Bi-Level Commute Coaches

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All aboard your favorite commute* or commuter train for Chicago, San Francisco, and Washington D.C. metropolitan areas. Ride the North Western, Espee, VRE, or Alaska bilevels. Ready-to-Run N-Scale; very fine details; 2-level interiors; MT couplers. Not lighted. Models are based on the 1957 ACF bilevel coach design. Alaska Railroad purchased former SP bilevels for their Whittier shuttle service. Virginia Railway Express cars are former C&NW "Cor Ten" steel cars from the 1950s.

*Southern Pacific Railroad used the word "commute" and never "commuter". Not sure why.

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Part #: WoT-11418 Car #18  - Chicago & North Western - early commuter bilevel

Immediately after receiving 16 bilevels from the St. Louis Car Co. (in June 1955 and January 1956), the Chicago & North Western Railway awarded Pullman-Standard construction of 32 161-seat bilevel coaches. They were delivered in September 1956 and were called "Superbanite" by C&NW. Due to the increased height of the bilevels over standard coaches, restrictive railway clearances were modified (including adding one-foot in height to the North Western Train Shed). Impressed with the increased ridership and cost-effectiveness of the Superbanite, C&NW's Chairman Mr. Heineman and President Mr. Fitzpatrick went out to develop the new '400' train-sets based on these cars. Cab cars for push-pull commuter trains arrived in 1961 -  concurrently with the design of the new bilevel '400' train-sets. These cars rode on 41NV trucks and were equipped with a Waukesha 7-1/2 KW "Enginator" for electrical power. Originally, they operated as locomotive-hauled steamed heating behind Geeps, E-units and F-units. In 1961, they were re-equipped for push-pull operations. The cars paint-scheme is the revised scheme that is most familiar to North Western fans. 

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Part #: WoT-11422  Car #22 - Chicago & North Western - early commuter bilevel

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Part #: WoT-11437 Car #37 - Chicago & North Western - early commuter bilevel

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Part #: WoT-11440 Car #40 - Chicago & North Western - early commuter bilevel

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Part #:  WoT-11446 Car #46 - Chicago & North Western - early commuter bilevel

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Part #: WoT-11513 Car #3713 - Southern Pacific - ACF commute bilevel, dark gray paint  (c.1960-1985)

After inspecting the Burlington's Budd bilevel cars from Chicago, the Southern Pacific purchased bilevel commute coaches, first from Pullman-Standard in 1955, with a larger follow-on order from American Car & Foundry in 1957 (which this model is based on). In the early days of commute operations, SP MT class 4-8-2 steam locomotives could be seen pulling new bilevels. Originally, painted in two-tone gray, SP introduced solid dark Lark gray in the 1960s. These cars lasted until new Nippon Sharyo equipment for Caltrain replaced the last of them in 1985. These cars could often be seen mixed in sets with "Harriman" coaches -- typically, the "Harriman" coach was always on the San Jose (south) end of the train which was the "smoker" (where one could "light up"). These 145-seat ACF coaches were numbered 3710 to 3730. They brought a new level of service to the San Francisco suburban operation. They were equipped with engine-driven Frigdaire AC system, steam heat from the locomotive, remote controlled opening and closing of doors by one person for the entire train, wide doors which eased boarding and deboarding, and a 50-seat increase in capacity over existing cars. They all rode 4-TD-4 trucks with 33" diameter wheels. 

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Part #:  WoT-11515 Car #3715 - Southern Pacific - ACF commute bilevel, dark gray paint  (c.1960-1985)

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Part #: WoT-11522 Car #3722 - Southern Pacific - ACF commute bilevel, dark gray paint  (c.1960-1985)

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Part #: WoT-11524 Car #3724 - Southern Pacific - ACF commute bilevel, dark gray paint  (c.1960-1985)

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Part #: WoT-11527 Car #3727 - Southern Pacific - ACF commute bilevel, dark gray paint  (c.1960-1985)

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Part #:  WoT-11000 Car #600 - Alaska RR “Whittier Shuttle” - bilevel car

The Alaska Railroad initially purchased six Southern Pacific ACF bilevel commute coaches for their Whitter cruise trains. The three ex-SP ACF bilevels were repainted (as modeled) for their Whittier train service. The remaining ex-SP commute coaches were rebuilt into the Princess Tours super dome cars.

