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Col. Hal Carstens Colossal Coast to Coast Railroad Centennial Show {1869-1969} .....

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Col. Hal Carstens Colossal Coast to Coast Railroad Centennial Show {1869-1969} .....
Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, March 9, 2008 6:27 PM

and also his World Famous Railroad Show {1933-2K3}. Athearn has made I believe 3 special run cars over the years. I would like to view some clear, up close photos if available and to be able to read in much more detail about his railroad shows.  Question [?] As time permits would anyone be able to provide data & photos or maybe a link to same?

 

Respectfully

Danny

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Posted by dinwitty on Sunday, March 9, 2008 6:30 PM

I have the observation car, maybe I can get pics later. Its a fantasy car so all them shows didnt happen. Its a celebration car of the golden spike centennial.

 

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Posted by dknelson on Sunday, March 9, 2008 8:33 PM

I assume you know that "Col." Hal Carstens is the long time publisher of Railroad Model Craftsman and various railfan and model railroading books and thus the cars are distinctly tongue in cheek?  

Dave Nelson

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Posted by PA&ERR on Monday, March 10, 2008 3:25 PM

There's a 40th Anniverseray baggage and a 70th Anniversary "Office" car advertised (with pics) on Carsten's website.

-George

"And the sons of Pullman porters and the sons of engineers ride their father's magic carpet made of steel..."

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Posted by PastorJack59 on Friday, October 23, 2015 9:46 AM

For what it's worth, and I know this is an old thread, Both Carstens cars are pictured on pg. 150 (the sixth glossy picture page in) of "The Standard Guide to Athearn Model Trains" (Tim Blaisedell & Ed Urmston, Sr., Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 1998). This is a great reference book to have for your library, if you can find it.

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Posted by mlehman on Friday, October 23, 2015 11:11 AM

Kinda an old thread, but here's some pics for reference. I did detail paint the trucks and rear railings silver IIRC, plus maybe some other stuff, so this is not how it looks out of the box. I also added Kadees and metal wheels. Naturally weathered through various viscitudes over the last 45 years since acquisition.

Mike Lehman

Urbana, IL

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Posted by oldline1 on Friday, October 23, 2015 8:49 PM

There was a third passenger car done by E&BV. It was one of the Osgood-Bradley American Flyer coaches and was painted in these same colors.

Athearn also did a 50' DD boxcar as Carsten's Publications that was a color matched car.

There was an AHM/Rivarossi heavyweight observation done as an RMC business car. It was painted solid Pullman Green or possibly Tuscan Red if I remember right. I only saw a B&W photo of the car. It was NOT a production car though.

Roger Huber

Deer Creek Locomotive Works

 

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Posted by SeeYou190 on Wednesday, February 21, 2018 10:57 PM

I can't find a good color picture of the original car anywhere.

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Can someone help?

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-Kevin

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Living the dream.

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Posted by BN7150 on Thursday, February 22, 2018 7:37 AM
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Posted by SeeYou190 on Thursday, February 22, 2018 1:22 PM

The bottom three look like Athearn cars.

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Were these offered pre-decorated like this?

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-Kevin

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Living the dream.

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Posted by rrbnsf on Thursday, February 22, 2018 3:49 PM
They are and they were.
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Posted by BN7150 on Thursday, February 22, 2018 4:56 PM

This color scheme would be Mr. Hal Carstens' preference. The history of the model is on page 124 of his "150 Years of Train Models."

"An order was placed with Athearn, Inc, for a car commemorating the wedding of the rails at Promontory Point, Utah. The car was ordered with a red body having a yellow stripe. Iry Athearn ran six cars and called Hal Carstens in New Jersey, saying the colors were lousy and he was reversing the colors. The rest is history. The car had two runs."

150 years of train models

Carstens CPIX 0712

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Posted by SeeYou190 on Friday, February 23, 2018 4:46 PM

Started work on STRATTON & GILLETTE business car #1000.

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The color scheme and overall look will match the Carstens Business Car.

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The will require some creative decal work.

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-Kevin

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Living the dream.

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Posted by SeeYou190 on Thursday, March 8, 2018 2:37 PM

I have decided car #1000 will be named "RAMONA MARIE". I have also added details to the kit.

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Time for more painting.

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-Kevin

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Living the dream.

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