New LIRR HO Rapido "Osgood Bradley 10-Window Coaches"

[hjw3001]

Hi,

I just got an e-mail from Canadian Model Trains about some new Rapido passenger cars for the LIRR. These appear to be ex: B&M P-74B cars.

The official info:

http://www.modeltrains.com/WEB%20-%20CMT/Rapido/Osgood-Bradley/rt-osgood-bradley-LIRR.htm

Since Rapido announced the Osgood Bradley Lightweight passenger cars back in 2009, they have had countless requests for the Deluxe version of the car. Operated by Cotton Belt, Southern Pacific, Seaboard and Kansas City Southern, these unique cars had spacious bathrooms and a different seating/window arrangement from our 10-Window Coach.  These cars will be available in 3-packs with different car numbers, 2-packs with different numbers, and unnumbered single cars.

FEATURES:

• Designed using original Pullman-Standard blueprints
• Correct tubular cross section with flush windows and painted window frames
• Full underbody detail with separate air, steam and electrical pipes and conduits
• Etched metal, see-through slotted stair risers
• Stunning 41-E trucks with separate chains and metal wheelsets
• Full interior detail including individual seats detailed on all sides and real bulkhead mirrors
• Full skirts or no skirts as appropriate
• Operating diaphragms with etched metal end gates
• Separate grab irons, painted and factory-installed
• “Easy-Peasy” battery-operated interior lighting

Osgood Bradley 10-Window Coaches

109066 LIRR (Dashing Dan) 3-Pack 7521, 7524, 7536 $234.95 MSRP, Reservation Price $199.99
109067 LIRR (Dashing Dan) 3-Pack 7523, 7545, 7550 $234.95 MSRP, Reservation Price $199.99
109068 LIRR (Dashing Dan) Single No # $79.95 MSRP, Reservation Price $71.99
109069 LIRR (MTA) 3-Pack 7525, 7527, 7532 $234.95 MSRP, Reservation Price $199.99
109070 LIRR (MTA) 3-Pack 7534, 7540, 7549 $234.95, Reservation Price $199.99
109071 LIRR (MTA) Single No # $79.95, Reservation Price $71.99

[Block Limit]

Well Guys Here it is right from Rapidos web site.
http://rapidotrains.com/ob1.html
"Osgood-Bradley's first lightweight cars were delivered to the New York, New Haven & Hartford, Boston and Maine and Bangor & Aroostook. These cars were used in both long distance and local service and many lasted to see service on the Penn Central in the 1970's. Additionally, the Boston and Maine's cars were sold to the Long Island Railroad where they served in New York City commuter service into the 1980's"
RAPIDO TRAIN INC.

[hjw3001]

One of the guys at my model RR club has the B&M versions. Nice looking cars!

[MACTRAXX]

Everyone: I remember these cars and I believe the LIRR retired them in the mid 70s at the latest...
They were long retired by the 80s on the LIRR...
Dave Keller or another historian here can remark when the very last steam-heated cars ran back then...
I remember the picture of the banner on front of a C420: "We're Letting Off Steam"...
From the pictures I saw these cars were used on that last run...
I like the model of the orange/gray World's Fair color scheme best...these cars looked good with those colors!
MACTRAXX

[LIengineerBob]

     Even after they were retired from passenger service, about a dozen of them stuck around as MofW cars, storage cars and even alcohol spray cars.  Those cars in non-revenue service were eventually scrapped in the late 1990's-early 2000's!!

[Block Limit]

I think There is a few just east of St Albans that may be on the chopping block soon.

[alcoAL]

Here's a link to some photos of W85, ex-7526 in Riverhead 4/19/08.

http://picasaweb.google.com/alsrelics/LIRRAlcoholCarW85?authkey=Gv1sRgCNTqxe20_bjGdg&feat=directlink

[NYandW]

http://www.trainsarefun.com/lirr/lirrmow.htm 90% down the page Alcohol Cars

W85 ex-7526 Morris Park 02-24-06
Photo: Mike Arnold

[rs31556]

Here's a link to some photos of W85, ex-7526 in Riverhead 4/19/08.

http://picasaweb.google.com/alsrelics/LIRRAlcoholCarW85?authkey=Gv1sRgCNTqxe20_bjGdg&feat=directlink

What became of these cars?

[alcoAL]

W85 is still in Riverhead with another coach owned by Twin Forks. There was a sister car to this, W86, which was scrapped around 2004. It was at Morris Park until the end.

[When Practicable]

Here's a slide that I have scanned from my collection of a Westbound train passing Westbury with 2 Osgood Bradley cars in the consist. I will have to look up the date, but it had to be post-1976 if a GP38 is pulling the train

[Block Limit]

Were these Osgood Bradley cars used as coaches, Parlors, or Bar cars.  Or were these cars used in all 3 variations before retirement and conversion to MoW use and razor blades.

[CannonBall]

All were bought second-hand, and all but three were delivered to the LI as coaches.  Many had bars installed by the LI as follows:

#7521-#7530 were ex-B&M, built in 1935, with bars installed by LI in 7521-7525, 7527,7528, and 7530. 
Cars 7536 and 7548 were convertied to 105-seat classroom cars for Adelphi College in 1972 and 1971, were then returned to coach service in 1977.

#7531-#7550 were also ex-B&M, built in 1937, with bars installed by LI in 7531, 7540, 7542-7544, and 7550.

#8551-#8553 were ex-MEC, built in 1937.  All three were received as buffet-coach (58-seat) cars but were converted by LI by removing the buffet and 2/2 reclining seats, and replacing with a bar and 3/2 seating for 49 seats, then used as bar cars on the Island.  8553 actually was a named car on the Maine Central:  "Aroostook Flyer".

This style of car was modelled by American Flyer toy trains in the 1950s, and is referred to today as "American Flyer" coaches, or, for those many similar cars built by Canadian Car & Foundry for the CN, "Canadian Flyers".  A good number of the Canadian Flyers are still in tourist RR service here in the US, but I don't know of any ex-LI American FLyer cars still intact other than those still on the Island.