Having last year correctly predicted the 20th Century Limited would be Walthers next flagship train to be released, which was part hunch and part wishful thinking, I am now wondering what the next offering will be. I think Pennsy's Broadway Limited and Santa Fe's Super Chief are likely offerings if not this year, then soon after. My hunch this year is Walthers will go south with the post WWII Crescent Limited, a stainless steel streamliner running between New York and New Orleans. I'm curious about what others might be guessing or hoping for.
What about the Wabash Cannonball???????? :-) Kevin
Walthers did the Santa Fe Super Chief a few years ago but the Broadway Limited would be a good addition. I think teh Cresent Limited would be an eacellent choice.
For me I hope that Walthers makes either Southern Pacific's Sunset Limited or Northern Pacific's North Coast Limited. I do have a fifteen car Empire Builder by Walthers. There is a video of it on Youtube by our number one kid. Search westr on the Youtube channel
I had sincerely hoped to see the N&W Powhatan Arrow someday in this series after they hit the larger railroad names like PRR, UP, ATSF, etc.... Now that MTH is doing them, time will tell how good (or bad) they turn out.
You can take it to the bank. It will be Illinois Central's "City of New Orleans"
They will stay with something running out of the Chicago terminal.
In my OP. Really just a guess...........
Johnboy out.
from Saskatchewan, in the Great White North..
We have met the enemy, and he is us............ (Pogo)
The Hooterville Cannonball!!!!
I'd really rather see the UP's City of L A or San Fran!!!
Possibly B&O's Royal Blue? Walthers has been running a lot of B&O stuff lately.
I could be wrong though. There's almost enough rolling stock available on walthers website to duplicate one of the incarnations of the post WW II Royal Blue.
Don - Specializing in layout DC->DCC conversions
Modeling C&O transition era and steel industries There's Nothing Like Big Steam!
Being a die-hard UP fan I'm hoping for the early 50's City of Los Angeles. WKW already has the E-units available. I prefer the COLA, or the COP because they became Domeliners, but there is logic to doing the City of San Francisco as it had a portion of SP cars and that would please UP and SP fans. If they did any of the trains after 1955 they would dovetail with WKWs Milwaukee Road cars in UP colors. Walther had participated with Rivarossi in producing a nice UP 5450-series chair car. Rivarossi already has tooling for the domes, a UP diner and the 70-foot baggage/postal. WKW's Budd sleeper is close to the UP "Pacific-series" sleepers and they produced a GN postal car that can be modified into a UP 5900-5902 series RPO. Waltyhers also has made "American-series" (6-6-4) and "Imperial-series" (4-4-2) sleepers, so the expansion to a full trainset really isn't that far-fetched.
last mountain & eastern hogger You can take it to the bank. It will be Illinois Central's "City of New Orleans" They will stay with something running out of the Chicago terminal. In my OP. Really just a guess........... Johnboy out.
I doubt we'll see the City of New Orleans issued as a set because it began its life as a daytime companion to the all Pullman Panama Limited, which would be a good possibility. All of the Walthers sets have been long distance Pullman trains. An all coach train wouldn't have the variety of equipment that the sleepers offer.
If they offered a complete and accurate 50s era ACL "Champion," I'd buy a couple of sets...for the future, if and when I return to HO scale.
Just a quick review, but these are the past trains, right?2004: ATSF Super Chief2006: GN Empire Builder2007: MILW Hiawatha2008: NYC 20th Century Limited
I talked with a Walthers Rep at the Springfield show in January, and he more or less said that Walthers is looking for future passenger trains to model that would require the least amount of new tooling. So if you want to guess at what train they are going to do next, look at all their previous offerings and compare that to famous passenger trains. The famous trains that have the most cars they already make will be at the top of the list.
One thing I do know is that it most likely will never be any New Haven passenger train from Walthers. The NH was famous for it's day trains (not many sleepers) like the Merchants Limited and the Yankee Clipper. In the post-1948 stainless era, these cars were totally unique for the NH (turtle roofed stainless cars), and in the heavyweight era they are too boring (just dark green with gold lettering). Even tho' the NH was ranked 3rd in passengers carried, and had the "Finest Day Trains In America", we'll likely never get the Walthers train set experience. Sigh.
Paul A. Cutler III*******************Weather Or No Go New Haven*******************
Paul3Just a quick review, but these are the past trains, right?2004: ATSF Super Chief2006: GN Empire Builder2007: MILW Hiawatha2008: NYC 20th Century Limited I talked with a Walthers Rep at the Springfield show in January, and he more or less said that Walthers is looking for future passenger trains to model that would require the least amount of new tooling. So if you want to guess at what train they are going to do next, look at all their previous offerings and compare that to famous passenger trains. The famous trains that have the most cars they already make will be at the top of the list. One thing I do know is that it most likely will never be any New Haven passenger train from Walthers. The NH was famous for it's day trains (not many sleepers) like the Merchants Limited and the Yankee Clipper. In the post-1948 stainless era, these cars were totally unique for the NH (turtle roofed stainless cars), and in the heavyweight era they are too boring (just dark green with gold lettering). Even tho' the NH was ranked 3rd in passengers carried, and had the "Finest Day Trains In America", we'll likely never get the Walthers train set experience. Sigh. Paul A. Cutler III*******************Weather Or No Go New Haven*******************
Rapido has announced they are going to offer the first light weight coaches that NH purchased. It seems some of the rare items now are being offered or announced. I purchased the NH Hudson and would like some of the cars to have for the locomotive.
