Prototype/Freelance Passenger trains

[Motley]

I have recently been fascinated by the named passenger trains. They are so good looking. That I want all of them.

So my excuse for 50s passenger named trains on my modern 1989-Present D&RGW layout is excursion/museum restoration trains.

I have the following trains

Colorado Ski Train
UP 844 Steam Excursion train
NYC 20th Century Ltd
SP Daylight
Broadway Ltd
Super Chief
El Capitan

[Mr. LMD]

riogrande5761

I'm modeling the D&RGW between 1965 and 1990.  Thats a pretty wide time frame but a significant portion of the rolling stock applies across much of that time period.  If you model the "mainline thru the rockies", passenger trains break down essentially as:

up to 1970 there was the famous California Zephyr - which in HO can be modeled using Broadway Limited CZ cars.

between 1970 and 1883, the Rio Grande Zephyr traveled between Denver and Salt Lake City, basically the same route and equipement from the above pool - loco's are EMD F9ABB units in single stripe D&RGW paint.  You can used BLI CZ cars lettered for D&RGW and omit the baggage and sleepers - the combine is a Pullman Standard Baggage/Dorm/Chair car - modeled from brass car sides or brass Palace Car Company models (I have two versions at home - on is the post 1975 de-skirted car with the dorm windows blanked out, and the skirted version with dorm windows).

between 1983 and the mid-1990's there is the Amtrak California Zephyr you can model using EMD F40PH's - I prefer KATO versions in HO and the Walthers Trainline are really not bad.  Walthers makes the HO Superliner I cars which depending on time period (Amtrak Phase II, III or IV).  The phase II and III paint were used and mixed during the 1980 and early 1990's - then phase IV after that.

If you have to choose one or the other, which passenger train is your favorite?

[twhite]

My 'proto-lance' Rio Grande Yuba River Sub has a combination of Rio Grande and Espee running on it during the WWII and post-war years (up to about 1954).  So I have several Espee passenger trains ("Daylight", "Gold Coast", "City of San Francisco") that make appearances, plus several Rio Grande passengers ("Prospector", "Exposition Flyer") and one 'never was' streamliner called the "Scenic Limited."  (well, the "Scenic Limited" certainly existed, but never in an 8-car streamlined version) . 

The Espee trains have been relatively easy to put together with cars from MTH, Walthers and Branchline.  The Rio Grande trains are another story entirely--I've had to 'make do' with cars from Walthers, since I can't afford the exact cars and consists of the "Prospector" and "Exposition Flyer", which are largely available only in imported brass (Division Point, etc.). 

Completing my passenger roster is an un-named Rio Grande mail train, and a little 4-car local known as the "Yuba River Express", which is famous for flag-stopping at every good fishing hole along the river itself, LOL!

Tom

[tstage]

Mr. LMD

Here's my question(s) for my fellow modelers.

Prototype modelers: Which railroad passenger train(s) are you modeling and how many do you have?

I model a NYC freight and servicing terminal on my modest 4 x 8 layout.  However, I do have - so far - a few heavyweight passenger cars to be pulled behind my NYC Hudson.  (Two Branchline couches and a sleeper)  I also have a BLI Dreyfuss Hudson ('40 paint scheme) that I am hoping that MTH will still be releasing the passenger cars for at sometime, although I'm not going to hold me breath.

Currently I can't run either Hudson on my layout as the curves are not large enough to handle the 60-70' cars.  The longest rolling stock I run on my freight layout are 50-footers.

Tom

[Mr. LMD]

el-capitan

I'm modelling an obscure portion of the Santa Fe in New Mexico. From the research I have done, It appears that they only ran mixed trains (Freight train with a combination baggage coach in place of a caboose) on this line originating in Rincon, NM going out to Hurley and returning the same day. However, they also ran a small passenger train (coach only) from Albuquerque through Rincon and terminating in El Paso, TX. This train was called the "El-Pasoan". Since my Eastern staging represents El-Paso, I'm taking some artistic liberty and running a passenger train from El-Paso to Silver-City and returning. I'll be running the mixed freights as well.

I have several of the cars from the 1937? Superchief but since I'm not modelling the transcon main, it just doesn't fit.

If you are looking for something specific, you can find alot of old passenger schedules on ebay that will provide information on names, consists etc.

Everyone learns something everyday and I never knew that about the SF and I read some good information about them. I saw some schedules on Ebay and I'm currently bidding on Overton cars to make my own passenger fleet.

