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Potential Walthers HO Scale Name Trains

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Posted by 7j43k on Wednesday, September 7, 2016 4:50 PM

You can clearly see that the striping and lettering on the EB cars in the photos above are NOT a bright yellow.

 

Thanks for the neat shots,

 

other Ed

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Posted by ACY Tom on Wednesday, September 7, 2016 8:20 PM

I suspect there may not be much market left for complete large passenger trains, unless somebody can come up with some innnovation that makes previous offerings outmoded. 

Any train that used a significant number of upgraded heavyweights is going to present problems of uniqueness that do not fit well with the modern model manufacturers' wish to focus on items that were fairly uniform and widely operated.

I suspect the real potential lies in individual cars that can be mixed and matched to create prototypical consists we haven't seen before. For example, quite a few 14-4 sleepers of MoPac, T&P, MKT, and SL-SF ran through to Eastern cities on PRR and B&O trains.  Since 14-4's were also operated in the liveries of B&O, SR, KCS, and others, this seems like a car with market potential, some cars with smooth sides; others fluted, much like Walthers' release of B&O Plan 4167 10-6's in smooth and fluted versions.

Walthers produced a P-S Plan 4140 sleeper some time ago. The tooling must still exist. They never produced the Tuscan Red Louisville & Nashville scheme applied to the cars used in through service on the PRR's Cincinnati Limited east of Cincinnati. Westward from Cincinnati, the cars operated on L&N trains to Memphis, Louisville, and Nashville. I've looked for the decals to do the job myself, but can't find them.

Walthers has done lots of PRR sleepers, plus the twin unit diner. Unfortunately, their PRR observation car and lounge car were based on the unique Broadway Limited cars. A more usable PRR tail car would be the Plan 4134 2DR 1Cpt 1BR Buffet Obs used on the Spirit of St. Louis, Cincinnati Limited, and Liberty Limited, and named after past PRR Presidents. These trains used Plan 4086A 6 BR Bar/Lounge "... Falls" cars, which would be a great companion to the obs.

There would be no need to create a whole new train, but this type of thinking and marketing could enable modelers to create them themselves.

Tom

(edited for clarification)

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Posted by Mheetu on Wednesday, September 7, 2016 8:34 PM

This might not happen how about

The Canadian of CPR

or The Super Continental of CNR

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Posted by Southbound Night Train on Wednesday, September 7, 2016 8:43 PM

mobilman44

All of the above suggestions are good.......... but not as good as:

- Illinois Central "CITY OF NEW ORLEANS"

- Illinois Central "PANAMA LIMITED"

The IC played a very important roll in the development of the country's mid-section and yet is pretty much ignored by MRs and subsequently the mfgs........

 

Well, I'm an idiot. I left these out of the equation. Sorry:(

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Posted by 7j43k on Wednesday, September 7, 2016 9:02 PM

Mheetu

This might not happen how about

The Canadian of CPR

or The Super Continental of CNR

 

 

 

Didn't Rapido do one or both of these already???

 

 

Ed

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Posted by ATSFGuy on Wednesday, September 7, 2016 9:21 PM

I think walthers has the ability to release the trains we all want, however outside of NYC, PRR, B&O, C&O, roads such as the MON, N&W, LV, CNJ, ERE, EL, RDG, and DL&W are not popular when it comes to passenger trains like the western roads are. A name train release under any of those roads would fail miserably as there is very little or no demand for it.   No

A name train under a western road name (outside of ATSF, SP and UP) has many options to choose from and is very salable, (even if it's a heavyweight set with lightweight streamlined cars mixed in, I've seen streamliners like that). CBQ, CNW, DRGW, MKT, MP, RI, T&P, SL-SF, GN, NP, (and MAYBE SP&S) would work if enough orders were placed and modelers showed enthusiasm.  Yes

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Posted by gmpullman on Wednesday, September 7, 2016 10:01 PM

ATSFGuy
A name train release under any of those roads would fail miserably as there is very little or no demand for it.

I think Walthers realized that when they cancelled production of their announced E-L, NKP, MoPac, D&H and Rio Grande "Fallen Flag" series over a year ago.

I agree with ACY that there really isn't much more that Walthers can do as far as "Big" name trains go.

As a modeler I sure wish they would make some Pre-Amtrak mid-to late sixties stuff and the "Betterment" cars that were pretty common on B&O, Pennsy, Erie and a few western roads. As pointed out, there's really no marketing "pizzaz" in promoting a "has-been" streamliner.

