What passenger set would you like Walthers to release next?

[steamage]

The SP Sunset Limited would be my first choice, but anything in SP will do.

[arkansasrailfan]

For the love of God, when will one of the UP Cities be modeled!?!!?!?!?!?!?!?!??!?!?!?!?!?!?!

[RedGrey62]

Have to agree with the Denver Zephyr but with BLI probably not rereleasing the next run in the CZ cars, Walthers my not be inclined to go with that one.  The east and southeast seem to be a bit underepresented and either the 20th Century or the Broadway Limited will probably be next.

I still don't see why someone doesn't come up with a "modular" system for passenger cars, especially Budd.  The difference between a 10-6, 16 section, coach and a few other cars is really window arrangement (and of course interiors).  A system featuring a roof (used on all above cars, fluting below the windows and underframe could be mated to proper interior and window section.

Smoothsides would be a little tougher but PS lightweights might lend themselves to this construction too.

Rick Keil 

[Flashwave]

Have to agree with the Denver Zephyr but with BLI probably not rereleasing the next run in the CZ cars, Walthers my not be inclined to go with that one.  The east and southeast seem to be a bit underepresented and either the 20th Century or the Broadway Limited will probably be next.

I still don't see why someone doesn't come up with a "modular" system for passenger cars, especially Budd.  The difference between a 10-6, 16 section, coach and a few other cars is really window arrangement (and of course interiors).  A system featuring a roof (used on all above cars, fluting below the windows and underframe could be mated to proper interior and window section.

Smoothsides would be a little tougher but PS lightweights might lend themselves to this construction too.

Rick Keil 

You mean buy a car frame/chassis/trucks and a set of walls that would snap onto a framework?

[RedGrey62]

Have to agree with the Denver Zephyr but with BLI probably not rereleasing the next run in the CZ cars, Walthers my not be inclined to go with that one.  The east and southeast seem to be a bit underepresented and either the 20th Century or the Broadway Limited will probably be next.

I still don't see why someone doesn't come up with a "modular" system for passenger cars, especially Budd.  The difference between a 10-6, 16 section, coach and a few other cars is really window arrangement (and of course interiors).  A system featuring a roof (used on all above cars, fluting below the windows and underframe could be mated to proper interior and window section.

Smoothsides would be a little tougher but PS lightweights might lend themselves to this construction too.

Rick Keil 

You mean buy a car frame/chassis/trucks and a set of walls that would snap onto a framework?

No, the cars would still come complete, RTR.  But the manufacturer could run more cars, more roadnames at reasonable cost to themselves since the only new tooling would involve the window sections and possibly the interiors, everything else would be common.

Rick

[Charlie]

Walther's has been polling eastern modelers on what type of NYC station they would like to see releases. So chances are that Walther's will release the 20th Century. I personally would like to see some business cars released.

Charlie

[BRJN]

I would like to see a PRR Broadway Limited because it came through my home town.

For variety (and because I model that era) Walthers could build the 1901 inaugural consist for the Cloverleaf RR's Commercial Traveller.  (St Louis - Toledo)  This is almost a pike-size passenger train!

Other ideas:

NYC 20th Century Limited (1938 !), L&N Hummingbird, EL Phoebe Snow, RDG Crusader, IC City of New Orleans, ACL Silver Meteor, SOU Crescent

[METRO]

Allright first off I will start by saying that I know practically nothing about what would make a good marketable passenger train in the hobby industry.  However, some observations about Walther's previous passenger trains show that they like ones where they can release a different car every month, issue subscriptions to the train, and release in concert with a P2K locomotive, so...

I think the B&O Royal Blue would be a good choice. We have yet to see them do an east-of-Chicago train, and the RB is very well known.  Also it would give Walthers the option to make a run of modernized heavyweight cars. 

Another thought would be anything powered by E8s, such as the NYC 20th Century Limited, PRR Congressional,  IC City Of New Orleans, UP City Of Everywhere, ATSF Valley Flyer, or any of the New York-Florida trains.

I'd also like to see them do a New Haven Shoreliner powered by the P1K DL109 or C-Liner, but I don't think that fits their release plan setup.  

