Undecorated Lightweight Observation Passenger Cars

Supplemental Part:

Supplemental Part:

Notes:

This was a body-only kit based on the A.C. Gilbert #963 car. At the time of production, the company offered an American Flyer chassis, separately.

Prototype Info

Era:

lightweight

Car Type:

observation

Length:

67'

Road Name:

(undecorated)

Model Manufacturer Info

Manufacturer:

Branch Line Models

Manufacturer ID:

I-210

Gauge:

AF

Introduced:

1960

Product Type:

wood & metal kit

Finish:

unpainted

Wheels:

hi-rail

Couplers:

not included

Decals:

not included

Lighted:

no

Supplemental Part:

Supplemental Part:

Supplemental Part:

Notes:

This is the "shorty" version of #I-206 to be able to handle the tight AF-based layout curves. These cars were originally Midgage Models (1947), later taken over by Sylvania Models (1950), and then Branch Line Hobby Supply (1960), which used the "Branch Line Models" brand name.

Prototype Info

Era:

lightweight

Car Type:

observation

Length:

60'

Road Name:

(undecorated)

Model Manufacturer Info

Manufacturer:

Chester Industrial Arts

Gauge:

S

Introduced:

1950

Product Type:

wood & metal kit

Finish:

unpainted

Wheels:

not included

Couplers:

not included

Lighted:

no

Product Notes:

Supplemental Part:

Supplemental Part:

Supplemental Part:

Notes:

The model's frame and roof was made out of wood, and the corrugated sides and (the crude) ends were made out of unfinished, shiny aluminum. The included sponge-rubber diaphragms deteriorated over time. The "glass" was made out of celluloid, which yellows over time. This is the shorty version, designed to handle the sharper AF-based layouts. The skirting wheel cut-outs were long to accommodate 6-wheel trucks.

Prototype Info

Era:

lightweight

Car Type:

observation

Length:

67'

Road Name:

(undecorated)

Model Manufacturer Info

Manufacturer:

Midgage Models

Manufacturer ID:

I-210

Gauge:

AF

Introduced:

1947

Product Type:

wood & metal kit

Finish:

unpainted

Wheels:

hi-rail

Couplers:

not included

Decals:

not included

Lighted:

no

Supplemental Part:

Supplemental Part:

Supplemental Part:

Notes:

This is the "shorty" version of #I-206 to be able to handle the tight AF-based layout curves.

Prototype Info

Era:

lightweight

Car Type:

observation

Length:

65'

Road Name:

(undecorated)

Model Manufacturer Info

Manufacturer:

Schreiner Scale Models

Manufacturer ID:

P-106

Gauge:

S

Product Type:

resin kit

Finish:

unpainted

Wheels:

not included

Couplers:

not included

Decals:

not included

Lighted:

no

Supplemental Part:

Supplemental Part:

Supplemental Part:

Notes:

This is the "shorty" version to be able to handle the tight AF-based layout curves. These were reproductions of the Midgage cars.

Prototype Info

Era:

lightweight

Car Type:

observation

Length:

80'

Road Name:

(undecorated)

Model Manufacturer Info

Manufacturer:

Schreiner Scale Models

Manufacturer ID:

P-206

Gauge:

S

Introduced:

1995

Product Type:

resin kit

Finish:

unpainted

Wheels:

not included

Couplers:

not included

Decals:

not included

Lighted:

no

Supplemental Part:

Supplemental Part:

Supplemental Part:

Notes:

These were reproductions of the Midgage cars.

Prototype Info

Era:

lightweight

Car Type:

observation

Length:

67'

Road Name:

(undecorated)

Model Manufacturer Info

Manufacturer:

Sylvania Models

Manufacturer ID:

I-210

Gauge:

AF

Introduced:

1950

Product Type:

wood & metal kit

Finish:

unpainted

Wheels:

hi-rail

Couplers:

not included

Decals:

not included

Lighted:

no

Product Notes:

Supplemental Part:

Supplemental Part:

Supplemental Part:

Notes:

This is the "shorty" version of #I-206 to be able to handle the tight AF-based layout curves. These were a continuation of the Midgage Models kits.

Bill Morris

Prototype Info

Era:

lightweight

Car Type:

observation

Doors:

0

Windows:

10

Length:

85'

Road Name:

(undecorated)

Model Manufacturer Info

Manufacturer:

Chester Industrial Arts

Gauge:

S

Introduced:

1950

Product Type:

wood & metal kit

Finish:

unpainted

Wheels:

not included

Couplers:

not included

Lighted:

no

Product Notes:

Supplemental Part:

Supplemental Part:

Supplemental Part:

Notes:

The model's frame and roof was made out of wood, and the corrugated sides and (the crude) ends were made out of unfinished, shiny aluminum. The included sponge-rubber diaphragms deteriorated over time. The "glass" was made out of celluloid, which yellows over time. The skirting wheel cut-outs were long to accommodate 6-wheel trucks.

Alvin Clapp put Kadee couplers on the car, and used some (unknown-to-him) trucks he had on hand.