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Part #: WoT-11001 Car #601 - Alaska RR “Whittier Shuttle” - bilevel car

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Part #:  WoT-11002 Car #602 - Alaska RR “Whittier Shuttle” - bilevel car

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Part #:  WoT-11003 Car #3700 - Caltrain "rainbow" scheme (c. 1982) - commuter bilevel

During the late 1970s, the Southern Pacific was contemplating abandoning their commute operation between San Francisco and San Jose. SP considered this operation to be a public service and ultimately one that deserved some public subsidy to offset it's losses.* Starting in 1978, the California Department of Transportation (CalTrans) entered into agreement to help and later assisted in growing the operation. In 1982, CalTrans, leased GP9P 3187 and three 1955 Pullman-Standard SP Bilevels which were repainted in this early Caltrain "rainbow" scheme. Interestingly, the three sets of cars and matching locomotive were rarely seen together, but always mixed with sets of the original SP grays. In the summer of 1985, Caltrain started to receive new push-pull bilevel equipment and F40PH locomotives to replace the aging SP rolling stock. Stay tuned for pics on Wheels of Time of this transition period where you will see the old SP "subs" with new Nippon Sharyo cars and as well as F40PH pulling ACF & PS bilevels.   *July 1970 Modern Railroads magazine

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Part #: WoT-11004 Car #3701 - Caltrain "rainbow" scheme (c. 1982) - commuter bilevel

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Part #: WoT-11005 Car #3702 - Caltrain "rainbow" scheme (c. 1982) - commuter bilevel

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Part #: WoT-11103 Car #V403 -  Virginia Railway Express, - ex. C&NW early bilevel

As ridership soared on VRE trains out of the northern Virginia suburbs into Washington D.C. Union Station, contracts with CSX prevented adding trains. Further, VRE's station platform length prevent longer trains on their routes. Their older single cars just did not have the capacity to handle the larger crowds. The solution was to purchase second-hand former Chicago & North Western bilevel cars. These St. Louis Car and Pullman-Standard coaches were made in 1953 and 1955-56, respectively. No longer needed by Chicago Metra, they were refurbished and repainted for service with VRE. Today, you can see some of these cars out on the Federicksburg and Manassas Lines on trains 300, 311, 313, 324, 325.  My understanding is that Alex Buchanan of the VRE, who took our pics, came up with the nice paint scheme for these cars.  Thanks Alex for the photo.

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Part #: WoT-11105 Car #V405 -  Virginia Railway Express, - ex. C&NW early bilevel

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Part #: WoT-11115 Car #V415 -  Virginia Railway Express, - ex. C&NW early bilevel

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Part #: WoT-11125 Car #V425 -  Virginia Railway Express, - ex. C&NW early bilevel

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Part #: WoT-11128 Car #V428 -  Virginia Railway Express, - ex. C&NW early bilevel

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Part #: WoT-11300 Unpainted  - Undecorated Bilevel

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Stock Checks:

Inventory is a fluid commodity.  It changes by the hour (sometimes by the minute). To retain our pricing structure we maintain stock levels designed to turnover 6 times each year. We cannot guarantee stock status till we have an order in hand. All product is subject to prior sale. If we confirm that we have it, and, while we are waiting for the order it sells, you would be upset that we did not hold it.
We used to hold items but learned a VERY EXPENSIVE lesson. When we held items for customers’ orders, the order never materialized 80%+ of the time.  We lost out on the orders placed while the item was on hold.  Also we wasted staff time that could have been used to pull actual orders.
Since we are well known for finding older stock the fact that it may not be on our shelves at this minute does not mean we can’t get it. So, as we spell out on our terms pages, we don’t do it anymore. You may, however, call in and we will tell you if the items are available and if possible attempt to locate what we don’t have while you are on the phone.