The NYC 20th Century Limited...as viewed by Movietone News

[Jones1945]

gmpullman

...not sure I'll ever get around to drilling all those holes ...

Haha! I bought the tiniest drill available in my city but it was one of the most challenging things for me to drill those 0.2mm holes! I used a PRR reefer to practice but given up after about 10 holes were drilled... It was fun but I am too old for this. 

I agree with you that Walther probably would do the 50s Century first. I can understand that they probably think the prewar cars had no demand or big enough demand for mass production. 

[gmpullman]

Jones1945

If MTH doesn't have a plan to release more 20th Century Limited cars, I wish BLI or Walthers will give us some surprises!

I suspect Walthers may do a big splash with a re-release of the '48 Century just like they are doing now with the Hiawatha and Broadway, Super Chief, El-Cap...etc.

It has been maybe ten years or so and there may be a fresh market for a "New" Century. I jumped on the train when it first came around, this was before the installed handrails (not sure I'll ever get around to drilling all those holes ) so I would certainly welcome some more recent variations of the Century. The two-tone gray was simplified in the early 1950s so perhaps Walthers could release that version and proclaim "All New" in their advertizements. Or perhaps they could add some Budd cars to the roster and call it the combined Century/Commodore Vanverbilt? Actually with a few additional Budd cars they sould make up a "New England States" or "Southwest Limited" with a Brook-series "Lookout Lounge Observation"?

Cheers, Ed

[Jones1945]

Thanks a lot, Tom.

If MTH doesn't have a plan to release more 20th Century Limited cars, I wish BLI or Walthers will give us some surprises! I agree with you that the twin dining car on the Century was one of the very unique things on the 20th Century Limited! But I still have hope that BLI or even MTH will make them again. 

Jones

[tstage]

Jones,

I have "poked" MTH a few times, as well as talked to one of their reps at a large train show, about releasing some more '40 20th Century Limited passenger cars - in particular, another diner; since most 20th Century Limited runs carried two.  While it seems that the cars sold well (I have the entire '40 10-car set), I would be very surprised if they ever do another run of them, or either of the streamlined Hudsons.

I chose the BLI Dreyfuss for the locomotive and the color-match between the tender and the MTH passegner cars is very close.

Tom

[Jones1945]

For NYCRR, I like the Dreyfuss Hudson #5426 & #5429 for the Empire State Express more, but I still bought the MTH 1940's Dreyfuss Hudson #5354. I wonder if MTH will release another run of the HO scale Empire State Express Hudsons in the near future... Streamlined K5s for the Mercury train wasn't that bad imo, I really don't mind paying around $300 for a plastic version of it, just like the Bachmann Streamlined PRR K4s. 

[tstage]

OT Dean

I still say it's a crime that not one of the NYC J-series Hudsons wasn't preserved. Deano

You and me both, Deano.

Tom

[OT Dean]

tstage

Sandwiched between Lady Godiva and excerpts from a cricket game is some brief but nice footage of the streamlined 20th Century Limited in action:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AYkGtifpbWs

The moving roadside shot along the Hudson from 0:36-0:43 is especially sweet...

Tom

Thanks, Tom, to me, that Century streamlining was the prettiest design of that era, though I liked "our" Hiawathas and the B&O's P7 #5309 "Bullet" design.  (The American Flyer set that started me thinking in terms of "scale model railroading" was their "Silver Bullet" set: the bullet streamlined Pacific and two of their NH coaches, all vacuum-plated a bright silver metallic.)  I still say it's a crime that not one of the NYC J-series Hudsons wasn't preserved.

Deano

[OldEngineman]

"The moving roadside shot along the Hudson from 0:36-0:43 is especially sweet..."

That's Route 9d north out of Cold Spring. You can see the Breakneck Ridge tunnel in the distance.

[gmpullman]

Fleeting glimpses, but sure nice to see. Thanks Tom!

The narrator said if The Century was one minute late you would "get your money back". Well, that's a bit of a stretch.

The Century was an "Extra Fare" train where a ten dollar additional fare was charged. IF the train arrived at New York or Chicago ten minutes or more late, your extra fare was refunded. 

Thanks for posting that, Tom.

[tstage]

Sandwiched between Lady Godiva and excerpts from a cricket game is some brief but nice footage of the streamlined 20th Century Limited in action:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AYkGtifpbWs

The moving roadside shot along the Hudson from 0:36-0:43 is especially sweet...

Tom