Steve,
Thanks for that info on the Athearn possibility and also on the brass kits.
Help me understand something, if you will.
I looked at the web sites for those brass kits. All of them require me to paint the GTW color scheme, correct?
Rich
Rich,
That is a short coming of these kits. If you are not a painter now, there is no time better time to learn than the present. Plus there are always people who would paint them for you if you didn’t want to learn.
Steve
When I worked for the GTW in '64-65 I can remember a set of CN FP7’s running thru to Chicago, but they had to return on the very next eastward passenger train. It happened because the GTW units got blocked behind a derailment in Toronto, it may very well have been an all CN equipment train.
The GTW also had some 4100 series GP9’s that had steam pipes and passenger gearing, around the holidays they could be seen as third units on GTW trains.
In the '60’s (I don’t know about before) all the GT and CV GP9’s went to Battle Creek when due heavy shop work. When released from the shop they would make a round trip to Elsdon as a “Shake down cruise” before going back east.
Dick Haave
The Rapido models for the parlor buffet cars are not correct for Diamond/Silver Lake. These two cars had a different floor plan than the Rapido model which is based on the CN 20 seat prlor cars. The GTW cars had 22 parlor car seats. The resulted in the buffet being located more cetrally, giving a different window configuration. THe GTW cacars underwent 4 recofigurations over their lives. The last rebiuldings removed the one the end vestibules to make room for lounge section.If you really want to delve deeper into this fascinating world of CN/GTW passenger cars I suggest you take a look at the 2 volumes titled Canadian National -Passenger Equipment by Lepkey/West pubblished by the Bytown Railway Society.Volume 16 of “The Official P/S Library” by Randall/Anderson provides side elevations and floor plans for theCN/GTW cars built in 1954 of which Silver/ Diamond Lake were part of the order. AS for CN coaches running into Chicargo there is photographic evidence confirming this was a regular occurrence. Reference to CN sleepers running through from Montrealis correct with both the “green” series and “e” seriies being used on the Maple Leaf. Motive powere was always either GTW GP9s or GP18s in the 4900 series (Steam generator equipped, non-dymamic brake, air tanks on the roof). Coincidentaly I hve modelled the Maple Leaf which essentially is the successor of the International Ltd. and LaSalle on my own layout. I kitbashed a model of Silver Lake using Riarossi/AHM sttreamlined, smooth side coach bodies.The sleepers were built from brass car sides photo etch comone
That is a recurring problem with Rapido cars. Don’t get me wrong, I love them, but they don’t match the prototype.
At least the color schemes are close.
They are about to release a set of 5 Monon coaches which I will grab for the roadname and red/gray color scheme, but they are not close to matching the prototype.
Rich