My final thought would be to release something very modern, like Amtrak's Lake Shore Limited, including Amfleet (I & II) Viewliners, Heritage diners and the 1700-series baggage cars made from converted Heritage coaches.  With it they could also re-release their old Amtrak-standard passenger station with some updates. The other big seller there would be finally proucing Amtrak equipment in the Phase IVb scheme.

Cheers!

~METRO 

[okiechoochoo]

I vote for the Illinois Central City of New Orleans also.  I don't think anyone has done it in correct colors yet with a matching E unit.  It would be nice to have.

[steemtrayn]

Another thought would be anything powered by E8s, such as the NYC 20th Century Limited, PRR Congressional,  IC City Of New Orleans, UP City Of Everywhere, ATSF Valley Flyer, or any of the New York-Florida trains. 

Congressional...Wasn't that pulled by a GG1?

[jfallon]

Have to agree with the Denver Zephyr but with BLI probably not rereleasing the next run in the CZ cars, Walthers my not be inclined to go with that one.  The east and southeast seem to be a bit underepresented and either the 20th Century or the Broadway Limited will probably be next.

I still don't see why someone doesn't come up with a "modular" system for passenger cars, especially Budd.  The difference between a 10-6, 16 section, coach and a few other cars is really window arrangement (and of course interiors).  A system featuring a roof (used on all above cars, fluting below the windows and underframe could be mated to proper interior and window section.

Smoothsides would be a little tougher but PS lightweights might lend themselves to this construction too.

Rick Keil 

Isn't that what Rivarossi has done? Their passenger cars are now sold by IHC in many schemes.  

[jecorbett]

Walther's has been polling eastern modelers on what type of NYC station they would like to see releases. So chances are that Walther's will release the 20th Century. I personally would like to see some business cars released.

Charlie

I missed that poll but I've always liked the station in Troy although it might not be as grand as the Milwaukee Station recently introduced. Other candidates might be Buffalo, Cleveland, or Toledo.

If it is the 20th Century, I hope they include an AB set of E8s. They have offered two different A units but for some reason, no B unit. As much as a I like F7s, I don't think I ever saw a picutre of the 20th Century behind anything but E units or Hudsons.

[Heartland Division CB&Q]

In addition to Walthers ...........  

The BLI CZ is a nice train and I would think we should ask about BLI's future passenger sets. i would have thought their first passenger train would be the Broadway Limited i=given the name of their company. I would like to see BLI produce other Burlington trains (Denver Zephyr in particular) because their CZ is truly outstanding.

As I posted earlier, the NP NCL would be a good choice for Walthers becuase it had some equipment that was so close to some of the Empire Builder equipment.

Another maker of quality equipment, Rapido, should try to match its colors with what Walthers uses. The greens for NP passenger cars do not match for example.

My Kato CB&Q business car is great, and I wonder why Kato does not do more HO passenger cars.

My

 

[leighant]

Set?   SET???!?!?   Doan' wan no steenking SET. 

I want individual cars to build my trains.  And what I would want most from Walthers would be a N scale version of the Santa Fe heavyweight coach they had in HO scale 30 years ago.  Channel side sills instead of the belt rail common on cars of other railroads, big long windows, 10 big windows each side rather than the small windows of other railroads.  The most common Santa Fe heavyweight car.  Never been mass produced in N scale.  I passed up bidding on the Pecos River Brass chair car that was on eBay yesterday, even though I have waited for it to show up for a year or so.  I guess I am just too cheap.

 

[Master of Big Sky Blue]

My freind Dan asked the walthers guy what the next passenger train that was coming out was going to be at Trainfest in Milwaukee last year. The Walthers guy's response was he started humming Dixie.

James

[Flashwave]

My freind Dan asked the walthers guy what the next passenger train that was coming out was going to be at Trainfest in Milwaukee last year. The Walthers guy's response was he started humming Dixie.

James

"Dixie" has sometimes been used in my neck of the woods as a cop-out,(yes I know, people aren't smart) not neccecarily a sign to the next train. I could be wrong too, frequently am.

 

[fmilhaupt]

Isn't that what Rivarossi has done? Their passenger cars are now sold by IHC in many schemes.  

