This is an interesting new offering by Bachmann.
See: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Witt_streetcar
SPECTRUM® HO SCALE PETER WITT STREET CAR WITH FULL INTERIOR & LIGHTS â€" DCC EQUIPPED, FLYWHEELS
Overhead wire and track pickup.
84601 9 UNDECORATED NOV 6 125.00
84602 6 CHICAGO SURFACE LINES NOV 6 125.00
84603 3 BROOKLYN & QUEENS TRANSIT NOV 6 125.00
84604 0 BALTIMORE TRANSIT CO. NOV 6 125.00
84605 7 LOS ANGELES RAILWAY NOV 6 125.00
84606 4 ST. LOUIS RAILWAYS NOV 6 125.00
Got two of the Baltimore ones on preorder, as soon as i saw the e-mail at work i placed it! Along with two berkshiers(Kanawahas) and Sharks(an A and a B)
This really fills a void in the HO traction market. We have had old-style Brills, and the PCC's. This is an excellent 19020'-era trolley that served to the end on many lines, like Baltimore. Hope Bachmann brings it in with pole pick-up alternative as opposed to 2-rail only.
There is a picture of the model on another forum:
http://www.2guyzandsumtrains.com/Forums/viewtopic/p=48661.html#48661 (http://www.2guyzandsumtrains.com/Forums/viewtopic/p=48661.html#48661)
You may need to scroll up from the bottom of the page.
Paul F.
I'm looking forward to the cars in the Baltimore Transit Co., and Brooklyn & Queens Transit Co. paintschemes. With careful masking, I can repaint a car into a PRT (Philadelphia Rapid Transit), or PTC (Philadelphia Transportation Co.)-inspired scheme for my freelanced transit system. It won't be accurate for a Philadelphia Peter Witt, but it's more than available otherwise.
Why is there no TTC roadname?
On the General Discussion board, the Bach-Man said:
"Dear All,
These are single-ended cars, and, like most streetcars, they'll take a very sharp radius. There may well be other cities offered down the road.
Have fun!
the Bach-man"
Hopefully Toronto would be offered in the second run of models (assuming that there is a second run offered).
Paul F.
Surely TTC has to be one of the roadnames offered, they only had 575 of them!!! A small oversight?
St. Louis Public Service Co. painted theirs (along with their PCC's) in a similar red-and-cream scheme, to the TTC. Perhaps when the cars painted for St. Louis are available, you can modify the paint as necessary, to get the proper scheme for a Toronto car.
(http://www.peachcreekshops.com/images/peter_witt_car.jpg)
Photo by Peach Creek Shops.
That is one great looking streetcar (looks most like the Baltimore version to me :)). I can't wait to see the decorated versions, or a front end shot (all we've seen are side views :( )
Thanks for the picture link, Dr. EMD!
Paul F.
Dear All,
I'm told the Peter Witt will negotiate 9" radius curves.
Have fun!
the Bach-man
I ordered the Baltimore version sight unseen this week.
I visited the Baltimore Trolley Museum's website and they had some Witt Imagery.
I have questions:
1- Are there only one road number availible for each road?
2- Are these cars run in solo only? or pairs?
I am happy to look forward to this new item, thanks Bachmann!
Quote from: FallsvalleyRR on August 07, 2007, 02:29:37 PM
I ordered the Baltimore version sight unseen this week.
I visited the Baltimore Trolley Museum's website and they had some Witt Imagery.
I have questions:
1- Are there only one road number availible for each road?
2- Are these cars run in solo only? or pairs?
I am happy to look forward to this new item, thanks Bachmann!
While I can't comment on whether there will be multiple numbers for each paint scheme, I took a look at several web sites to research whether there is evidence that the cars ran in pairs.
http://www.btco.net/Vehicles/Witt/ (http://www.btco.net/Vehicles/Witt/) provides a wealth of detail on Baltimore Peter Witt cars and their route assignments, and has some clear photos of the cars that do not show any couplers on the front end (exception being the two 1924 cars which had a different body and door configuration).
In addition to the Peter Witt at Baltimore Streetcar Musuem, another survivor (6144) is at Seashore Trolley Museum:
http://www.trolleymuseum.org/collection/national/6144.html (http://www.trolleymuseum.org/collection/national/6144.html)
Hope this helps a little.
Paul F.
That was GREAT!
;D
The suggestion was made that the company should paint the Peter Witt Streetcar in Cream and Maroon to represent the Toronto Transit Commission (formerly Toronto Transportation Commission) Cars.
