Hi, according to the moderator at the BLI forum the Daylight cars are on their way. So, how would you build a correct set?
Magnus
Hi Magnus,
Since my Grandpa Ofeldt came over from Sweden in the late 1800’s I’ll start you off.
The first thing is to research for a SP historical society on Google. Then join their Forum, as you have done with this one. Then ask fo whatever information you need, i.e., consists, photos, diagrams, what have you. Be sure to specify the era you are interested in.
Until the steam era ended they were pulled by the famous Daylight engines, called by some the country’s most beautiful locomotives. I was stationed in Bakersfied, CA during WWII and traveled the state from LA to SF and had occasion to observe them many times. Quite a memorabale sight.
Hello,
Also a good source are the books Southern Pacific in Color Vol 1 till 5; SP Passenger trains - Day trains of the Coast line, the book Daylight reflection, SP Color guide to freight and Passenger equipment Vol 1 till…, Southern Pacific in Los Angeles.
These are some books I recomend, SP in Color Vol 2, Daylight reflections and SP passenger trains - Day trains of the coast line. (some are already out of print)
There are more books but the one’s I wrote down are good starters to beginning your search about SP Passengers Trains and do not forget GOOGLE, you will find also a lot of in formation.
I hope this will help you. Feel free to contact me.
I am also looking forward to see the Daylight cars of BLI/PCM but I checked the site today and the anouncing them for Spring 2008; if an other model train manufacture will not bring out a Daylight.
This is only a rumour: if that other manufacture will bring out the DAYLIGHT than it is a possibility that BLI/PCM will not bring out the DAYLIGHT train; just only a rumour but if my memories ar e correct PCM/BLI has anounced earlier this year the release of their train in October.
southernpacificgs4
Magnus
The list below is the Morning Daylight train by PCM with the skirts and the Southern Pacific lines name on the side. That is the 1941 version and later in about 1946 or so, the same on the sides was a larger Southern Pacific without the lines. The orginal version is what PCM has announced and the following numbers from their stock listing is below. You would need the whole list to have a complete train, but you might want to par down some of the duplicate cars if your layout is not capable of running a large passenger train.
Athearn is close to bringing in a complete 1937 Dalight train with later modifications if I remember what they showed at a release a few months ago. The 1937 train was used in the valley after the 1941 trains were introduced. The web site takes you to the PCM version and the BLI version is a later update without skirts and the large lettering.
My thought is to get the complete train and use GS4’s until January 1955 era. The last day of the regular Coast Daylight steam assignment was 01//7 1955 according to my SP Books. After that, You will need the PA’s or later E’s .
Cheers
PCM-680 SP Daylight Passenger Car, Baggage Chair, Antenna, 3302, HO |
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Here are a few websites that I’ve bookmarked while researching the subject. Hopefully they will be of some help.
Homepage for the Southern Pacific Historical and Technical Society
Links to members of the Southern Pacific Historical and Technical Society
Daylight info from the excellent Espee website
Wikipedia entry for Coast Starlight
Wikipedia entry for Southern Pacific GS-4 #4449
Wikipedia entry for Southern Pacific E-9 #6051
Consists from the 1960s and 1970s
Passenger Car Photos from Bruce Petty’s “Los Angeles River Railroads” website
Thanks for the advice guys. I apreciate it.
Magnus
WEll, If I was going to make a Sp Daylight consist I’d start by aquiring a set of the proper cars, Walthers comes to mind…and then buy the decal sets from Microscale and paint the cars in the correct colors.
The reason I would do this is economy…BLI is sure to charge premium prices for their sets and I’m all about saving the $$$$ when it comes to my hobbies.
Reason two…I enjoy painting and decalling. But some folks hate to do it and prefer to buy RTR, no problem, we all enjoy certain aspects of this hobby and certain aspects make us cringe. LOL
Short story long, I would buy a set of the cars I want for my Daylight and then repaint and decal them.
Magnus-
Awhile back, I found this great Espee website.
Here is a link to the morning/coast daylight car consist, trains 98-99. http://espee.railfan.net/coast-daylight.html
Mine consists of a set of Black Widow A&B F-7 units, two coaches, a domed lounge car and an observation car. I got the idea from the movie Bad Day At Black Rock starring Spencer Tracy.
Tracklayer
F7’s. Interesting, here I was all hooked up one steam and then you hit me with this. That is a great idea.
About doing them from Walther’s cars. I won’t do that. I rather pay the extra bucks to get that extra quality. I have a CZ set and a Santa Fe super chief set. The difference in appearance and “feel” is huge to me. Ofcourse so was price but I like that little bit extra. Plus Walthers cars+lightning and their isn’t that much of a difference.
Magnus
Hold up Magnus, F7’s never pulled the Coast and morning daylights. If you went to the website I linked, you’d have found out they were pulled by 4-8-4 GS-4s and E8/9s later on.
Thanks for telling me. I kind of did know or think that but I like F7’s so I liked the idea. But my initial plan have been to get the GS-4 to pull it.
Magnus