Questions.....

2

2slim

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Jan 16, 2004
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Murray, UT
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Hi Guys,
My first question..... What on earth makes those HO Rivarossi Log cars so dammed expensive? ($39.95 for a 2 pack from Walthers). Are they brass? Are they as nice as the KD kits? I'm having a hard time justifing the expense.

Second question......I saw a picture someplace of a Log car made from a 40 or 50 foot gondola, I can't remember if it was a model or prototype. It had most of the sides cut down to floor level except for a small section on the ends which acted like a bulkhead. It had what looked like Details West log bunks spaced out in the cutout opening. Can someone direct me to a photo of this car?

Thanks Guys, keep on loggin'!!!
 
First, Rivarossi is known for higher prices, apparently it's because they're made in Italy and shipped here but the engines are of very good quality. If you're intrested in less expensive log cars check out keystone loco works or even MDC's 3 in 1 kits. I have a few of the MDC log cars on my layout and they suit me just fine.

second I've never seen the log car you're decribing but it amost sound like a bulkhead flat car converted to pulpwood servive. maybe someone else has a better idea.
 
Rivarossi log cars. $20.00 each($39.95/two), RTR. The Kaydee kits are not much less expensive, and the Rivarossi cars are good looking, and being diecast, track better, because of the heavier weight.
Can't help with question 2.
Pete
 
2slim, I know this is late, however I seen the cars you mentioned in a book from the library about logging railroads on Vancouver Island [here on the west end of Canada.]
I 'think' it was called
"Logging by rail". But don't quote me :)
I hope that helps :)
 
Logging railroads were notorious for making do. I have seen logs, piling and power poles shipped in gondolas. If the sides of a gondola were cut down, it was probably to allow loading with a mechanical loader. If you are modeling modern era log cars, they are much different than the ones that Riverossi and Kadee have available. The modern ones have high supports on each side (usually 4) and bulkhead ends. The skeleton cars went out quite a few years ago. Standard Hobby Supply sells the Riverossi cars for 29.00.
 
Just to put a couple more cents in. I have an old MR article about scatchbuilding log cars en mass. once I've done a few more projects I'm going to build my own and retire the old MDC cars.
 
Another late response...yes, the log cars you describe did really exist. The ones I am most familiar with were Union Pacific prototypes...exactly as you describe, they were gondolas with both sides removed but the ends retained and log bunks installed on the floor. I am pretty sure that at least some of these cars saw service on the Camas Prairie and possibly the Idaho Northern & Pacific until fairly recently. I am not aware of any pictures of such cars on line, but some might turn up if you do some searching. Otherwise, maye ten years ago Model Railroad Craftsman ran an article on modern logging railroads that included pictures of these cars.

As for the Rivarossi cars...they are nice models. Worth the asking price? I don't know. They are all metal cars, are very heavy, and are very well detailed. In that respect they might be worth that asking price. I have two of them, but only because they offered them in McCloud River...which I had to get, even though the McCloud never used skeleton cars...

I would suggest looking more at the Athearn 40-foot car or the Walthers 42-foot flat...both can still be purchased for a fraction of the price of the Rivarossi cars in the right places...

Jeff Moore
Elko, NV
 
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