The California Zephyr cars by Broadway Limited are arriving. Many of us will now have a fleet of undecorated cars to make trains with. The question is what to name these cars. I will have two trains and I want car names that are unique for my trains.
The rules are simple:
The names have to follow the real CZ naming themes as close as possible.
I’ve already broken one rule (used two words instead of just one), but “Chuck Wagon” fit the main theme so well I decided the violation of the syntax was OK.
The names can’t already be used by real CZ cars even if BLI isn’t making that particular name (eg. Silver Mountain).
Real Names are here http://calzephyr.railfan.net/cars/cars.html
Even after I have filled my slate with names, keep suggesting as others may be seeking car names for their trains as well.
Here is what I have so far for mine in black. Help me fill in the blanks (in blue):
Baggage
Train #1 - Silver Moose
Train #2 - Silver Squirrel
Dome Coach #1 - Silver Mine suggested by Don Gibson #2 - Silver Certificate suggested by leighant
Dome Coach #1 - Sliver Claim #2 -
Dome Coach (conductor) #1 - Silver Stallion #2 - Silver Horseshoe suggested by leighant
Dome Buffet Lounge #1 - Silver Saloon or Silver Canteen suggested by bxcarmike #2 - Silver Bullet suggested by rivereagle or Silver Cabaret suggested by jpwc50
Diner[dinner] #1 - Silver Chuck Wagon #2 - Silver Skillet or Silver Triangle suggested by my wife
Sleeper 6-5 #1 - Silver Eagle #2 - Silver Condor suggest
I will also make the first post with some history and the first idea.
The baggage cars were easy and actually what started me on this whole idea.
Our hobby store had already sold out of the “Silver Beaver” baggage car. That was the #1 have-to-have on my list since the beaver is my totem. I was bummed. The only thing they had remaining on the shelf was the undecorated car. For some reason I picked it up anyway, thinking drearily of all that hunting on e-bay, etc. And then for some reason it hit me. My spouse is big into the “Lodge Theme” for the house with the Moose and Bear. Moose have recently been re-introduced into Colorado, the Moose is also her totem, runaway train of ideas…I could make this undecorated car into the “Silver Moose”. I ran to the reference section to see if that was an actual name or not. Then it hit me. It didn’t matter. I could make my own complete train of freelance named cars.
Potential Baggage car names -
Silver Badger
Silver Elk
Silver Fox
Silver Grizzly
Silver Puma
Silver Lynx
Some will understand the significance of the name of my second baggage car “Silver Squirrel”. So humor, alternate significance, and secondary meanings encouraged.
I like it. Wonder if we can squeeze in a stage somewhere.
Something with the moon - I like it.
Good thoughts but those are actual cars:
Silver Lodge - CB&Q #4717 dome coach (with women & children’s section).
Silver Falls - CB&Q #427 10/6 sleeper
Silver Creek - D&RGW #113 10/6 sleeper
That’s good … and original, just doesn’t quite fit the scheme.
I really like that, unfortunately I’ve got more good baggage car names than I know what to do with. Perhaps I’ll have the fictional Zephyr win a mail contract so they need two baggage cars.
Yes, when I originally wrote this only the first run was out, and sold out as well unless someone wanted to pay full list price for it.
I really like the Silver Dream, but the 6-5 sleepers have bird names. I might use it on a 10-6 but those are mostly geologic features, and the 16s are tree names. Might have to invent a new class - hmmm wait a minute possibly the dormatory!
The Silver Valley is great idea but it is already claimed CB&Q 10-6 sleeper #428.
I was wondering when someone would ge around to that one. Especially with all the comercials that started last July 4 with the trains. I like it. Silver Stake really fits the western scheme and would be a good 10-6 name.
HA that’s a mixed bag. I really like the Silver Cloud doesn’t quite fit the themes though. Silver Platter is a real car being produce by BLI (In fact I have one) WP Silver Platter 842. The Goblet is interesting but more Medieval than western. Horseshoe and Certificate I like but will shift them to the dome coaches. Silver Screen - My first thought was a screen door (like redneckish)[:-^] Didn’t think of Hollywood until later.
Good picture. As my wife says of it, “Shipping by Moose”. By as in beside.
Sleeper 16 - Silver Sequoia
Sleeper 10/6 -Silver Chasm, crevice,glen, plain,coulee, basin, gulch, ravine
Sleeper 6/5 - Silver Condor, Hawk
A few more for your consideration…regards, John
You’re putting some real thought into these aren’t you?. The Sequoia is great and makes perfect sense for a WP car as does the Condor. Hawk is good but I think I’ll hold out for something more interesting. The 10/6 names are good but none of them “sing” to me. The Chasm is a real car CB&Q #4304, and it is being produced by BLI.
I like Sunrise, but “silver” sort of defeats the awe factor of rainbows and aurora borielis…
I really like the silver sun and canteen. The vault is a really cool name but doesn’t fit the animal theme for baggages - if they only had a mail car in the train.
Really good and cool name, it just doesn’t fit the scheme for any of the Zephyr sleepers.
Hmmm Orion is intersting… but I don’t think quite makes the cut, might be too ummm technical for 1949. Constellation is one I’ve already got on my list [;)]
Silver Trails… Have to think about that. Has some potential.