There are two basic problems with this suggestion:
1) The Toronto Peter Witts, of which there were three versions, now at the Halton County Radial Railway Museum (hcry.org), were very different from those used in Brooklyn, Philadelphia, other US cities and Mexico. The differences would be obvious and make the cars look obviously wrong, particularly due to the differences in the fronts of the cars. A model of the Brill version was produced by Fairfield Models (aka Model Tramway System) in brass, in the distant past. An internet search may locate such a unit.
2) There were numerous colour schemes during the period from approximately 1921 to the 1960's, some very complicated. There were also different shades of Cream and Maroon paint used, the closest to the actual colours having been available in epoxy paint under the Hobbypoxy brand. Decals have been available in HO from Custom Traxx and Dry Transfer Lettering from CDS.
Quote from: paulsafety on August 07, 2007, 04:28:00 PM
While I can't comment on whether there will be multiple numbers for each paint scheme, I took a look at several web sites to research whether there is evidence that the cars ran in pairs.
http://www.btco.net/Vehicles/Witt/ (http://www.btco.net/Vehicles/Witt/) provides a wealth of detail on Baltimore Peter Witt cars and their route assignments, and has some clear photos of the cars that do not show any couplers on the front end (exception being the two 1924 cars which had a different body and door configuration).
In addition to the Peter Witt at Baltimore Streetcar Musuem, another survivor (6144) is at Seashore Trolley Museum:
http://www.trolleymuseum.org/collection/national/6144.html (http://www.trolleymuseum.org/collection/national/6144.html)
Hope this helps a little.
Paul F.
Not only pairs, but triples. I just talked to my dad (a huge traction fan and longtime CERA member) and he distinctly remembers the CSL Witts in doubles and triples, especially during the evening rush in downtown Chicago. All of the cars were equipped with MU capabilities and two poles, so the cars could run in either direction with a single carman (the cars on the ends were facing different directions).
I'll be getting at least two of these cars. Onc in CSL for my dad to play with when he's visiting, and one to kitbash into an ITC 100-series car (until I can find a 280-series Suydam car!)
Quote from: Orsonroy on August 08, 2007, 12:33:05 PM
Quote from: paulsafety on August 07, 2007, 04:28:00 PM
While I can't comment on whether there will be multiple numbers for each paint scheme, I took a look at several web sites to research whether there is evidence that the cars ran in pairs.
http://www.btco.net/Vehicles/Witt/ (http://www.btco.net/Vehicles/Witt/) provides a wealth of detail on Baltimore Peter Witt cars and their route assignments, and has some clear photos of the cars that do not show any couplers on the front end (exception being the two 1924 cars which had a different body and door configuration).
In addition to the Peter Witt at Baltimore Streetcar Musuem, another survivor (6144) is at Seashore Trolley Museum:
http://www.trolleymuseum.org/collection/national/6144.html (http://www.trolleymuseum.org/collection/national/6144.html)
Hope this helps a little.
Paul F.
Not only pairs, but triples. I just talked to my dad (a huge traction fan and longtime CERA member) and he distinctly remembers the CSL Witts in doubles and triples, especially during the evening rush in downtown Chicago. All of the cars were equipped with MU capabilities and two poles, so the cars could run in either direction with a single carman (the cars on the ends were facing different directions).
I'll be getting at least two of these cars. Onc in CSL for my dad to play with when he's visiting, and one to kitbash into an ITC 100-series car (until I can find a 280-series Suydam car!)
Orsonroy,
I'm sorry that I wasn't clear -- I meant to say that I was referring specifically to the
Baltimore peter witt cars in response to FallsvalleyRR's questions. I appreciate your comments about Chicago's operations -- I don't know much about CSL.
Thanks for sharing your insights!
Paul F.
Since I have two seperate trolley routes on my layout, I'm going to dedicate one of them to the DCC-equipted cars, for the time being. Can Bachmann's DCC decoders be safely retrofitted, to older Bachmann PCC's and Brill Suburban trolleys? I have a number of each, that I'd like to run on the same route, as the Peter Witt's, when I start adding those to my trolley roster. Also, can Bachmann's DCC-decoders work with the Proto 1000 subway cars, or those "pancake" motors used in older Bachmann diesels, similar to the ones in older Bachmann trolleys.