Regards, Ed

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Posted by 7j43k on Wednesday, September 7, 2016 11:00 PM

Until Walthers has done the North Coast Limited, the Twin Cities Zephyr and the Wabash Bluebird, they haven't even scratched the surface.

 

Or, putting it bluntly, I'm in for all three.  As in, checkbook out and hand a-twitch.

 

Ed

 

(who is wondering if 3 Burlington E9's is REALLY enough)(is it?)

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Posted by ATSFGuy on Wednesday, September 7, 2016 11:39 PM

I think you should send them a "strongly worded email or letter" explaining how you feel about the NCL and why it needs to be released.

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Posted by fmilhaupt on Thursday, September 8, 2016 6:44 AM

PM Railfan

Way ahead of ya my friend. Irrespective of Walthers version of the PERE MARQUETTE, I had long ago resided myself to doing what you said.... part it together myself.

I have the E units, the baggage cars, and the coaches. I lack having the Observations, RPO's, and the diners. Looking forward to scrathbuilding those cars one day, as I pretty much knew to model this train - I would have to do.

I have a pretty good start on the heavyweights too. What Id really like to get my hands on are some Palace cars!

Douglas

Back in the mid-1990s, I started to piece together sides for the 1946 Pere Marquette cars from pieces of Eastern Car Works sides and Evergreen corrugated siding, in kind of a riff on how Andy Harman has been piecing together a heavyweight 20th Century Limited.

Before I got too far, NKP Car Co. announced the etched sides, so I bought enough to make two trains. But given other obligations interfering with modeling time, they've sat in their boxes for about 20 years, now. Heck, I just sent one long-overdue issue of PM Tracks to the printer, but still have to finish detailing a couple of PM Mikados so I can finish the next issue (The boxy type 19RA tenders will have to be a project for another day, though).

For heavyweights, Walthers seems to have us covered on the parlors, double-window coaches and sleepers, and the Branchline single-window coach kits are mostly right for the PM (the exception being the one they numbered as an Imperial Salon car).

The baggages and baggage-RPOs are still troublesome. I found a trio of undec Rivarossi (new-style/C&NW design) baggage cars at the "A-Train" show a couple of years ago, put four-wheel trucks under them, and painted/numbered them into a fictitious series just to have some shorter baggage cars.

I've a pair of the Bethlehem diner-lounges nagging me from the shelf, since I got as far as soldering together the side layers, but, again, time to complete them has been lacking.

Somehow I managed to end up with eight of the PM-style streamlined baggage cars over the years. It'll take some imagination to explain six of them...

-Fritz Milhaupt, Publications Editor, Pere Marquette Historical Society, Inc.
http://www.pmhistsoc.org

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Posted by riogrande5761 on Thursday, September 8, 2016 6:48 AM

gmpullman
 
ATSFGuy
A name train release under any of those roads would fail miserably as there is very little or no demand for it. 

I think Walthers realized that when they cancelled production of their announced E-L, NKP, MoPac, D&H and Rio Grande "Fallen Flag" series over a year ago.

Regards, Ed

It was disappointing that the Rio Grande train was cancelled.  From my observations, Rio Grande has sold very well over the past 15 years so it's a puzzeler unless there isn't much demaind for 1950's/1960's Rio Grande.

Rio Grande.  The Action Road  - Focus 1977-1983

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Posted by fmilhaupt on Thursday, September 8, 2016 7:01 AM

riogrande5761

It was disappointing that the Rio Grande train was cancelled.  From my observations, Rio Grande has sold very well over the past 15 years so it's a puzzeler unless there isn't much demaind for 1950's/1960's Rio Grande.

 
...and I was under the impression that the Rio Grande train was the most accurate of the trains they were offering in that series.
 
At least they're still going to bring out the arch-roofed baggage car that was part of that whole endeavour. That's a car that a lot of us can use for several roads.

-Fritz Milhaupt, Publications Editor, Pere Marquette Historical Society, Inc.
http://www.pmhistsoc.org

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Posted by JWhite on Thursday, September 8, 2016 4:19 PM

All of the above suggestions are good.......... but not as good as:

- Illinois Central "CITY OF NEW ORLEANS"

- Illinois Central "PANAMA LIMITED"

 

I would buy both of those, but I doubt we see them because the heavywieght cars the IC converted in their own shops into streamliners aren't generic enough to use in other livery. 