Ummm... the current crop of IHC passenger cars is nothing Rivarossi has made. IHC's current line of cars uses their own tooling, which doesn't compare well to the quality of Rivarossi's cars, even the Rivarossi cars made using the tooling cut in the 1960s.

 

[Texas Zepher]

I still don't see why someone doesn't come up with a "modular" system for passenger cars, especially Budd. ...

Isn't that what Rivarossi has done? Their passenger cars are now sold by IHC in many schemes.

No, what Rivarossi did was take a specific prototypical car and just painted it for all the different railroads whether that road had that car or not.   I know the streamlined observation car is a Pennsy prototype and the heavyweight combine is a Santa Fe.   That is not what Rick is proposing.  If I understand correctly he is proposing they make more flexible tooling so it would be easier to create the various window arrangements that are prototypical for specific railroads.

[markpierce]

I want those models I will purchase: prototypical Southern Pacific heavyweights.  It is taking a painfully long time and lots of money to acquire brass models at $300 to $500 each in my effort to assemble a proper train.  After four years, I'm about 15% of reaching my goal.

Mark

[jecorbett]

I still don't see why someone doesn't come up with a "modular" system for passenger cars, especially Budd. ...

Isn't that what Rivarossi has done? Their passenger cars are now sold by IHC in many schemes.

No, what Rivarossi did was take a specific prototypical car and just painted it for all the different railroads whether that road had that car or not.   I know the streamlined observation car is a Pennsy prototype and the heavyweight combine is a Santa Fe.   That is not what Rick is proposing.  If I understand correctly he is proposing they make more flexible tooling so it would be easier to create the various window arrangements that are prototypical for specific railroads.

This is a case where ignorance is bliss. I don't care if my cars are prototypically accurate because I don't know if they are prototypically accurate. If it looks like a passenger car and has the correct paint scheme, that is good enough. My layout is freelanced so prototypical accuracy is not a high priority for me. Research? I don't need no stinking research.

[RedGrey62]

I still don't see why someone doesn't come up with a "modular" system for passenger cars, especially Budd. ...

Isn't that what Rivarossi has done? Their passenger cars are now sold by IHC in many schemes.

No, what Rivarossi did was take a specific prototypical car and just painted it for all the different railroads whether that road had that car or not.   I know the streamlined observation car is a Pennsy prototype and the heavyweight combine is a Santa Fe.   That is not what Rick is proposing.  If I understand correctly he is proposing they make more flexible tooling so it would be easier to create the various window arrangements that are prototypical for specific railroads.

TZ

That is exactly what I was trying to describe.  In fact, I bought a couple of BLI cars and was looking to create some of the Denver Zephyr cars by overlaying with thin brass with proper window arrangement.  Of course I'd have to paint to match and I still would not have the signature blunt end observation to really make it right!

Rick

[csmith9474]

I still don't see why someone doesn't come up with a "modular" system for passenger cars, especially Budd. ...

Isn't that what Rivarossi has done? Their passenger cars are now sold by IHC in many schemes.

No, what Rivarossi did was take a specific prototypical car and just painted it for all the different railroads whether that road had that car or not.   I know the streamlined observation car is a Pennsy prototype and the heavyweight combine is a Santa Fe.   That is not what Rick is proposing.  If I understand correctly he is proposing they make more flexible tooling so it would be easier to create the various window arrangements that are prototypical for specific railroads.

TZ

That is exactly what I was trying to describe.  In fact, I bought a couple of BLI cars and was looking to create some of Denver Zephyr cars by overlaying with thin brass with proper window arrangement.  Of course I'd have to paint o match and I still would have the signature blunt end observation to really make it right!

Rick

What about roof vent placements, different underbody equipment/detail arrangements, different interiors, and different trucks?

[RedGrey62]

csmith

I'm guessing your question is directed towards me converting BLI CZ cars to DZ cars and not the general statement of earlier of the modular construction system. 

To me, the window arrangement is the most important thing that really stands out.  Comparing the CZ cars to the DZ cars, not much change in roof vents and trucks (in fact, BLI has done a much better job on Burlington cars than Walthers for trucks).  The big change would be RR nameplates at each end of the car, only the CZ had them since cars belonged to 3 different RRs.  I'll simply paint over them and live with that "minor" cosmetic error.  They can be removed, but new fluting over the holes would have to be made.  All post war Budd cars on the Burlington had full skirting so underbody detail is not that noticeable.