[riogrande5761]

I'm modeling the D&RGW between 1965 and 1990.  Thats a pretty wide time frame but a significant portion of the rolling stock applies across much of that time period.  If you model the "mainline thru the rockies", passenger trains break down essentially as:

up to 1970 there was the famous California Zephyr - which in HO can be modeled using Broadway Limited CZ cars.

between 1970 and 1883, the Rio Grande Zephyr traveled between Denver and Salt Lake City, basically the same route and equipement from the above pool - loco's are EMD F9ABB units in single stripe D&RGW paint.  You can used BLI CZ cars lettered for D&RGW and omit the baggage and sleepers - the combine is a Pullman Standard Baggage/Dorm/Chair car - modeled from brass car sides or brass Palace Car Company models (I have two versions at home - on is the post 1975 de-skirted car with the dorm windows blanked out, and the skirted version with dorm windows).

between 1983 and the mid-1990's there is the Amtrak California Zephyr you can model using EMD F40PH's - I prefer KATO versions in HO and the Walthers Trainline are really not bad.  Walthers makes the HO Superliner I cars which depending on time period (Amtrak Phase II, III or IV).  The phase II and III paint were used and mixed during the 1980 and early 1990's - then phase IV after that.

 

Prototype modelers: Which railroad passenger train(s) are you modeling and how many do you have?

To answer the question specifically:

I am modeling 3 passenger trains using the equipment listed which I own:

California Zephyr (real train existed Mar 1949 - Mar 1970):
-Model = 12 Budd passenger cars from BLI in HO plastic for the late 60's version: 1 bag, 1 48 seat chair car, 3 dome-coaches, 1 dome-lounge, 1 diner, 1 5-6 sleeper, 3 12-6 sleepers and 1 dome-observation (also have 3 spare dome cars).  The above is a mix of D&RGW, WP and CB&Q owned cars.

- Power for the above train is either an F3ABBA (1965) set from Athearn Genesis or a mix of F7 and F9 units from Athearn Genesis (1966-1970)

Rio Grande Zephyr (real train ran from 1971-1983)
- Model = 1 brass Pullman Standard Combine 3 BLI dome-coaches, 1 dome-lounge, 1 diner, 1 48 seat coach, 1 dome-observation.

- Power for the above is an ABB set of F9's from Athearn Genesis

Amtrack California Zephyr (version I run (1983-1990) made up of 9 Walthers Superliner I cars in a mix of phase II and phase III paint, one Train Station Products ex-El Capitan bi-level dorm-coach.  Several Material Handling Cars from Watlhers and Concor (depending on time period) and Athearn baggage in Amtrak phase III paint.

- Power for the Amtrak CZ is drawn from 6 F40PH's I have (3 Walthers and 3 KATO).

[Mr. LMD]

UncBob

Freelance

ME&O after going out of freight service in 1960--reestablished a a Fanfare line in 2010

 

 

460 pulling Overlands

440/440OT pulling Overlands and Overtons

Thomas pulling Kimballs and Overtons

 

No special names

 

Examples

 

 

 

 

Names or not, your trains look great. :)

[el-capitan]

I'm modelling an obscure portion of the Santa Fe in New Mexico. From the research I have done, It appears that they only ran mixed trains (Freight train with a combination baggage coach in place of a caboose) on this line originating in Rincon, NM going out to Hurley and returning the same day. However, they also ran a small passenger train (coach only) from Albuquerque through Rincon and terminating in El Paso, TX. This train was called the "El-Pasoan". Since my Eastern staging represents El-Paso, I'm taking some artistic liberty and running a passenger train from El-Paso to Silver-City and returning. I'll be running the mixed freights as well.

I have several of the cars from the 1937? Superchief but since I'm not modelling the transcon main, it just doesn't fit.

If you are looking for something specific, you can find alot of old passenger schedules on ebay that will provide information on names, consists etc.

[UncBob]

Freelance

ME&O after going out of freight service in 1960--reestablished a a Fanfare line in 2010

 

 

460 pulling Overlands

440/440OT pulling Overlands and Overtons

Thomas pulling Kimballs and Overtons

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Mr. LMD]

Since most layouts I have seen (pictures, videos, in person) are mostly freight trains, I have wonder and research about old passenger trains such as the Super Chief, The Zep, 400, Daylight, and many more.

Here's my question(s) for my fellow modelers.

Prototype modelers: Which railroad passenger train(s) are you modeling and how many do you have?

Freelance modelers: How many passenger trains are you running on your layout and if they have a catchy name, could you list them?

 

Strictly talking about model railroading.