Yay or Nay?

[BaltoOhioRRfan]

I've got a few undec spectrum coaches, and I was thinking about turning one into an open air coach. I'd cut out a few of the window supports, modify the window glazing, and detail the interior a little more(like add in walls for the toilet rooms, and cover the workings of the couplers). It would be a coach used on the business train to show off the line to potiential and currect customers of the line. I may rework the entire interior and make it a coach/diner by adding a snack bar at one end and a couple of tables while the rest would be normal seating for a coach.

What you guys think?

Also the car would be painted in B&O Blue/Grey scheme.

[Doneldon]

Balto-

It sounds like a fun project with a unique end point. I say go for it.

                                                                                         -- D

[Desertdweller]

You should check out the open-air coaches used on the Royal Gorge railroad.  They have taken regular streamlined coaches, saved a bit of roof and sides at each end (to allow vestibule connections with adjoining cars), and in between removed the roofs and windows and pier panels down to the level of the window sills.

I assume some additional structural bracing was probably needed. 

These cars run mixed with full-length dome cars.

Les

[BaltoOhioRRfan]

I'll check em out, though my plan includes keeping the roof, don't wanna be sun burnt now do ya?

Strasburg did a simular thing that i want to do, only they used "overland" type coaches

[Woody Elmore]

The Great Smokey Mountain railroad in western NC has some interesting open air cars. I rode in what had been a baggage car - the sills for the sliding door were intact. Open air cars are homemade so you can do anything you like!

[ebtnut]

In the grand old days of Southern steam excursions they had a car named the Lookout Mountain that was essentially what you are describing.  Might find a photo with a Google search.

[Joe Satnik]

From Google:

http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=2236575

http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=590720

http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/rsPicture.aspx?id=191788

Hope this helps.

Sincerely,

Joe Satnik

[Woody Elmore]

THe GSMRy car was nothing as nice as Lookout Mountain. The railroad runs on former Southern Railway right of way. I haven't been there in almost 15 years and I see that their steam engine - a 2-8-0 built for the Army Transportation COrps in 1945, has been out of service since 2004.

The line was used in the filming of the film "the Fugitive" and part of the train excursion takes you past the wreck that was staged for the movie.

My brother and his wife are thinking of relocating to Maggie Valley which I believe is about 45 minutes away from the GSMRy depot. I hope they find something - visiting them would just be an excuse to ride the rails. We are drawn to the area of western North Carolina because our grandfather was born near Cowee.

I still haven't gotten around to visiting the Tweetsie.

I think modelling an excursion car is a great idea - you can copy a prototype or freelance. 

[BaltoOhioRRfan]

Sorry for being so mum on this lately, been busy. The plan for the coach is going to go forward. and will post pics of it once construction has started. right now i'm planning on how to actually cut out the windows since they have the clips that hold the whole car together. Plan is to just cut out the windows with a dremel and leaving ones in place.

Would the use of vending machines on the coach be i guess practical? (I'm sure it wont be protostypical haha). they would be part of the picnic area so to speak on the coach.

[Irbricksceo]

Well, In experience Open air Excursion cars only had snack bars, never vending machines. (Often they would use the kitchen of a Dining car) But it is your railroad and I am sure someone in real life has tried just that. Go ahead, add the Machines, just be sure to post pictures because I would love to see it

[BaltoOhioRRfan]

Well, In experience Open air Excursion cars only had snack bars, never vending machines. (Often they would use the kitchen of a Dining car) But it is your railroad and I am sure someone in real life has tried just that. Go ahead, add the Machines, just be sure to post pictures because I would love to see it

Pics will be posted, don't worry. and snack bar was what i was thinking of, but i had a brain fart. The train the coach will be used on will only be a 2 car train. a Business car and the open air coach as its going to be used to show off the line and railroad facilities to potentintal and current customers of the railroad. a baggage car might be tacked on too for supplies or a converted box car.

[Doneldon]

Balto-

I'm sure there were railroads somewhere, sometime which had vending machines. I would bet some of the tourist railroads have them although I haven't come across any. I wouldn't expect to see them on the mainline railroads as the unions, which have always been very powerful on the railroads, would have insisted on live waiters and so on.
                                                                  -- D

[Desertdweller]

The Southern Pacific ran automat cars on certain trains.  Food was sold through vending machines.  The management liked them because they were cheap to operate and reduced crews.

They were not popular with riders as they replaced manned food service cars.

My experience riding tourist railroads saw train crew members walking through the cars selling snacks and drinks.

If you want to offer food service, why not go all the way and run a dining car and offer dinner train service?

Les

[BaltoOhioRRfan]

The Southern Pacific ran automat cars on certain trains.  Food was sold through vending machines.  The management liked them because they were cheap to operate and reduced crews.

They were not popular with riders as they replaced manned food service cars.

My experience riding tourist railroads saw train crew members walking through the cars selling snacks and drinks.

If you want to offer food service, why not go all the way and run a dining car and offer dinner train service?

Les

I only have twp in service dinning cars at the moment, and one used in the "Royal Blue". One is for the George Washington, and 3 others i have need work(two are IHCs which i need knuckles interiors and weights for em)

And the train will be designed to only do a couple hour runs, wont be a long distance train.

[Doneldon]

If you want to offer food service, why not go all the way and run a dining car and offer dinner train service?

Les-

The reason is that the dining cars, despite their high prices, lost money all of the time. My father was the number one dining car steward on the Santa Fe every quarter for the six years before he died in 1961. His diners never made a cent. In fact, he was the best because he lost less money than any of the road's other stewards. And the SF had lots of stewards because they had a huge food service to cover their many long-distance routes.

Most of the big-time railroads, the Santa Fe included, viewed their mandated passenger service as good PR and the diners as the highlight of the travel experience. Consequently, they poured big money into equipment and service, all while trying daily to get the government to let them quit the passenger business. How's that for being schizophrenic? Through the first half of the 20th Century, and even into the 50s on some lines, the best food in America was on the crack trains and at a few high-profile hotels. If you wanted  great meal in Chicago at that time, for example, you went to the Cape Cod Room at the Drake, the Pump Room at the Ambassador East or the Empire Room at the Palmer House. If none of those suited your fancy you had to find a train with a dining car.

This all gone now, of course, unless you consider luxurious excursion trains like the defunct American Orient Express or the Royal Canadian.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                  -- D