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N-scale Varnish Passenger Car User's Guide
 

FLORIDA EAST COAST

UPDATED 14 JANUARY 2007.

Click here to visit Fred Klein's excellent N-scale Passenger Car website  

The FEC was the southern Florida connection for many Atlantic Coast Line trains (operated in conjunction with other lines) and for some Southern Railway trains as well. The following are cars that can be accurately modeled currently in N-scale using available car sides, kits and R-T-R models.  All cars, except as noted, were used in the ACL pool but could be found on a number of lines that participated in through passenger train operations.

The list below are recommendations only, based on the best information that I have on-hand.  If you know of additions or corrections that need to be made, or know of suitable decals for lettering these cars, please email me by Clicking Here.

Below is a list of links for manufacturers featured on this page:
American Limited Models Lazer Horizons Union Station Products*

SERIES CAR TYPE MAKER - ITEM # NOTES
  Azalea
 		   P.S. 5 DBR - buffet lounge obs.
 		   LH N-NY4126
  USP 4082A*		   See note 4.
 
  Named 1   A.C.F. 6 DBR - buffet lounge   USP 3090*   
  Panama   A.C.F. 14 Rmt - 2 DR   USP 3091*   
  Named 2   P.S. 56-seat coach   USP 7593* 2   STAND-IN 2
  Fort-series 3   P.S. 36-seat dining car   U.S.P. 7592*   
  Named 1
 		   P.S. 10 Rmt - 6 DBR
 		   ESMC 3114 5
  USP 4140*		   SR pool
  ESMC 3114 - STAND-IN
  Named 1
 		   P.S. 10 Rmt - 6 DBR
 		   ESMC 3114
  USP 4140B*		   
  Named 1   P.S. 21 Rmt   USP 4156*   
  Named 1   P.S. 4 Rmt - 5 DBR - 1 Comp - 4 Sect   USP 4196*   

Abbreviations:
  A.C.F. - American Car and Foundry   DBR - double bedroom   obs. - observation
  BE - blunt end   DR - drawing room   P.S. - Pullman - Standard
  Comp - compartment   Dup - duplex   Sect - section
  Dorm - dormitory   HW - heavyweight   SR - single room

* - It should be noted that the Union Station Products are Craftsman-level kits.  Some clean-up of parts and assembly is required, and care must be exercised when assembling these sides because of the delicate parts.

Note 1:  Except for P.S. baggage - express #501 all lightweight passenger cars were identified only by name, never carrying a number while in revenue service.  The following is a list of the names used for various cars:

  • Individual car names for cars having 6 DBR - buffet lounge:     Magnolia     Oleander

  • Individual car names for coaches having 56-seats (also see Note 2):
      Canal Point   Hypoluxo   Lantana   Sabastian   Salerno

  • Individual car names for cars having 10 Rmt - 6 DBR (used in service with Southern Railway):
      Argentina   Brazil   Chile   Guatamala   Venequela

  • Individual car names for cars having 10 Rmt - 6 DBR:
    Bahamian Columbia Havana Oriente
    Caparra Cuba Honduras

  • Individual car names for cars having 21 Rmt:     Salvador     Uruguay

  • Individual car names for cars having 4 Rmt - 5 DBR - 1 Comp - 4 Sect:
    Jamaica Nassau Scott M. Loftin

    Note 2:  These coaches were built for use in conjunction with ACL and Illinois Central trains and had a similar window pattern to that of the ACL 228 - 250 series, having one additional (small) window on one side.  While the ACL coach is missing this window as is the side kit still would allow a modeler to build a reasonable stand-in for the FEC cars.  It should be noted that two cars, Canal Point and Lantana were originally built with smooth sides and painted in IC colors with the train name on the letterboard and "FEC" initials and the car name on the lower side.  Two additional coaches, Sabastian and Salerno, were later rebuilt with smooth sides, repainted and assigned to the City of Miami, and the two original cars had Budd-style corrugation applied to the lower portion of their sides.

    Note 3:  The following names were assigned to the Fort-series dining cars:   Fort Drum     Fort Ribault

    Note 4:  This car could be constructed using either the Lazer Horizons sides or the U.S.P. side kit for a New York Central Creek-series observation car, with the U.S.P. P.S. corrugation being purchased for adding this detail to the car.  It should be noted though that there is presently no suitable core kit for creating this car and the compound curves of the sides will be very difficult to do.  This car is mentioned only as a reference, the prototype survives as the FEC's business car using the same name.

    Note 5:  This model would be a reasonable stand-in for the Southern Railway type sleeper cars, though there are minor differences.
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