I would like to see Walthers offer the Super Chief again since the tooling is already done with the stainless plating on them.
CZ
I wouldn't mind seeing the SP/UP/CNW "City of San Francisco" from Walthers--the immediate post-War version. I've got a lovely set of BLI COSF E-6's (A-B-B) that could use a decent train behind them.
Tom
Tom View my layout photos! http://s299.photobucket.com/albums/mm310/TWhite-014/Rio%20Grande%20Yuba%20River%20Sub One can NEVER have too many Articulateds!
I've been hoping for a version of the North Coast Limited, or atleast a cb&q 60's-70's zephyr besides the cal that would be plated stainless steel
lvanhenThe Hooterville Cannonball!!!! I'd really rather see the UP's City of L A or San Fran!!!
Wonder if the girls Billie Jo Bobbie Jo and Betty Jo will come with the Hooterville Cannonball?
Mr. SP lvanhen The Hooterville Cannonball!!!! I'd really rather see the UP's City of L A or San Fran!!! Wonder if the girls Billie Jo Bobbie Jo and Betty Jo will come with the Hooterville Cannonball?
lvanhen The Hooterville Cannonball!!!! I'd really rather see the UP's City of L A or San Fran!!!
Sounds like another special run of Preiser figures will be needed to compliment the Cannonball...plus of course an open-top water tank for them to skinny dip in. O and don't forget Kate, Uncle Joe (though I don't need to see him skinny dipping) and "Benji".
jecorbett Having last year correctly predicted the 20th Century Limited would be Walthers next flagship train to be released, which was part hunch and part wishful thinking, I am now wondering what the next offering will be. I think Pennsy's Broadway Limited and Santa Fe's Super Chief are likely offerings if not this year, then soon after. My hunch this year is Walthers will go south with the post WWII Crescent Limited, a stainless steel streamliner running between New York and New Orleans. I'm curious about what others might be guessing or hoping for.
Walthers probably won't do this, but here's a good candidate:
Wabash "Bluebird". 1 E-7/8, 6 cars. Minimal tooling. Almost qualifies as "Pike Size Passenger Train".
http://home.comcast.net/~wabashrr/images/bluebrd1.jpg
Either that, or a GN "Red River", which was a pike size train. It just didn't serve Chicago.
Then there's the UP "City of Everywhere" which would mean a gazillion E units coupled to a gazillion cars. It does offer flexibility depending on what part of the route you model (i.e. before or after it gets broken into the COLA, COSF, City of Portland).
Andre
I would love to see Seaboard Air Line's Silver Meteor, complete with the "Beach" series Sun Lounge car.
I'm hoping that they produce the Alkali Limited of the Tonopah & Tidewater Railroad!
The post WWII, all-heavyweight version of Southern Pacific's The Sunset Limited, but only after I acquire same in brass.
Mark
ford86 I've been hoping for a version of the North Coast Limited, or atleast a cb&q 60's-70's zephyr besides the cal that would be plated stainless steel
I doubt Walthers will go with the Cal Zephyr anytime soon since BLI beat them to it several years ago.
BLI is one of the most perplexing companies I know of. Their quality is so good but they seem unable or unwilling to deliver it to market. How long has their Dreyfuss Hudson been promised but still remains undelivered. They could sell so much more stuff if they would just make it. Are they afraid of making too much money?
DigitalGriffin Possibly B&O's Royal Blue? Walthers has been running a lot of B&O stuff lately. I could be wrong though. There's almost enough rolling stock available on walthers website to duplicate one of the incarnations of the post WW II Royal Blue.
Don,
That depends on how accurate you want to be. In fact, the B&O name trains where largely equiped with unique streamlined "looking" cars rebuilt from heavy weights. They where done mostly in the B&O's own shops and where like nothing on any other railroad.
The B&O also had a large fleet of "ordinary" heavy weights used for secondary trains and as "fill ins" when needed on the name trains. That is what the current Walthers offerings represent. Also, depending on the train and the year, the paint schemes on the name trains did not exactly match the typical blue/grey/gold of the other cars, and, some of those secondary cars remained pullman green or solid blue all the way up to the C&O merger/buyout when the blue/yellow scheme was than introduced.
In fact, not one car currently offered by Walthers is even close to any of the cars in the photo you posted.