Train Pulling Chester Cars

Carey Williams Runs Several Cars (see also 10-minute mark)

Prototype Info

Manufacturer:

Budd Company

Era:

lightweight

Car Type:

observation

Doors:

0/1

Windows:

13/12

Length:

74'

Road Name:

(undecorated)

Model Manufacturer Info

Manufacturer:

American Models

Manufacturer ID:

BDBS00

Gauge:

S

Introduced:

2001

Product Type:

plastic

Finish:

painted, not lettered

Wheels:

scale or hi-rail

Couplers:

scale or AF

Lighted:

no

Product Notes:

Supplemental Part:

Supplemental Part:

Supplemental Part:

Supplemental Part:

Supplemental Part:

Notes:

Part of a 4-car set. This is the silver version. Note that these are considered "shorty" cars.

Prototype Info

Manufacturer:

Budd Company

Era:

lightweight

Car Type:

observation

Doors:

0/1

Windows:

13/12

Length:

74'

Road Name:

(undecorated)

Model Manufacturer Info

Manufacturer:

American Models

Manufacturer ID:

BDBS00C

Gauge:

S

Introduced:

2003

Product Type:

plastic

Finish:

painted, not lettered

Wheels:

scale or hi-rail

Couplers:

scale or AF

Lighted:

no

Product Notes:

Supplemental Part:

Supplemental Part:

Supplemental Part:

Supplemental Part:

Supplemental Part:

Notes:

Part of a 4-car set. This is the chrome version. Note that these are considered "shorty" cars.

Prototype Info

Era:

lightweight

Car Type:

observation

Doors:

1

Windows:

11

Length:

80'

Road Name:

(undecorated)

Model Manufacturer Info

Manufacturer:

Sylvania Models

Manufacturer ID:

I-206

Gauge:

S

Introduced:

1950

Product Type:

wood & metal kit

Finish:

unpainted

Wheels:

scale

Couplers:

not included

Decals:

not included

Lighted:

no

Product Notes:

Supplemental Part:

Supplemental Part:

Supplemental Part:

Notes:

These came with the Nixon Model Co's sprung soft-metal truck kits and wheelsets. These were a continuation of the Midgage Models kits.

Bill Morris

Prototype Info

Manufacturer:

Pullman-Standard

Era:

lightweight

Car Type:

observation

Doors:

1

Windows:

13

Year:

1947

Length:

85'

Road Name:

(undecorated)

Notes:

These cars were based on the Great Northern's "Empire Builder" train.

Model Manufacturer Info

Manufacturer:

American Models

Manufacturer ID:

HA8000

Additional IDs:

HA8500

Gauge:

S

Introduced:

1984

Product Type:

plastic kit

Finish:

painted, not lettered

Wheels:

scale

Couplers:

custom

Lighted:

no

Product Notes:

Supplemental Part:

Supplemental Part:

Supplemental Part:

Archer Transfer 3D resin rivets

Supplemental Part:

Supplemental Part:

Archer Transfer 3D resin rivets #2

Notes:

Part of a five-car set, and available separately.

Prototype Info

Era:

lightweight

Car Type:

observation

Doors:

1

Windows:

13

Length:

80'

Road Name:

(undecorated)

Model Manufacturer Info

Manufacturer:

Midgage Models

Manufacturer ID:

I-206

Gauge:

S

Introduced:

1947

Product Type:

wood & metal kit

Finish:

unpainted

Wheels:

scale

Couplers:

not included

Decals:

not included

Lighted:

no

Supplemental Part:

Supplemental Part:

Supplemental Part:

Notes:

These came with the Nixon Model Co's sprung soft-metal truck kits and wheelsets.

These four close-up photos, taken by Bob Werre, were of Jack Troxell's model, which included special electronics Jack added to support the red back-up light, the white light, and the side-mark lights, all when running on a DC layout. The photos provide an insight into how the models were constructed.

Shows Sylvania cars, which were a continuation of the Midgage ones

Prototype Info

Era:

lightweight

Car Type:

observation

Doors:

1/0

Windows:

11

Length:

80'

Road Name:

(undecorated)

Model Manufacturer Info

Manufacturer:

Branch Line Models

Manufacturer ID:

I-206

Gauge:

S

Introduced:

1960

Product Type:

wood & metal kit

Finish:

unpainted

Wheels:

scale

Couplers:

not included

Decals:

not included

Lighted:

no

Supplemental Part:

Supplemental Part:

Supplemental Part:

Notes:

These came with the Nixon Model Co's sprung soft-metal truck kits and wheelsets. These cars were originally Midgage Models (1947), later taken over by Sylvania Models (1950), and then Branch Line Hobby Supply (1960), which used the "Branch Line Models" brand name.

This is a photo of the original Midgage Models version.

A scan from their catalog.

Prototype Info

Manufacturer:

Pullman

Era:

lightweight

Car Type:

observation

Doors:

2

Windows:

12

Road Name:

(undecorated)

Model Manufacturer Info

Manufacturer:

Exacta Scale Models

Manufacturer ID:

258

Gauge:

S

Introduced:

1946

Product Type:

wood & metal kit

Finish:

unpainted

Wheels:

not included

Couplers:

not included

Decals:

not included

Lighted:

no

Supplemental Part:

Supplemental Part:

Supplemental Part: