Hello- A friend owns this “mystery” O-gauge streamliner. It appears to be of brass construction, has toy-like detailing, but has scale-length cars, and seems too beautifully crafted to be homemade (look at the sculpting of the tail end and the faired in rear lights). Note the jet fighter-like air scoops on the locomotive. It is 2-rail, has inside-bearing type trucks, and the locomotive has both trucks powered by shafts from a centrally-located motor. Each car is lettered “Keystone Pacific Lines” and “The Dart.” There is no manufacturer identification anywhere. Can any of you help me identify this set?
Regards- Richard W.
Sorry, I can’t ID the suspect. But it is a good looking model.
As a suggestion, if no one here comes up with an identification in a reasonable amount of time you might do better posting this over on the Classic Toy Trains Forum where there are more forum members who deal in this type of set.
Hello again- I have just now recalled that Mantua had a rather odd looking HO gauge diesel streamliner sometime in the 60’s - a really awkward looking one as I vaguely recall, which had no real-life prototype. Can someone post a photo of that streamliner, or direct me to where I could view a photo, please? I want to see if there are any similarities in the styling to the Mystery Streamliner.
Incidentally, I have posted more photos of the Mystery Streamliner on the Classic Toy Trains forum.
Regards- Richard W.
I think you are thinking of Mantua’s model of the GM Aerotrain. Well, sort of, Varney made a decent model of the Aerotrain, Mantua’s was hightly stylized, but it didn’t look a thing like your mystery streamliner.
Except for the pointed windshield and side scoops, the loco looks a bit like the Illinois Central Green Diamond. But the cars aren’t anything like it. The whole thing looks more like it came out of Buck Rogers or Flash Gordon (the 50’s serials, not the 70’s show and movie).
Be sure to post back here when you do find out what it is. I’m curious now. I did a little searching around and didn;t come up with anything. I’m really suprised thee’s no sort of maker’s mark on it ANYWHERE. That’s odd. Maybe it was scratchbuilt by someone?
Wow, I’ve never seen anything like it. It is really something. If it is brass, it is probably worth a considerable amount. I wouldn’t mind having one of them, even if I am not O scale.
I don’t know what it is, but the prototype, if there was one, must not have used any air cooling… unless those scoops take it all in and the exhaust is underneath. Very cool looking though. THAT is streamlined !
One thing that comes to my mind is that it may have been a manufactures model to help promote building of the real thing that never happened. Just a wild guess!!!
Hi- The owner of the Mystery Streamliner, who has had this for a number of years, would like to sell it. If you would like some information, you can e-mail him at: brasher@gv.net Here is some additional information- the bodies are tinplated steel (not brass or aluminum as I had previously stated) with leaded in nose and tail sections, the door edges are formed from fine wire, contoured to match the bodies, the engine frame is brass, and I have attached two photos to show details of the engine chassis. One weight that goes over a powered truck has been temporarily removed to make the details visible. Both trucks are powered from the central motor. This appears to be two-rail, and I would venture that it was made in the late 40’s to early 50’s.
Regards- Richard W.