I do think they could sell the original consist of the City of Miami though.  PS designs they could sell in other livery and it was one of the most colorful trains ever.  I would buy one to run on my layout even though the City of Miami ran in chocolate brown and orange in the era I model.

Jeff White

Alma, IL

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Posted by Southwest Chief on Thursday, September 8, 2016 6:46 PM

Charles mentioned this already, but I would second a Santa Fe Scout (1936 - 1948)...when the heavyweights wore the two tone gray paint and had Scout plaques on the cars sides.

We all know Santa Fe sells.  And this is a nice excuse for Walthers to do some more heavyweight cars.

The problem for this trainset would be the locomotive.  Nothing currently available in the Walthers Proto line that would work as a Santa Fe mainline steam loco.  Maybe a joint Walthers-Broadway Limited Imports Scout could work.

Matt from Anaheim, CA and Bayfield, CO
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Posted by PM Railfan on Thursday, September 8, 2016 7:00 PM

fmilhaupt
Somehow I managed to end up with eight of the PM-style streamlined baggage cars over the years. It'll take some imagination to explain six of them...
 

 
If the time should ever present itself (a problem I share with you!), I have a suggestion about your excess of baggage cars. I was planning to get more than the two required also and was going to hack them up and use the portions that are just plain siding to make molds.
 
Once I have an original car side of the right length I was going to cut out the proper windows or doors. Sure its alot of work (and fun!).... but only once. Still have to work on the Obs. square ends though.
 
As for the rest, I use the PM HO Modellers guide of yours - ECW coaches to Walthers Parlors, etc. etc.. Im stepping right in your shoe prints in the minefield of PM roster building.
 
Alas, thats the plan should time prevail. Had my fingers crossed when Walthers announced the PM train. I love the C&O, but I dont model it.
 
 
Douglas
 
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Posted by De Luxe on Wednesday, September 14, 2016 5:10 PM

I hope they finally make the NCL in both 1946 Pine Tree and 1954 Two Tone Green versions! And along the way they could finally release MILW baggage dormitorys, Touralux sleepers, Lake sleepers and Creek sleeper lounge observations so that people can add these cars to the Twin Cities Hiawatha cars in order to model a correct Olympian Hiawatha. Although I don´t model the Northwest I would probably model these trains as in my opinion the OH is the most beautiful streamliner in terms of design while the 1954 NCL has by far the most beautiful paint scheme of all trains! But I love the Pine Tree scheme as well! A Pine Tree NCL being pullled by Athearns Z-8 Challenger would surely be a delight not only for NP fans!

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Posted by De Luxe on Wednesday, September 14, 2016 5:16 PM

gmpullman
I think Walthers realized that when they cancelled production of their announced E-L, NKP, MoPac, D&H and Rio Grande "Fallen Flag" series over a year ago.

I was surprised about the cancellation of the MP and RG cars! As far as I know there are quite a lot RG and MP fans out there, and the RG as well as the MP Eagle scheme are pretty popular! I was quite disappointed because I wanted to purchase some MP cars for my T&P Eagle train....

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Posted by binder001 on Friday, September 16, 2016 11:37 AM

WE need some decent "Harriman" passenger cars, especially UP/SP types.  We could also use a Denver Zephyr for the CB&Q guys.  

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Posted by 7j43k on Friday, September 16, 2016 12:04 PM

binder001

We could also use a Denver Zephyr for the CB&Q guys.  

 

I think the CB&Q guys need a Twin Cities Zephyr, so it can be combined with the (Walthers) Empire Builder or the (Walthers?) North Coast Limited.  And pulled by some recently announced (Walthers) Burlington E9's.

And maybe some re-released (Walthers) Burlington E7's, for those who can't find any to buy.

 

Ed

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Posted by blabride on Friday, September 16, 2016 12:57 PM

Sunset Models has announced some really nice looking plastic Harrimans. Im onboard for some inSP.

SB

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Posted by ATSFGuy on Friday, September 16, 2016 5:43 PM

I would love to see Walthers to release a Southern Pacific "Golden State" or "Sunset Limited" in HO Scale, just like they did with the first run of the "Super Chief".

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Posted by DAVID FORTNEY on Friday, September 16, 2016 7:35 PM

Although Walthers makes some great name trains the cost is just too steep. I looked at some of them and decided to pass them by.

I do like the Panama limited and would like a set of F units in that scheme.

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