I have a surplus pair of unused HO Hallmark Allied "Full Cushion" trucks if anyone is interested. These are all brass construction - cast brass sideframes, separate brass journals that are independantly sprung just as on the prototype, nickle plated brass 33" wheels, brass bolster. The truck wheelbase is 5ft 6in. Very nice model. Trucks are unused, mint, in the original Hallmark plastic box. I don't recall the original price, but I believe it was in the $ 'teens somewhere back in 1982. These are beautiful trucks. See the pic attached. These trucks were used by 16 different railroads, including the Frisco, originally under the WW2 troop sleepers and troop kitchen cars. The Frisco later converted some of these cars to express baggage cars and retained the Allied truck. The truck was reviewed in the March, 1982 Model Railroader, page 44. I was rereading this issue and saw the review, which reminded me I still have these un-needed trucks sitting around. Price - $12. I'll pay the shipping cost to you via USPS 1st class in a small, well padded box. Payment preferred by check, m/o, or cash. If you absolutely must, I guess PayPal will be OK as well. If interested, let me know via an e-mail to meteor910@mindspring.com or a message on frisco.org to meteor910. Ken
Ken, do you or anyone else know if these were the "original" trucks on the 465-469 series 40-foot express cars? http://www.frisco.org/vb/attachment.php?attachmentid=538&d=1128908890 The drawing says "A.S.F. Ride Control, 3 11/16" spring." Best Regards,
Chris - The ex-troop sleepers turned into express baggage cars by the Frisco after WW-2 did ride on their original Allied "Full Cushion" trucks in the early years of their Frisco life. This truck was a high maintenace item - just look at it and you can see why, plus for some time it was suspected of easily derailing at speed (not good!). Thus, eventually the Frisco did re-truck these cars using their favorite truck - the ASF A-3 "Ride Control". So, your diagram is correct for these cars in their later life. Ken
Ken, I believe that Chris is asking about the Express Boxes, which did not have any relation to the ex-troop Sleepers that the Frisco also used for Express. The Express Boxes in question had Allied-Full Cushion trucks, which were changed during 1949 for the reasons Ken stated.
Ouch!, yep - sorry! I was in a hurry and did not take the time to fully read Chris' posting, then I answered off the top of my head. Two bad habits! Ken
Karl and Ken, thanks for clarifying. I need to find a picture of said express 40' boxcars with these trucks...thinking I've seen them somewhere. Ken, alas, I suffer from knee-jerk e-mail response syndrome as well. If you find a cure please advise. Best Regards,
Chris - The best looking ASF A-3 Ride Control truck in HO is Kato's. Kadee makes one that is OK, and then there is the long time plastic Athearn truck ..... yuk. I read Accurail is considering doing one, but I have not seen an example yet. Ken
Chris - I have the HO Branchline car as express box SLSF 149194 in the old paint scheme (green with coonskin) and with the Allied Full Cushion trucks under it. Looks pretty neat. This car was later renumbered to SLSF 466, and lost its coonskin herald in favor of the FRISCO name on the left side of the door. I assume about the same time it was retrucked with the A-3. Ken
