NW Passenger service

[Anonymous]

I'm trying to get a handle on the above mentioned to modle a rail fan trip on my layout and I want to paint the coaches in NW passenger colors. Does anyone have any Idea what that paint scheme included colors and lettering style and what type of coaches were used at the height of passenger service?
Thanks
Andrew in Illinois

[coalminer3]

What time period? Are your trains going to be hauled by diesel or steam locomotives?

work safe

[Anonymous]

the passenger "Rail Fan" Special will be pulled by steam 2-8-8-2 and I gues I would like info when the J class would have been dragging in passenger service. I model desiel electric on the layout modernday freight operations.
Thanks
Andrew

[Anonymous]

From what I've seen modeled on other layouts and what I have in my Lionel collection, a dark maroon or "plum" color for the overall scheme, with gold lettering. Sorry I can't show it in true color in this reply.

[Anonymous]

The original N&W passenger colors were basically the same as Pennsy colors, i.e. a Tuscan Red or maroon body color, with black roof, and "dulux gold" (yellow) lettering as well as thin stripe at top and bottom of the sides. These were pulled by the Class J or Class K streamlined steam engines, which were black with a broad maroon stripe down the running board, with dulux gold pinstripes at top and bottom of this band.

After about 1958 to 1960, the trains were pulled by GP-9's painted in the same maroon all over, with a dulux gold herald and lettering against a black background. Eventually, these "redbird" geeps were repainted into standard NW black or blue.

After the Wabash and Nickle Plate were merged in 1964, NW began operating their traditional passenger trains, such as the Wabash Cannonball and the Blue Bird. During the late 60's and 70's, NW had a lot of passenger equipment that was painted blu, with the dulux gold lettering and stripes similar to the older maroon scheme. Plus, some of the equipment was fluted stainless steel, with blue and yellow only on the boards above the windows.

For a railfan excursion, equipment might be culled together from any of this stock, though the maroon cars would be preferred as more "historical". If the restored Class J #611 was not available, then any old freight diesel might be employed, though a 4-axle unit might be more common than the 6-axle units, which were needed to head up coal drags. Other steam motive power might get used as well, as restored steam power from other roads often travelled all over.

[Anonymous]

A good place to start is a book called Steam Camelot. It chronicles the N&W/NS steam excursion program and has information on some of the passenger equipment used. '
Ch

[coalminer3]

When I rode the "Pocahontas" it had a mix of equipment ; blue with gold lettering; dome cars were stainless/blue letterboared/'gold lettering. Those cars, IIRC, were ex Wabash. Power was GP9s.

George Elwood's Fallen Flags site has lots of pictures of N&W excursion trains and equipment. Again, recalling riding behind 611 on a Bluefield-Iaeger trip; cars were tuscan with gold lettering; similar to PRR as other posters suggested.

work safe

[orsonroy]

DOG!

Step away from the computer. Stop drooling on big steam, and go have a MAC attack!

You know, if you wanted to know what fantrip consists looked like, all you had to do was come over and ask to go through the photo albums. Remember, I was on a lot of them!

And no, I haven't finished your twin stacks yet. Give me a break!

Your pal from the bad part of town,

RAY

PS: what're you doing Sunday? Wanna help me add the other two levels of the layout? I'm going to pry Garrett away from his wife, and use him as slave labor too....!

[Sperandeo]

Hello Andrew,

I can recommend the book, "Norfolk & Western Passenger Service, 1946-1971," by William E. Warden. It was published in 1990 by TLC Publishing, Rte 4 Box 154, Lynchburg, VA 25503.

And thank you for signing your name.

so long,

Andy

[Anonymous]

Hey Guys Thanks for all of the great info!!! Really helped me out alot. I now have a great starting point and some reference material to go after! Thanks again.
Andrew

P.S Ray don't worry Mac's and Stack's all the way but I did need something to do with the lattest investment (NW 2-8-8-2), really I just have that if your gonna do staem do it big mentality... Mikato What?

And I don't think I have anything going on the 25th