[Kelpieflyer]

Hey There,

Has anyone retrofitted a streamlined shell on to a 918 heavy weight mail car? I am in the process of getting some streamlined passenger cars that are good repaint candidates to put together a Royal Blue passenger set. I would rather use the streamlined cars than the heavyweights.

 

[cramden]

I've never done something like that, but if you're talking about putting a 960 shell on a 918 frame the streamlined frame is about 2 inches longer than a 918 frame. It probably could be done if you could remove the mail bag mechanism from the 918 frame and installing it on the 960 baggage car frame since the 960 baggage door would have to be cut out on the 960 because it wouldn't line up as the 918 opening does. You would also have to change the trucks, I don't think you could make the existing trucks work. In my opinion, too much work. Better to just repaint a 918 to match the streamlined cars you have. Let us know if you decide to give it a try.

 

[Trackman]

I looked into doing the same thing once, working the heavyweight mailbag mechanism into a streamline combine car, but found the streamline car body was too narrow to get the mechanism to fit inside.
And as mentioned, I also found the trucks were not designed to allow an easy modification to carry an outside electrical pickup shoe.
The thought of modifying the mechanism, combined with the truck redesign was too much bother for me and I set the idea aside.
However, we like the way you think!
If you try it and pull it off, I'd love to see some photos.