Hi,
I just noted this on the FDT site, considering the shortage of observation cars that have been reported I thought this would please some people, I know I will get one more. Coming late 2008(?).
http://029ebf1.netsolstores.com/californiazephyr-2ndrunexpectedlate2008.aspx
Magnus
Sorry, but I’ll believe it when I see it. These were actually announced a LOOOOONG time ago. Like all BLI & PCM things lately - announcing them means nothing.
However if one does want an undecorated CZ observation car, send me a PM. I know where they are still in stock. I just purchased 3 last week.
Thanks Magnus
This is very good news for those looking for the BLI observation and bad news for those selling the observations. I noticed three on Ebay recently and they were expensive compared to the BLI price. I purchased the complete Zephyr train but will probably pick up a spare observation car or two this time just in case.
I picked up two spare Lounge cars and a spare diner for my Santa Fe High Level train since they were almost impossible to get. Overland did a rerun of the cars but they continue to be hot items that can be sold.
It is always good to have a spare.
I know, that is why I put in an question mark behind the date. But I have picked up a sense, and I might be wrong, that BLI is really trying to push a lot of things to market now.
But, nevertheless, like Cazephyr says, this should bring down prizes on e-bay.
Magnus
It is good to see that the CZ cars are going to be reissued. I’ve had a BLI/PCM CZ for over two years. Con-Cor makes three CZ prototype cars for those on a budget. The Dome obs223-776 Dome Coach 223-786 and 10-6 Pullman223-796. These are just basic cars and would need interiors added .
There are two videos on Youtube that have mine and another club members CZ’s running. Go on Youtube and type in Longview Kelso & Rainier Railway in the search window. The Videos are Sunday at the WGH Show February 2007 and Train Expo just a month ago.
That is great news…I always wanted one of them.
Phil
Good news. I thought about placing a high bid on one of those CZ observations on Ebay, but just didn’t do that. I’ll just wait. Thanks.
The ad looks great, plenty of detail plus they are a nice looking train set, Who makes them? where are they made? and are they the very best passenger sets made??? what type of quality do they have?? Anyone out there have any, and whats your take on these?
They are made by BLI, Broadway Limited, they are my best passenger cars thats for sure. Beautiful and highly detailed. I don’t have a bad word to say about them.
If they are the best will be subjective but I think everyone, or most at least agree that they are high end passenger cars.
Magnus
As the responders to the original message stated they are made by Broadway Limited Imports (shortened to BLI).
China of course. Sigh. [sigh]
In my opinion yes. I think they are better than any of the other cars I own (brass included). I now have 4 complete sets (11-15 cars) and since the price has dropped so low I am working on a 5th.
They come with real Kadee couplers that are on a special pivot. The plastic is plated so the color is spot on. They come with lighting and interiors. The lighting is LED and distributed through the car so one doesn’t get one bright spot in the center of the car. The electrical pickup system is ingenious and has much less flicker than normal type systems. My only gripe is that they included windowshades. All the windowshades are “pulled down” the exact same pattern in every similar car. Since the train set has multiple of the same car it can look silly.
There have been many reviews on these cars. If you search for “California Zepyhr BLI” the threads should not be too hard to find. You will have to sort through all the “locos for” threads, but the first reviews would have begun in November 2005 with the first run, and through February 2006 when the 2nd run hit the market. I believe my first post on the subject was something like “I had it in my hands and let it slip away”.
Pre-release http://cs.trains.com/forums/620004/ShowPost.aspx
http://cs.trains.com/forums/618162/ShowPost.aspx
1st Run [url]http://cs.trains.com