So, while the current Walthers offerings do make a good B&O "secondary" train, they are no where near a "Capital Limited", "National Limited" or "Royal Blue". In fact, in the twenties/early thirties when those trains where still unmodified heavy weights, they where still Pullman Green and/or solid blue. This is why the "President" series Pacifics where painted green when built - the trains they pulled where green.
Later some locos where painted blue for the blue trains, and I believe one or two even got a blue/grey treatment for a short time, and some where streamlined for a while.
The best bet might be 1920's versions - come out with a P7 and paint the cars they have in the line now in the older Pullman green and solid blue schemes. But a late thirties or later versions would be be a big tooling investment in B&O only cars for the whole train.
But, I know a few guys who would buy them right up if they did it.
Sheldon
An all Budd Sunset Limited would be nice, but that would definately require new tooling. The only thing that Walther' shas released that is close to any of the Sunset cars is the Budd 10-6 sleeper.
jecorbett BLI is one of the most perplexing companies I know of. Their quality is so good but they seem unable or unwilling to deliver it to market. How long has their Dreyfuss Hudson been promised but still remains undelivered. They could sell so much more stuff if they would just make it. Are they afraid of making too much money?
You have to have the money in advance to pay for design, tooling and production. Contrary to popular myth, just because some owns a business does not mean they are rolling in money.
Those Chinnese factories don't care how many or what you "think" you can sell, they are only interested in how many or what you can pay for TODAY, before they put them on the boat.
If this was an easy market to make money in, everyone would be in it and every loco/car we want would be made.
Paul3 Just a quick review, but these are the past trains, right?2004: ATSF Super Chief2006: GN Empire Builder2007: MILW Hiawatha2008: NYC 20th Century Limited I talked with a Walthers Rep at the Springfield show in January, and he more or less said that Walthers is looking for future passenger trains to model that would require the least amount of new tooling. So if you want to guess at what train they are going to do next, look at all their previous offerings and compare that to famous passenger trains. The famous trains that have the most cars they already make will be at the top of the list. One thing I do know is that it most likely will never be any New Haven passenger train from Walthers. The NH was famous for it's day trains (not many sleepers) like the Merchants Limited and the Yankee Clipper. In the post-1948 stainless era, these cars were totally unique for the NH (turtle roofed stainless cars), and in the heavyweight era they are too boring (just dark green with gold lettering). Even tho' the NH was ranked 3rd in passengers carried, and had the "Finest Day Trains In America", we'll likely never get the Walthers train set experience. Sigh. Paul A. Cutler III*******************Weather Or No Go New Haven*******************
Well Paul, as much as I admire your vast knowledge of the New Haven, I think you are missing something here. The Congressional/Senator running between Boston and DC would appeal to both NH and Pennsy fans. The latter have a nice choice of GG-1s available and for NH modelers LL PK2 PAs could be offered because they already own the comopany that has that tooling. They already have offered a Budd Parlor which is pretty much dead on for the Congo consist. As I recall, it ran behind an EF-3 from Penn Station to New Haven, so that would make Rick Abramson and myself very happy.
jecorbettHaving last year correctly predicted the 20th Century Limited would be Walthers next flagship train to be released, which was part hunch and part wishful thinking, I am now wondering what the next offering will be. I think Pennsy's Broadway Limited and Santa Fe's Super Chief are likely offerings if not this year, then soon after.
Past offerings are: Super Chief, Empire Builder, Hiawatha, 20th Century. Other companies are doing the SP daylight stuff. They don't seem to care about duplicating regions of the country (EB & Hiawatha back to back). I also doubt they are going to retool another locomotive so we will be stuck with more E7s or F7s. I'm going to guess the Broadway Limited.
HOWEVER, As I have purchased all the prior offerings (more than three full sets of EB) and I am not purchasing the 20th C because of the price increase. I am guessing others are in the same boat. If people like me have any impact on the decisions they might not do another one right away.
Personally, I would like them to do a heavyweight train or I would like a streamlined domed North Coast LImited (with the sleeper dome). Then I would like them to do some from the less modeled lines like the Leighigh Valley, D&H,
In an earlier post, the North Coast Limited was mentioned. I believe Walthers is part way there with some of its previous models such as the Budd dome coach used on the GN Empire Builder also. The Slumbercoach was used on the NCL.
GARRY
HEARTLAND DIVISION, CB&Q RR
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How about the NKP Bluebirds, complete with PA-1"s and PB-1"s NKP is really underrepresented in model manufacturers catologs.
wjstix Mr. SP lvanhen The Hooterville Cannonball!!!! I'd really rather see the UP's City of L A or San Fran!!! Wonder if the girls Billie Jo Bobbie Jo and Betty Jo will come with the Hooterville Cannonball? Sounds like another special run of Preiser figures will be needed to compliment the Cannonball...plus of course an open-top water tank for them to skinny dip in. O and don't forget Kate, Uncle Joe (though I don't need to see him skinny dipping) and "Benji".
I have IHC's kit # 3512, "Old Time Water Tank"!! Not assembeled, but when it is it will have a couple of "bathers" in it!!