Any decoder will work with Bachmann's DCC system. any power unit can be changed to run with DCC. I think you will find that you are better off replacing the units with the pancake moters than tring to change them to DCC. On non DDC ready locomotive, you MUST isolate the motors from the frames, In most cases you
will need to repower the unit. After you do this and buy the decoder, you may have already spent more than a new unit would cost.
Im going to beg pardon and ask a question for the Baltimore Folks on this thread. I keep thinking that Taylor Ave at Hartford Road might have been a loop at one time for a trolley line. Does anyone know anything about that route in that part of the city about the time of ww2?
There was a loop just north of Taylor Ave at Harford Road. (Got this Information out of "Baltimore and its Street Cars")
Thanks! Much appreciated.
Dr EMD,
Any chance for end, side and bottom shot of running gear pictures ??
You my many thanks in advance.
Jonthan
Good morning all,
I do not know if this has been asked yet, what type of motor is in this new trolley car? Is it a can or flat motor?
One of the pics I saw posted on the net seemed to look like the trucks are individually powered, maybe similar to the Bachmann GE 44-tonner.
Are there any photos of production cars in any of the paint schemes listed yet?
Quote from: Jonathan MacCormack on August 10, 2007, 08:24:26 PM
Dr EMD,
Any chance for end, side and bottom shot of running gear pictures ??
You my many thanks in advance.
Jonthan
Sorry, but I found this only photo on my LHS web site.
Quote from: FallsvalleyRR on August 10, 2007, 03:40:46 PM
Im going to beg pardon and ask a question for the Baltimore Folks on this thread. I keep thinking that Taylor Ave at Hartford Road might have been a loop at one time for a trolley line. Does anyone know anything about that route in that part of the city about the time of ww2?
I grew up in Baltimore in the 1950's and would often ride the streetcars, busses and trackless-trolleys. The line going up Harford Rd did end at a turning loop just north of Taylor Ave. There was a neat magazine stand there with MR, Craftsman, Trains and Railroad Magazine. The best part, though, was the short walk north of the loop to City-Wide Hobby Shop. It was a great little shop and had most anything you needed back then including brass.
I'm not 100% sure but I think this was the last steetcar line in Baltimore and ran until around 1963. It lost a lot of charm when the tracks went out and the GMC busses took over. I rode a lot of PCC cars through that loop!
There was another turning loop in Overlea on BelAir Rd and also a neat hobby shop across the street. Some kind of neat trend in Baltimore, I guess.
I'll be getting at least one Peter Witt in BTC just because!
Roger
Dr EMD,
Thanks for the reply.
It is a shame we haven't heard from the Bach Man on this.
Jonathan
Dear Jonathan,
When we have samples to photograph, we will. So far we have only the test shot already pictured.
Have fun!
the Bach-man
Mr. Bach Man,
Thank you.
Jonathan
Mr. Bach Man,
Have the pictures of the Peter Witt Street Car been posted? ( Front, side, rear, undercarriage.)
I have not been able to locate them if they have been listed.
Dr EMD has the only picture I have found.
Please advise.
Many thanks,
Jonahan
Mr. Bach Man,
You mentioned the 'test shot' above and that it was posted.
I have not found it as yet or don't know how to get to it, or know where it is located apparently. Computers are not a strong point of mine, as if you haven't guessed already.
Any guidance on retreivel of this shot, where located, etc. would be helpful.
I seem to be missing knowledge to get the job done.
Would appreciate assistance.
Many thanks,
Jonathan
Dear Jonathan,
The picture is in the Photo Gallery in the album titled HO Samples at NMRA Show. It is an early engineering sample, and it's the only picture I have. When paint samples arrive, we'll photograph them and add the pictures.
Have fun!
the Bach-man
From the looks of the side view, the upcoming Bachmann Peter Witt type car has the look of the BALTIMORE type written all over it.
(http://www.btco.net/Vehicles/Witt/6080_32.jpg)
The side windows on the front is the give-away clue along with the large front window. I may have to graft a Brill front to remove the BALTIMORE look.
Dr EMD
Dr EMD,
Thanks,
Jonathan
bump
Are there any photos of the finished Peter Witt available yet, in any of the announced paintschemes? Also, will they be available in only one car number per scheme, or in multiple car numbers? Will seperately-applied decals be available, for various route numbers, and destinations?
Quote from: Nigel on July 28, 2007, 10:29:04 PM
84602 6 CHICAGO SURFACE LINES NOV 6 125.00
Great! Perfect for my layout's 'L' system!