Passenger car trucks

[Chuck Stewart]

Several of us model railroaders have a question:  The six wheel trucks that came with the ex-Army hospital cars were used on the Monon cars...at least for awhile.  I guess these were made by General Casting but does anybody know the actual name or model number of this truck?  Thanks!

[Tom Kepshire]

I don't know the name of that set of trucks, but have you tried Eastern Car Works? I know they have many passenger kts and they may have a lead on 6 wheel ones. If Walthers does not have them in stock, that's not good. We purchased 4 wheel sets for the baggage and RPO kits through Eastern Car Works.

[Chuck Stewart]

Thanks, Tom!  Searched for ECW and found they went out of business about five years ago.  One person suggested checking with Bethlehem Car Works but I didn't find a match.  So far, the closest I've found is a Pullman truck...and, of course, even it is out of stock!  I'll keep looking...and thanks again!

[Robert Gibson]

Atlas has announced the production of heavyweight coaches with 6 wheel trucks.

[Robert Gibson]

Walthers currently has in stock #732-418 outside swing hanger trucks.  No picture shown and not sure these are 6 wheel trucks, but that's what came up in the search.

[Chad Boas]

The old Rivarossi trucks are very close to the Hospital car trucks. I think they were from General Steel Casting. It takes some work, but I have been putting them on my passenger cars. You have to cut off the bolster between the two springs and there are crown castings over the journal boxes that need shaved off. If you want to do the ones with the brake cylinders, I use the short Train Station Products or Athern brake cylinders used on the EMD trucks and Train Station Products also has a part for the bolster. I also have some cast resin parts to finish them off.  I have pictures I can post if anyone wants to see them.
Chad

[Robert Gibson]

Show us your pictures.  Thanks.

[Chuck Stewart]

Hi, Bob!  Checked out the new Atlas heavyweight cars.  From what I can tell, these cars use what seems to be one of the Pullman six wheel trucks with an arch piece over the middle axle.  All my photos of the Monon cars, as they left Shops, did not have this extra piece and I think the frame is slightly different.  I'll continue to follow the leads that are coming fast and furious!  ;-)  Thanks and hope you are well!

[Mike Aufderheide]

Chuck,

Are these the former Branchline cars?

Mike Aufderheide

[Chad Boas]

Here ya go.
Chad

[Chuck Stewart]

Thanks, Chad, for the photos.  I believe these are Commonwealth trucks and they look to be a very close match to the ones on the Monon cars when they left Shops...with the exception of the arch over the middle axle.  At the hobby shop yesterday, we found these same style trucks in plastic and brass.  Their suggestion was to grind or file off the arch.  Somewhere(?), I was told that Train Station Products made the trucks that were used on the club's resin passenger car kit.  I emailed Larry(?) about a week ago with no response.  Does anybody have that kit and know the TSP part number?  I have to ask myself, how accurate do the trucks need to be when the car itself is not an accurate representation?  Picked up my three cars yesterday and I think they look super.  Love the interior and lighting system. 
Mike: I believe the car models were tooled by Rapido out of Canada.
Thanks, everybody!
Chuck

[Chad Boas]

The train Station tucks are the Modern 6 wheel trucks #426. You will have to back date them by leaving off the out side coil spring/shocks. There is a bolster on one of them that you can use to make the later version of the Monon truck. Also, you will need a brake cylinder. The ends of these trucks aren't right. They have thinner ends. These are the trucks that I put in the Monon kits when I did them.
Chad

[Chuck Stewart]

Thanks, Chad!  I'll check that out.

[Chuck Stewart]

FYI: The best photo of the truck in question (that I have found) is on the top of page 119 of Lewnard's book "Monon in Color".

[Chad Boas]

That is before the shops reworked the brakes. They came from ACF with one main brake cylinder and all the linkage to the trucks. They removed the big cylinder and added two small ones to the trucks around 1954. The RPO's #11 and #12 didn't get the upgrade. If you want to see what the original braking looked like, the Jasper car #400 is one of the U.S hospital cars similar to what the Monon bought.
Chad