easy ghost car for your railroad!!

was playing around tonight, trying to see what i can do with about 12 8816s trams i have laying around. i was going to cut up a body into maintenance cars, then i had an idea. in my n scale days, i used to have several ,,,what we called back then,, ghost cars to do switching, move around cars from full to pickup areas, and even as helpers in climbing a hill. i measured the length, 39 feet, took the closest 40 foot boxcar i had, popped off the bottom, and slipped the base of the tram right perfectly onto the car!!! i have ghost cars, i screamed out, my wife looking like i was nuts!! so now i know EXACTLY what these spares will be for!!! give one or 2 a try,, red trams are super cheap, i ve been picking them up in droves for 20 bucks each!!! canada mike

I just picked up a Maerklin 8816 chassis to do the same thing but will try to fit it in a european refrigerated car. Unfortunately, mine cost me about twice hwat you've been paying. Hope you don't mind my asking, but where have you been getting them so cheaply?

Indeed, here in europe they are not cheap at all.

Yep..they are pricy here. I have been trying to get a good set cheap but its not happening.

in europe their 15 euros,, just gotta keep an eye out. most i ve paid so far was 22 euros,, 34 buks canadian very cheap. i also watch sweden and the uk,, theres lots of deals there for these. the older 8817s have the lighting and the gears on the wheelsets, just add brushes and motor and it runs. but the newer ones dont,, so watch for an old 8817 with gears on the wheelsets,, motors 18 buks. at ajckids. i have many i ve pulled apart just for the geared wheelsets, great for anything your building, their very small. canada mike:)

i just found 26 under 20 euros in europe, sweden, and denmark, 2 in uk. one buy it now in sweden for 32. !!!! just gotta look.

Did you test the pulling power of your "ghost" car? Did you do any speed comparisons with the commonly used locomotives?

Lajos

Should have room for a pound of lead in that thing

ACTUALLY,, NO I HAVENT. IM ADDING AIRSPRAY COLOR TO MY LAYOUT, AND HAVE IT DOWN FOR A BIT, BUT FOR SIMPLE PULLING OF 3 OR 4 CARS AROUND MY FOUNDRY,, OR ON MY SWITCHYARD, OR PICKING UP EMPTY CARS IN THE CITY,, IT SHOULD DO FINE. IM SURE IT WOULDN T PULL A BUNCH, BUT FOR LIGHT OPERATION IT SHOULD WORK GREAT. I DID ADD 2 1 OUNCE SINKERS IN AS WEIGHT, IT DRIVES FINE, BUT YES, THE WHEELSETS DO LOOK A BIT OUT THERE. BUT IT WORKS FOR ME. CANADA MIKE