USA Trains, Delton, Aristo, et al, probably got their idea for short passenger cars from the
Sierra Railway, California.
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Great pics John. I agree with you that they are the most likely candidate for the Delton / Aristo coachs.
I believe MDC Roundhouse based a set of HO 32’ cars on these.
I think I still have that set somewhere in the archives.
At one point (prior to Lee Riley’s death) there was a lot of interest in Bachmann producing these cars for the 1/20.3 Spectrum line. Also a duckbill roofed business car was tossed about. Neither ever came to fruition as the problem of adapting them to a narrow gauge “never was” version caused the company to fear low sales among the fine scale modelers who wanted historical accuracy.
To bad. I would have bought a set. Maybe I will shorten at least one Accucraft car for RPO service or as a private club car.
Did some quick digging on this and wondered if there were any other “shorty” prototypes. I did see a listing for a couple but nothing like the Sierra Valley. So I dug further as to who made the cars and the reasoning.
“Quote”
Combine No. 5’s unusually short length was due to the sharp curves of the Angels Branch, which a standard sixty foot car could not traverse. Combine No. 5 is still with us today along with her companion coach, No. 6, both built by the W.L. Holman Car Company of San Francisco in 1902 for the Sierra Railway. These cars are unique for so many reasons; unique in their design, unique in their wide variety of railroad service roles, and unique that they have survived intact on the rails of their home railroad.
Seems that Phil Dippel agrees with you as well.
When I first got into the hobby (back before the dinosaur age), the LGB yellow set was my first “G” scale passenger set. I think REA (AristoCraft) followed with their “Sierra” coaches. I didn’t think much about them, because I never had heard of the Sierra coaches. I thought they were fake.
I have samples of all the shorty’s in my collection and now they are growing on me.
When I get a chance I’m going to dig them out , run them and sit back and enjoy the ride.
Although they are short, I like the way the LGB cars don’t overpower the smaller scale on the Delton C16,
Regards, David Meashey
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Phil references the existing Sierra coach and even tried to photograph it tucked in a corner of the shop. They are 1:20.3, or Fn3 scale.
I found a set in an auction recently, and scooped them up. They were all kits costing about $200 each, and someone did a really good job building them. The builder made one in to a business car, which I have, and I am planning to fit it with a proper gold railing and windows in the end.
Business Car (“B-2”) interior:
Jerry’s SPNG #9 with all 4 coaches:
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What would the purist make of the Lil Big Haulers? I have a couple of HLW/Delton combines but on a compact layout these are real space savers.
A purist with some Tots would prolly love them. Kids would play with them instead of his stuff. 
Something British?
https://iwsteamrailway.co.uk/heritage/our-rolling-stock/carriages-wagons/oldbury-carriages/
I have used the Bachmann two-axle baggage car as a way car/caboose for the Brandywine and Gondor goods (freight) trains.
Regards, David Meashey