Rick

[Bapou]

How about the Phobe Snow from the Erie Lackawanna days?

[jecorbett]

How about the Phobe Snow from the Erie Lackawanna days?

Good choice. Probably my second pick after the 20th Century Limited but I think I would opt for it from its DL&W days when it was at its heyday. By the time of the merger, the consist had gotten a little scruffy, resembling a second class train with lots of head end cars.

[Bapou]

How about the Phobe Snow from the Erie Lackawanna days?

Good choice. Probably my second pick after the 20th Century Limited but I think I would opt for it from its DL&W days when it was at its heyday. By the time of the merger, the consist had gotten a little scruffy, resembling a second class train with lots of head end cars.

Then I would pick the version from the DLW days. My Dad said it was started with the EL but he is wrong a lot LOL. (With railroading) 

[jecorbett]

How about the Phobe Snow from the Erie Lackawanna days?

Good choice. Probably my second pick after the 20th Century Limited but I think I would opt for it from its DL&W days when it was at its heyday. By the time of the merger, the consist had gotten a little scruffy, resembling a second class train with lots of head end cars.

Then I would pick the version from the DLW days. My Dad said it was started with the EL but he is wrong a lot LOL. (With railroading) 

Acutally, your Dad is not entirely wrong. There were actually two generations of the Phoebe Snow. The original Phoebe Snow began in 1949 when the Lackawanna Limited, Trains 3 & 6 was renamed for Phoebe. It ran between Hoboken and Buffalo on a daylight schedule with through cars going onto Chicago on the Nickel Plate. I believe the name was dropped at the time of the merger or even before. The EL resurrected the name Phoebe Snow for Hoboken-Chicago trains 1 & 2. The westbound Phoebe was actually able to break even due to a large amount of mail carried. The EL abandoned the train in 1966.

[Bapou]

How about the Phobe Snow from the Erie Lackawanna days?

Good choice. Probably my second pick after the 20th Century Limited but I think I would opt for it from its DL&W days when it was at its heyday. By the time of the merger, the consist had gotten a little scruffy, resembling a second class train with lots of head end cars.

Then I would pick the version from the DLW days. My Dad said it was started with the EL but he is wrong a lot LOL. (With railroading) 

Acutally, your Dad is not entirely wrong. There were actually two generations of the Phoebe Snow. The original Phoebe Snow began in 1949 when the Lackawanna Limited, Trains 3 & 6 was renamed for Phoebe. It ran between Hoboken and Buffalo on a daylight schedule with through cars going onto Chicago on the Nickel Plate. I believe the name was dropped at the time of the merger or even before. The EL resurrected the name Phoebe Snow for Hoboken-Chicago trains 1 & 2. The westbound Phoebe was actually able to break even due to a large amount of mail carried. The EL abandoned the train in 1966.

Thanks for the info! now I have to show my Dad!

[Neil F.]

A second run of the Shoreliner/Comet/Horizon commuter cars would be nice.  The first run was a success in itself, and a second one wouldn't hurt.  Although if they did it right, they have to do a run that exactly matches with its prototype like MBTA, Metro North, NJT, and CDOT.  Septa hasn't changed.  Also one point is after model makers are producing the commuter cars with the center doors to which is the most updated version.  This started with New Jersey Transit's Comet III to which was delivered in 1991, and more updated Comet IV's in 1996 with Metro North, and Septa soon to follow.  Alstrom delivered a stainless steel version of the original Pullman design for NJT (Comet V) starting in 2001.  I don't think Walthers would do the center door version, but a more updated version of the original non-center door version would be nice.  Even add the proper diaphragm/gates to match the prototype for measure.  Also nothing can match the original configuration of the Pullman-built Comet I even though the majority were rebuilt to accomodate high platforms.  Now the low-platform only Comet I's are running along Utah's Railrunner service.

[Medina1128]

 

PMeyer

Von Ryan's Express!

Paul

 

 

I wonder if Preiser has an HO scale Frank Sinatra running behind the train...