Are these Italian model railway coaches rubbish or are Rivarossi worth checking out?

[@ivovanzon164]

4:21 That is the generator car, which had some very heavy equipment inside that could be lifted out via the roof

[@LocomotionMotion]

Welcome back Ivovanzon! 👍

[@maestromecanico597]

Very nice. Back in the 1970s in the USA streamlined lightweight passenger stock was made by Con-Cor and Rivarossi (imported/marketed by AHM). I can see the family resemblance to these but the detail is much better on what you are reviewing than what we got.

[@JerseyBill-x9r]

With some pickups, lighting, and finished interior these cars would outshine anything made today. I think it would be fun to upgrade them. Great review, Jersey Bill

[@LocomotionMotion]

I agree!

[@briancooper562]

I have a few Rivarossi vehicles from the early 70's, This includes 2 x 6 car coach set of yellow UP 1930's stock with 3 tone grey Northern and Challenger locomotives, and a black/silver big boy. Only the brass loco,s from Korea where about twice/three times the cost where better. As of Hornby Riverossi I have a few of there Swiss outline models also ACME who make vintage Swiiss BLS brown loco's, the 4/6 locos (1-4-1)(2-8-2)

[@Michaelgoestofrance]

Very nice models considering their vintage. Really, from a normal distance, these wouldn't look out of place on a current layout, the only drawback is the lack of close coupling mechanism, which can easily be remedied if desired. I guess they're easily up to the standard of Roco contemporaries.

[@KeithBrocks]

Cracking coaches, I have the same set in Gran Comfort livery and they are superb runners.

[@mauricelemmens3244]

If you compare Lima and Rivarossi models from the sixties and seventies it's noticable that Rivarossi added more details. Locomotives had better motors and more details as well. Typical is the fact that roofs on coaches couldn't be removed or at least could, but not without seriously damaging the bodies. Changing couplings to match for instance with Fleischmann coaches, was also a challenge. Rivarossi did produce coaches in true 1/87 scale very early in the seventies. Lima followed later on. The same goes for Jouef. I sometimes had the idea that these 3 companies shared the same basic models, but differed in detailing and prices. In the Netherlands Lima and Jouef were considered to be rather simple and cheap, compared to Märklin, Fleischmann, Trix and Roco. Rivarossi made some pretty good models and they were priced higher than Lima and Jouef. However, I always appreciated the fact that these companies produced interesting and rare models for all kinds of European railway companies and even Japanese, Australian, American and South African companies. Something which the established brands Märklin, Fleischmann and Trix hardly did. Roco was the first DC manfucturer which opened markets beyond Germany and Austria with well detailed quality models and inspired Lima, Jouef and Rivarossi to deliver better models.

[@davidhewson8605]

Start with Loco , enough torque and power plus shunting sensitivity . Light coaches , substitute lead that doesnt interfere with details . Easy peasy ! . Thanks . Dave

[@martinbrain3372]

Nothing wrong with buying italian stock providing you don't pay too much for it. You can easily upgrade it, and you should bear in mind that it is of its time. You cannot expect it to have the fine detail of current items, but at least bits won't drop off as it goes round the layout.

[@railway187]

Great review! Very interesting models 🤩👍

[@LocomotionMotion]

Thank you! 👍

[@shnorth888]

Rivarossi did a really good job on their line of european and North American passenger cars, albeit the North American ones were based off various railroad prototypes and were generic enough to represent most U.S. and Canadian roads. Still they were a way to build up a passenger train quickly and affordably and could also be kit bashed.

[@sct913]

Rivarossi's North American heavyweight passenger cars (1920s series) are Santa Fe prototypes. Their smooth sided streamlined passenger cars (1930s series) are Pennsylvania Railroad prototypes, and their fluted side streamline passenger cars are Reading Railroad prototypes. The heavyweight and smooth sided cars were sold under the AHM name for years and then briefly under the IHC brand. Note that later generation IHC passenger cars are NOT Rivarossi, but knock-offs that are similar in basic design to Rivarossi cars, except that the windows and other exterior details are noticeably different when compared to a 'true' Rivarossi car.

[@shnorth888]

@sct913 I know. I used to own several of the AHM/ IHC Rivarossi made cars and a few of IHC's own design. Those wernt the greatest compared to Rivarossi but ok still. Fun fact the IHC smooth side lightweight cars weren't based off any prototype per say but they got lazy and took the corrugated steel cars and redid them with out the ribbing. I believe a few of those corrugated cars were based on Southern prototypes.

[@shnorth888]

​@@sct913 There's a list on the MRH Magazine forum on the prototypes for various ho passenger stock from the North American model manufacturers. Rivarossi's 1920 heavyweight cars are based on a mixture of Santa Fe ( Observation, Diner, combine), Baltimore & Ohio ( Baggage, RPO), Pullman 12-1 (various railroads), PRR ( duplex sleeper PRR ). The 1930 smoothside cars are based on either Pennsylvania or Union Pacific prototypes, except for the coach. PRR ( Observation tail car, 12-5 duplex sleeper, 10-6 roommate sleeper) , Union Pacific ( Diner, dome coach, baggage), Canadian National ( coach albeit with skirting and fold up step boxes. ). Budd corrugated cars, New York Central ( sleeper, coach, diner), Reading (observation). The Budd dome while not listed may be based off a California Zephyr prototype.

[@sct913]

@@shnorth888 Correct, the IHC "knockoff" corrugated cars were Southern Railway prototype. Short story is that Rivarossi had a sudden parting of the ways with IHC, so IHC began having their own cars produced in China. Designing to 'no specific prototype' was a deliberate decision by IHC to avoid potential legal trouble with Rivarossi or other manufacturers. And I will say that the smooth side coaches, "combine" (which is really a dormitory-baggage), and observation make for an effective 'early-era' IC City of Miami.

[@shnorth888]

@@sct913 Some more info on the cars, Rivarossi's 1920 heavyweight cars are based on a mixture of Santa Fe ( Observation, Diner, combine), Baltimore & Ohio ( Baggage, RPO), Pullman 12-1 (various railroads), PRR (duplex sleeper ). The 1930 smoothside cars are based on either Pennsylvania or Union Pacific prototypes, except for the coach. PRR ( Observation tail car, 12-5 duplex sleeper, 10-6 roommate sleeper) , Union Pacific ( Diner, dome coach, baggage), Canadian National ( coach albeit with skirting and fold up step boxes ). The Budd corrugated cars, New York Central ( sleeper, coach, diner), Reading (observation).

[@drecksaukerl]

I once bought a made in Italy Lima coach and it was total garbage, but the Italian Rivarossi is ok if you can get it for a good price.

[@bugler75]

They look lovely and a little bit different 😊👍🏼

[@philipdove6987]

But do they run well? in my experience HO scale Rivarossi locomotives run very well, but looks count for little if they won't stay on the track.

[@chrisvarner6727]

👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍

[@paredding]

Nice though wheels could be changed and add lighting kit. Are you thinking of selling them?

[@LocomotionMotion]

Since I made this video I have actually sold on these models - sadly I can't keep everything :-/ Well... that's what I keep getting told (haha)

[@Jeppe-Covid1959]

TEE were 1. Class only.

[@sct913]

In later years, TEE trains also included second class facilities as well.