So, I have been pondering the idea of, “What will be Walthers’ next name train”. I have been hoping for some certain ones, but I do have ideas for other ones. My list includes:
-Northern Pacific’s “North Coast Limited”
-Amtrak’s “Surfliner” (Not exactly a name train, but it will be nice to see an HO Scale Surfliner that isn’t brass)
-New Haven’s “Merchants Limited” or “Yankee Clipper”
-Lehigh Valley’s “Black Diamond”
-Santa Fe’s “San Diegan”
-Wabash’s “Wabash Cannonball” or “Bluebird”
Rapido’s already got a start on the Merchants Limited: FL9’s and coaches. So it’s unlikely Walthers will go that direction.
I would add a whole passle of Burlington trains could be done. Especially since they’ve announced some E9’s for that railroad. I’d very much like to see the Twin Cities Zephyr: a 7 car train with 5 domes. That’s FIVE domes, folks. In seven cars.
The problem with the North Coast Limited (I think) is that the cars Walthers has already done in that scheme have the wrong colors. So Walthers would have to decide whether they would continue making the train in the wrong color or do them in the correct color. Someone loses (and complains) either way.
The same thing happened with their Empire Builder. That one (the green and orange) had the wrong colors. And they’ve kept doing them that way. Which means that all the cars match. And all are the wrong colors.
All of which would make doing the Burlington cars a good idea: no color choices to make. Or argue about.
Ed
I’m going to go with “Name Trains One Can Afford”.
Those would be the coolest to me.
I like them, I want them but man they get you for them.
“Potential Walthers HO Scale Name Trains”
How about the “Pere Marquette”? And before anyone chimes in - “hey they did that one already!”… um, no, they didnt.
Still waiting for a “real” Pere Marquette. Not a C&O version, not a Polar Express version… a REAL Pere Marquette.
PM Railfan
You know, I didn’t know about that Pere Marquette.
You learn something everyday.
Go figure, they did just announce E8s/9s.
Some Burlington name train (any of the Zephyrs, anyone?[tup][tdn]) would be neat to see, especially in the metal plated/painted scheme.
I would love to see Santa Fe’s Scout, or Santa Fe’s Bluegoose train!
Of course, my number 1 hope is that it is affordable 
Charles
The TCZ in all her glory:
Note that, in this case, the lead dome car is the world’s first–probably subbing for one of the regulars.
Ed
As a contrarian, here are a few I’m sure Walthers will NEVER market:
I’m sure that others could add many more from the 4.92 continents I disregarded. All have one thing in common. If you want it, you had better learn to scratchbuild and/or kitbash.
Chuck (Modeling Central Japan in September, 1964 - Chidori running as a foobie)
If we are talking Burlington, why not the 1956 Denver Zephyr?
Personally, I believe the passenger market is saturated, I wouldnt be a bit surprised if they didnt do a feature train for a couple of years.
Ya never know.
Noone has done the Erie Limited. Walthers can be the first. And probably the last.
The catch with the Wabash Cannonball is that it was a heavyweight train for most of its existance, and Walthers hasn’t seemed interested in offering a heavyweight name train.
When the Cannonball got a few streamlined cars toward the end of the Wabash, most of the cars in any given train were still heavyweights. Not a very pretty train at all at that time, but I think that gave it character…
No one knows who Noone is.
Well, you can get the 1946 Pere Marquette by putting the cars together from Union Station Products kits. Or, if you can find someone willing to part with the old NKP Car Co. sides, they’re already plated. These are the most likely ways to get that train.
At this point, I’d settle for Walthers releasing a 1946-scheme E7.
[quote user=“tpatrick”]
Noone has done the Erie Limited. Walthers can be the first. And probably the last.
[/quote
Well, the problem with the Erie Limited, and a number of other trains, is that most of its cars were upgraded heavyweights, not quite like the cars on any other railroad. Walthers would want to produce cars that they can sell in several liveries. That’s a given. It’s simply the way the market has to work in a world of expensive die work. I love the Erie, too. Grew up near its mainline. But reality sez Walthers ain’t gonna do it.
Tom
Hey Fritz!
Way ahead of ya my friend. Irrespective of Walthers version of the PERE MARQUETTE, I had long ago resided myself to doing what you said… part it together myself.
I have the E units, the baggage cars, and the coaches. I lack having the Observations, RPO’s, and the diners. Looking forward to scrathbuilding those cars one day, as I pretty much knew to model this train - I would have to do.
I have a pretty good start on the heavyweights too. What Id really like to get my hands on are some Palace cars!
Douglas
I’d like a late 90’s era Amtrak silver series train. Despite the fact that they just did a ton of Amtrak cars (and are selling their remaining stock at fire sale pricing) the only car they did in that train was the Amfleet 2 coaches - and arguably a lounge.
the flying Scotsman would be nice too, but Walthers doesn’t do much steam…
I saw that the North Coast Limited was mentioned. The problem with that, unfortunately, is that it had so many incarnations over the years (it was first started in 1900 IIRC), unique cars (the water-baggage car for the first semi-streamlined train [the '47 incarnation still had heavyweight cars in it] being just one) as well as enough different types of engines (various steamers, F3s, F5s [Phase IV F3s], F7s and F9s) that I don’t forsee Walthers producing one of those.
The Walthers Empire Builder cars are generally considered wrong primarily because of the shade of orange used - too dark. Unfortunately, Walthers used a lighter shade of orange on their earlier “generic” GN passenger cars in the orange and green scheme, so you can’t really use the two together very realistically.
All of the above suggestions are good… but not as good as:
Illinois Central “CITY OF NEW ORLEANS”
Illinois Central “PANAMA LIMITED”
The IC played a very important roll in the development of the country’s mid-section and yet is pretty much ignored by MRs and subsequently the mfgs…