can this be used on a passenger train?

American Railway Express

I really enjoy these cars, and I think I saw a train in the fantastic George Sellios F&SM layout with a car like this, between the loco and the passenger cars...

Passenger coaches

They are not cheap, but Atlas bought out the Branchline models of heavyweight passenger cars, I bought 4 paired window coaches in the Baltimore and Ohio paint scheme, which I will have to repaint to match my Soo Line. The Atlas models are very well built, heavy, and well detailed, I found mine on eBay for reasonable prices because I bought a three car set for $67 American dollars, and the fourth car was a separate purchase at $20 dollars, retail price is over $70 per car so some in depth eBay searching will be needed to find the bargains. 

search for ahm rivarossi passenger cars

http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_odkw=ahm%2Frivarossi&_osacat=0&_from=R40&_trksid=p2045573.m570.l1311.R9.TR11.TRC1.A0.H0.Xahm%2Frivarossi+.TRS0&_nkw=ahm+rivarossi+passenger&_sacat=0

they have truck mounted couplers and you will most likely need to install metal wheels. Nice looking cars though.

Branch line cars

I would agree with the Branchline cars, they used to be available as kits, you might find some on eBay. Bachmann made some cars as well, I have read tried those. Of course, if you want to back further in time, there are the LaBelle kits, much more work to put together.

Got one! Thanks for the help.

So I was able to get one from a friend. 

It's a Bachmann Spectrum model. Although the model seems ok, it needs to be stripped, cleaned, painted and weathered. Just need to get one more.

What do you think about getting a refrigerator car to go with them?

LNE

The LNE connected with the LV, CNJ, RDG, so any of those would be appropriate, particularly CNJ or RDG cars.

Express Reefer

Yes, the express reefer would look good in your train, but you should also have a baggage, or a baggage/RPO car if you are going to have the reefer. Back in the day, mail and small packages were the main revenue for passenger trains, I recall seeing a photo of a train with 5 baggage and RPO cars and only one coach on the end. The revenue from the mails paid for most passenger trains, the actual people were only secondary.

Lehigh and New England passenger service

from the web....In 1916, the L&NE permitted the Jersey Central to operate passenger trains between Hauto and Tamaqua via the "Big Tunnel." The CNJ connected to the Reading Railroad for points west, north and south. An excursion trip to New York City from Nesquehoning cost $2.25 for a round trip. Children paid half fare or rode free if held by an adult.

The Lehigh and New England did not offer passenger service to the public but did operate a shuttle train between Hauto and Tamaqua for its employees and LC&N personnel who worked at the collieries along the railroad.

Teachers at Hauto School of the Mauch Chunk Township School District rode the trolleys of the East Penn Transportation Co. from Nesquehoning to Lansford. Those hardy souls then caught the L&NE local to Hauto and walked from the station to the schoolhouse. After school, the journey was reversed.

In 1925, the L&NE constructed the Arlington Engine Terminal just east of Tamaqua and closed the former Panther Creek Railroad facilities in Lansford. The Lehigh and New England acquired one of the first gas-electric combination motor cars produced by J. G. Brill Co. of Philadelphia in 1926. This single car operated between Hauto and Tamaqua and was the first unit not using steam power put into service by the L&NE.

If you want good running cars requiring little or no "fiddling"...you can't go wrong with oldy but goody AHM/Rivarossi/Athearn/Bachman cars.  They had Talgo trucks (with truck mounted couplers) that almost never derailed in "pull" mode (don't try to back them up through switches).  Better looking cars with more detail are Rapido/Walthers/Branchline cars.  These cars are "finicky" especially at radii between 24-30" and more often than not require some "tuning".  If your radii are < 24"  you will have to use "shorty" passenger cars (60 footers).  Between 24-30" is what I call "never-never" land...75+ footers will probably require "tuning"...80+ footers will require "tuning" (and some luck).  If your curves are 30 inches or better most cars will run with little or no "tuning" although there will always be that car which always derails on that particular 30+ inch radius curve.  good luck.

Redvdub1