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Car Comparisons

Matching Passenger cars with Motive Power

Passenger cars sizes range from the old, extra small Marx and Lionel O27 Streamliners to long Scale Heavyweights. Because of their extreme length, a pike's curves will be the major factor in deciding what runs and what does not. This problem was first encountered in the 1930s, when Scale fans decried the truncated wagons common to tinplate. In the 1940s, various attempts were made to solve the problem of long cars on 31 and O27 track. The added focus on realism in the Postwar years demanded new solutions. Lionel started the ball rolling with the Madison car, a shorter, lower-profile version of the classic 72' and 80' heavyweights. They followed this with 12" O27 Streamliners. Marx also produced tiny Streamliners during those years. The entry of other makers in the last two decades has increased the options for non-scale O passenger cars. Likewise, Scale fans are being accommodated with 1/48 heavyweight and Streamliner type cars.

The motive power has remained pretty much standardized as it had been in the Postwar years. Lionel produced semi-scale and O27 steamers in abundance, with only one major O27 diesel, the Alco FA. Marx held on to its 1/64 standard, with its O27 steamers and diesel fleet. The icon of diesel was the EMD cab unit. Lionel's was the 1/48 F3, and Marx had the 1/64 E7.

We must note how different makers have approached the problem of downsizing passenger cars to handle O31 and O27 curves. Marx and Lionel initially made very small non-scale models: the O27 streamliners. Madison cars had more thought behind them, being lower in height and of shorter length, yet retaining some of the width. The same can be said of the aluminum 15 inch Streamliners. Railking's approach was an even shorter Madison, yet with a profile almost equal to a scale heavyweight. K-line developed a 1/64 model that retained scale dimensions in height, length and depth. Of the newer cars, the K-line is best suited to handle O27 curves. Railking's Madison is fine on O27, as well, though the standard Lionel/Williams Madisons can have a tight squeeze on O27 track. (At this time, we have been unable to get our hands on Marx or lionel short O27 streamliners - can anybody spare some?) The Railking Madison looks best behind a Scale F or GP, and passable with semi-scale diesel. L-line Streamliners only look good behind semi-scale and O27 power, being dwarfed buy even the short Scale F units. The lionel / Williams Madison works behind almost any power, looking a bit small behind Scale and a bit wide behind pure 1/64.

Your pike and motive power factor most in your choice of passenger cars.

Note: the standard Heavyweight, in real life, is several inches taller than the roof of an EMD cab unit. Streamliners generally run fro ma few inches shorter to a comparable height, while the latest commuter cars (Comets, Horizons, bombardiers) tend to be much shorter.

Marx E7 is close to right height, and would be right length if Madison represented O27 80' car

Appearance of Classic F7 is passable, but a bit tall.

Marx E7 is right size for this car, if we regard the Madison as being an 80 footer.

F7 is too tall for the Streamliner

Front view, L to R: K-Line Streamliner, 60' Madison and Classic F7 The curve of the celestory might give the impression, in this photo, that the Madison is shorter than the Streamliner. in fact. it is 1/16 to 1/8 inch taller. Originally designed for the semi-scale steamer and 1/48 F3, the Madison is notably wider than the O27 Streamliner.
The F7 looks too wide for the O27 streamliner, while the FA is not as obvious. E7 for comparison.

Locomotives with Madisons - Marx 0-4-0 and Tank Engine look tiny, but the 4-4-2 looks right at home.

From rear: Docksider w/ Heavyweight, 4-4-2 w/ Heavyweight, 0-4-0 w/ Madison Note larger doors, etc, of Heavyweight. The 72' Scale car looks too large when behind the semi-scale 4-4-2, 0-4-0 and 2-4-2.

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Marx E7 is close to right height, and would be right length if Madison represented O27 80' car	Appearance of Classic F7 is passable, but a bit tall.
Marx E7 is right size for this car, if we regard the Madison as being an 80 footer.	F7 is too tall for the Streamliner
Front view, L to R: K-Line Streamliner, 60' Madison and Classic F7 The curve of the celestory might give the impression, in this photo, that the Madison is shorter than the Streamliner. in fact. it is 1/16 to 1/8 inch taller. Originally designed for the semi-scale steamer and 1/48 F3, the Madison is notably wider than the O27 Streamliner.	The F7 looks too wide for the O27 streamliner, while the FA is not as obvious. E7 for comparison.
Locomotives with Madisons - Marx 0-4-0 and Tank Engine look tiny, but the 4-4-2 looks right at home.	From rear: Docksider w/ Heavyweight, 4-4-2 w/ Heavyweight, 0-4-0 w/ Madison Note larger doors, etc, of Heavyweight. The 72' Scale car looks too large when behind the semi-scale 4-4-2, 0-4-0 and 2-4-2.