HLW Birney cars

[tramcar trev]

When I get things sorted on the tramway I was thinking a Birney car would look nice especially painted in SECV livery. Questions: has anyone converted them to run on the lefthand side of the road? I mean swapped the doors across? I think they are also not 22.5 :1 either so they may look odd with the other "frivolous" cars.... They often come up on eBay and go for reasonable prices. Are they single axle drive? I think I know the answers to all these questions so it may be easier if I really want one to have it 3D printed or scratch build it to 22.5:1...

 

[themole]

Hi, Trev, they look a bit small next to Bachmann trams and LGB I would scratch build in plastic, or thick artist's card and dope/paint. Plenty of LGB power blocks use a Stainz ot ICE unit. Alyn

 

[tramcar trev]

Yes I suspected they may be a bit small. What I may do is make up a side, an end and a roof in styrene sheet or whatever comes to hand. Then using that as a master I could make Resin Castings. From those I could then join, cut, shut and end up with both single truck and bogie versions and I'd then have a Streetcar named Desire but with the doors etc on the left hand side. Bound to send the traction rivet counters into a spin I don't think there were any left hand bogie Birneys... No doubt someone will have a photo of one though...
Strangley I can buy the trucks for the bogie version ready made....


I'll start by trying to find some drawings.....

 

[themole]

I will have a look and if I find the plans I will post here. There were some narrow gauge birneys in South America. Alyn

 

[tramcar trev]

Great Alyn, Yes although 3'6" was considered standard gauge in a lot of the American continent. By their standards the ones we have in AU are broad gauge.
The LGB bogie ones are nice but way out of my league pricewise....