauge but always think of them as bigger than "G" stuff...guess I always think of that Brute engine. Everytime I head west to Iowa with another load I travel thru the Mississippi river town of Savannah, IL. and pass by this Milwaukee Road Hiawatha car. It's from the last run that the Milwaukee shops made and one of only 16 left in existence. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chuck Posted March 10 Author Share Posted March 10 After reading thru the Lee Lines/ G Action Models history these cars are 40+ years old and very probably the only Hiawatha set made as they were in business only from 1975 thru 1982. And shows they only produced 50 SP Daylight GS-4 Streamlined Standard gauge locomotives were produced by Dana Barlow's Lee Lines. And roughly half as many streamlined passenger cars were made. Cars were sold as 3-car sets. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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