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Bachmann China P64 Box Car
Models Produced
| Release Date | Production Number | Production Run | Scale | Road #s | Livery |
2002 |
CF00101 |
1st | HO (1:87) | 3413450 | Brown |
" " |
CF00102 |
" " | " " | 3413451 | Brown |
" " |
CF00103 |
" " | " " | 3413452 | Brown |
" " |
CF00104 |
" " | " " | 3410220 | Black |
" " |
CF00105 |
" " | " " | 3410221 | Black |
" " |
CF00106 |
" " | " " | 3410222 | Black |
2003 |
CF00107 |
2nd | " " | 3410621 | Black |
" " |
CF00108 |
" " | " " | 3410622 | Black |
" " |
CF00109 |
" " | " " | 3410623 | Black |
" " |
CF00110 |
" " | " " | 3424145 | Brown |
" " |
CF00111 |
" " | " " | 3424146 | Brown |
" " |
CF00112 |
" " | " " | 3424148 | Brown |
April 2011 |
CF00113 |
3rd | " " | 3425516 | Brown |
" " |
CF00114 |
" " | " " | 3425518 | Brown |
" " |
CF00115 |
" " | " " | 3410626 | Black |
" " |
CF00116 |
" " | " " | 3410628 | Black |
Bachmann China P65 Box Car
| Release Date | Production Number | Production Run | Scale | Road #s | Livery |
2002 |
CF00201 |
1st | HO (1:87) | 3501277 | Green/Yellow |
" " |
CF00202 |
" " | " " | 3501278 | Green/Yellow |
" " |
CF00203 |
" " | " " | 3501279 | Green/Yellow |
" " |
CF00204 |
" " | " " | 350036 | Green/Yellow |
" " |
CF00205 |
" " | " " | 350037 | Green/Yellow |
" " |
CF00206 |
" " | " " | 350038 | Green/Yellow |
2003 |
CF00207 |
2nd | " " | 3501287 | Green/Yellow |
" " |
CF00208 |
" " | " " | 3501288 | Green/Yellow |
" " |
CF00209 |
" " | " " | 3501289 | Green/Yellow |
April 2011 |
CF00211 |
3rd | " " | 3500001 | Green/Yellow |
" " |
CF00212 |
" " | " " | 3500002 | Green/Yellow |
Prototype Information
At the time the models were produced, the P64/65 box cars were the latest class of standard box car in China, having recently been superceded by the P70 class cars. The P64's were painted in brown or black livery and handled cargo that needed to remain dry (this sometimes includes military personnel!). While most countries have moved away from box cars in favour of containers, they remain a common sight in China. The P65's were painted dark green with yellow livery and used in 'Railway Express Luggage Service' (RELS).
Model Review
 The Good News |
 The Bad News |
Common freight car type, nicely executed |
Godawful green color scheme for P65 |
First prototypical Chinese freight car in HO scale! |
Doors are non-functional |
Beautifully applied lettering |
Ladders are incorrect color (should be as body color) |
Low profile wheels (except latest production run) |
High profile wheels (latest production run only) |
General
These box cars were the first mass produced HO scale Chinese freight car, although 'mass-produced' may be too strong a term. The first run sold out fairly quickly, considering that Chinese model railways was still in its infancy at this stage. A second run followed about a year later, although asides from the road numbers and repositioning of the description labels on the box, they were more or less the same.
In late April 2011, Bachmann China announced a third run of these cars, with two new road numbers per livery. The new P64's are also lettered as 'P64AK' - the K denoting fast service type bogies (and, yes, they're equipped with said bogies). Unfortunately, they've also equipped the latter run with pizza cutter wheels.
Details
The body is a one piece casting, with everything apart from end ladders/footsteps grab irons on the roof and brake gear, molded on to it. Unfortunately, the doors are also part of the body shell, so therefore can't be positioned in an open positon, unless you're up for some major kitbashing. Asides from this, the models are very well done. The undercarriage has separately applied braking gear, although most of this is lost when the car is on the rails. However, if you're one of those who experience frequent derailments, you should find this to be rather nice. The basic body style is very well reproduced and the paint is very evenly applied. Lettering is very sharp and clear. My main criticism is with the green color on the P65's which looks like it was pulled from a North Korean nuclear reactor. I've yet to see a P65 with anything remotely bright as Bachmann's interpretation!
Performance
These cars are nicely weighted and roll very freely. The metal wheels are low profile (except third production run) and roll over just about any HO scale track you can throw at them. (Bachmann - we really, really miss these)
Coupler Conversion
The Bachmann EZ-mate couplers can be replaced with Kadee #5/58/158 couplers.
Other Notes
These cars tend to sell out quickly. While they have a few minor deficiencies, they are very worthy cars for any 1990+ prototype Chinese layout.
Model Photos
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