Steve Lee with UP is the person that you need to contact. He is now the manager of UP's Heritage fleet which includes all business cars and passenger cars, the steam fleet and the Centennial and E9's. I'm currently modeling a UP business train and I'm having to purchase brass cars imported by Overland models.
Charlie
MP 53 on the BNSF Topeka Sub
The problem with this is that there AREN'T any sides out there that match - because UP has modified the original sleepers so extensively. Most were 12-4 sleepers, and some similarities with window spacing can be found on these cars. However, most aren't available as sides, so you'd have to cut your own. I've contacted Union Station Products and they indicated that they needed the measurements for the size of the window and the spacing from the edge of the car to fashion sides for a modeler. In turn, I contacted UP and they said "no plans for the cars were available". While I believe that this person was a little to lazy to even check, it may be true, and you'll probably just have to work off photographs.
On the plus side, Green River, Omaha, and Portola have the same window arrangements, as do Lake Bluff and Lake Forest. Once you get one of these cars, you can model one or two more with the same window arrangement.
As for the Dome Lounges, the traditional window arrangement remains, but there are some car-specific details, like on the roof. The same thing goes for the Dome-Coaches
The Dome-Diners are relatively easy as well. City of Portland maintains the traditional window configuration, while Colorado Eagle has only some added windows on the kitchen side of the car and some blanked ones beneath the dome. Missouri River Eagle was actually a dome-coach, and this would be a good starting place to model this car, as only some windows beneath the dome were blanked.
I suggest looking at these websites while you're out "having fun" learning about these cars:
unionstationproducts.com
http://www.uprr.com/aboutup/history/histequip/index.shtml
http://passcarphotos.info/
This last website has thousands of great photos. Simply scroll down to the Business Car section and click on "Union Pacific" for the inspection cars, business cars, and sleepers. Then scroll down to the Passenger Car section and click on "Union Pacific I through III". These websites are all very helpful.
Though I haven't modeled any of these cars as of yet, I consider myself somewhat of an expert on this subject. I've researched extensively over these cars, and if you have any questions, feel free to contact me at nrschum94@gmail.com
Nick
Charlie Modeling UP's sleepers will require more than just modest kitbashing. As an example, Wyoming is a Deluxe 4 bedroom lounge sleeper and would require a complete re-arrangement of the windows on both sides plus, one would need to add an enclosed vesibule on the A-end of the car with a dorr on the room side of the car. Omaha is an 8 Bedroom sleeper. There are also differences between Dome Lounges, Walter Dean, Harriman and City of San Francisco. Charlie
Modeling UP's sleepers will require more than just modest kitbashing. As an example, Wyoming is a Deluxe 4 bedroom lounge sleeper and would require a complete re-arrangement of the windows on both sides plus, one would need to add an enclosed vesibule on the A-end of the car with a dorr on the room side of the car. Omaha is an 8 Bedroom sleeper. There are also differences between Dome Lounges, Walter Dean, Harriman and City of San Francisco.
What if you found car sides that matched wouldnt that be easier?
Modelers are fortunate that the Union Pacific's current passenger business/excursion train is made up primarily of "heritage" equipment. The recent Walthers UP "Streamliner" equipment will be very good starting points for those of us with a plastic budget. The dome-coach, dome-diner, dome-obs, 44-seat coach, 48-seat diner, the lounge car and baggage car are all very much as delivered. Most of the changes are on the underframe and some new antennas or vents on the roofs. Modest kitbashing can provide the modern sleepers and some of the business cars. Since the Walthers cars come without names or numbers it is a simple matter to use the Microscale UP Business car names set to give the cars their current names. The amount of extra detail can be as little or as extreme as one prefers.
I thought I'd update you guys on the box car. A guy by the name of Mark Preussler painted a box car for me to match my 844 set and reflect the real one. Here are the pics:
You have to remember, a whole set of brass cars would be a HAUL for any steamer. I was lucky enough to aquire the City of San Fransico by Overland for only $350 (I am a business car nut) and it is HEAVY! Amazing car inside and out, but boy she weighs like the Milw Cedar Rapids in real life!
Mechanical Department "No no that's fine shove that 20 pound set all around the yard... those shoes aren't hell and a half to change..."
The Missabe Road: Safety First
I would still like to see some pictures if you have them. I am willing to buy all of them.
Mike,
You are correct about the FEF3 being a better runner than the Challenger. I have had problems with the 3985 on curves. I have used the OMI excursion E9's behind the FEF3 and Challenger for added pulling power. Do you have the latest OMI run of the big blow turbine? My father purchased one and it can barely pull itself. For the price you pay for it, the running quality of it was a huge disapointment. We asked Brian Marsh about it and got no real response about it. I only own a few omi diesels but I won't buy anymore after the turbine.
Looking at your list of OMI UP excursion cars I see you don't have the City of Salina coach. That car has got to be one of the hardest to find. I have only seen it for sale maybe 3-4 times in 8 years
oh you can email them to me dont worry about posting them here..
I was hoping you had pictures of each individual car or something you had already taken. I mean for 17k I would need to see something before sending that sort of cash your way.
Muzzlez Finding the cars was very enjoyable. Search all the brass dealers on the web. Once you find the first car your collecion will grow pretty quick.
Finding the cars was very enjoyable. Search all the brass dealers on the web. Once you find the first car your collecion will grow pretty quick.
I can verify that. Once I found the first brass car for my 1950 COLA, it took just about a year until I had all of them.
