[GNSteamer]

This pre-production car looks to be perfect behind the S2. Hopefully I'll have a chance to see this car at Pete's in a couple of weeks. Looks like we'll be ponying up what equates to another S2 for a set of these cars.
If you were to use the Aristocraft cars, one would need to trim down the bolster to lower the car body over the trucks for a much better look and to disguise their 1/29 scale heft. Body mounted couplers and some custom fabricated diaphrams helps to get the close couple look of the prototype.

 

[GNSteamer]

The open observation cars were replaced by enclosed cars because of the Great Northern route through the lengthy Cascade Tunnel to and from Eastern Washington to the west, making the ride in an open ended car a dark and smokey experience.