I am sure very few people have the entire set of OMI Union Pacific excursion cars. I believe they imported around 40-45 cars. Around 2005-2006 OMI cancelled production of a few of the cars. Union Pacific has also added to their heritage fleet since then. To get the entire set OMI did import it would cost more than $20,000.
send some pictures to johngriffey18ca1@aol.com and then we can talk about it. I need to know you have all of these in your possession.
I do have the Diamond Series Union Pacific Challenger 3985 from OMI. It's a beautiful model. I don't have the DS (Diamond Series) 844. My twin brother has the DS 844. I have the Athearn Genesis version of the 844. I do have a OMI FEF-3 painted in two-tone gray with the yellow stripe.
I try not to think about how much I have spent on trains. When I was buying the omi engines and cars I was out of college and living at home so I had the money to spend.
Is your DS 844 able to pull all 17 cars? Do you have a large collection of OMI trains?
If you don't mind bringing out the wood glue and sandpaper, Ambroid made the UP Postal Storage Car (H-5) which I believe is the tool car in today's train.
The crew car (Cabarton - not Carbarton) is available from Walthers, it's their 10-6 Budd built sleeper from the Pacific series.
johngriffey18ca1 no dont bite your tounge you have a good point. I just suck at putting things together and I would need detailed step by step instructions to make a theatre car.
no dont bite your tounge you have a good point. I just suck at putting things together and I would need detailed step by step instructions to make a theatre car.
And admittedly, the theatre car is unique enough, the brass would be pretty cool. On the other hand, it might prove to be a fun, simple project that we could even walk you through on this end. The nice thing about Walthers cars is that the walls have simple snap tabs that can be unhooked, and re-attahced to another car. Either way, your gonna end up with a cool train with the theatre added in.
-Morgan
johngriffey18ca1surely someone out there has the entire brass set by OMI they are willing to part with. I would buy them all but I'm not patient enough to wait and find each car over a long period of time.
Well, I'm going to bite my toungue off here I suspect, but I really think that's excessive considering the effort you put into getting the Rivarossis. But then, I'm an overly adamant supporter of both the "Good enough" and "12 inch test". Also, There is now a strong possibility that Walthers will be putting out soem UP City cars, that I suspect made it into Exec. service, and could supplement a lot of the brass costs. A $50 car is much cheaper than a 500. And I stll think you can make the theatre car yourself for les than the cost, but the brass car is nice.
BPL Brass in Wisconsin has several of the Overland Models UP Passenger cars in stock, several sleepers, business car Selma and one dome diner. The Dome diner and car Selma will set you back 500.00 plus each but, the sleepers will set you back 400.00 plus but, they are worth it. Nice thing is BPL will let you do layaway on the models.
The Overland Models Union Pacific excursion cars are the best. I first rode behind the 3985 in 2001 and after that ride I started collecting the OMI excursion cars. At the time Canadian Model Trains had a huge inventory of them. At first I wanted the 13 cars I had rode behind with the 3985 and then it turned into 30 of the excursion cars. They are beautifuly done. Overland Models is re-running the dome cars in 2010. They are the hardest and most expensive cars to find. Caboose Hobbies was a good source to find the excursion cars. Like Mike said you have to be prepaired to spend big $$. You will find good deals. I used to check Caboose Hobbies consigned web page every day and was able to get the Columbine and Challenger Dome cars for $395 each. On ebay I have seen it go over $600 per dome. I spent on average about $400-450 per car. Of the 30 cars I have, I bought 12 of them brand new from Canadian Model Trains between 2001-2005 and spent about $400 per car. When the 3985 stopped in St. Louis in 2003 I went to a LHS and got the Fox River Inspection car for $350. You don't have to spent $500+ to get the cars. If you look hard enough you will find good deals. They might cost alot of money but they are well worth it!
Depending on how accurate you want your train to be, you could stick with the Rivarossi cars. If you want an extremely accurate train, your only option would be brass for the passenger cars. For the theater car, your only option would be the Idaho which was imported by Overland Models. I think that you will find the car to be your best investment and it will put any of the plastic cars to shame detail wise. The express box travels with the steam engines as it contains the stairs and other equipment needed. Also, for Sherman Hill the souvineer car, your only option is brass as it is a former RPO Baggage.
Ah ha.One of those.
the CIty of San Francisco is the dome-lounge-obs, but it can also operate mid-train.
http://www.railcarphotos.com/PhotoDetails.php?PhotoID=34745
river_eagle Another Quick spotting feature on the power car is that it has a heavyweight(6-wheel) truck on one end, the end where the powerplant is.
Another Quick spotting feature on the power car is that it has a heavyweight(6-wheel) truck on one end, the end where the powerplant is.
Hadn't noticed. Cool.
river_eagle and the tool car is longer and shorter than the Athearn one, but it works as a stand-in. If your willing to bash a bit to change the doors, and do a simple paint job, the Amtrak smoothsided MHC is a closer match for the toolcar, or just paint and forget the doors, like I did
and the tool car is longer and shorter than the Athearn one, but it works as a stand-in.
If your willing to bash a bit to change the doors, and do a simple paint job, the Amtrak smoothsided MHC is a closer match for the toolcar, or just paint and forget the doors, like I did
Houston, we have a longer tool car. http://www.athearn.com/Products/Default.aspx?ProdID=ATH89205 Don't know about the height. I do love your MHC, but I for one would prefer the boxcar for the height difference.
river_eagle there are three different business cars that run with the train, two are the theatre type and the other is a dome obs.
there are three different business cars that run with the train, two are the theatre type and the other is a dome obs.
I havent seen the domeobs, but I think I;ve seen a porch style obs similar to the Kato.
are they available anywhere yet?