Join the discussion on the following article:
Walthers HO scale Union Pacific Cities Series ACF 44 Seat Coach
Note that these cars are very similar to 12 of the 5400 series cars acquired by Alaska Railroad from UP in 1971. 5 of the cars remain in revenue service in Alaska. Over the years they have received upgrades including being HEP equiped and interior rebuilds. They are also accompanied by UP dome coaches (4 originally acquired, 3 remaining in service), diners (2 originally acquired, 1 remaining in service), lunch counter (4 acquired originally,1 remaining in service) and baggage cars (6 acquired originally, 3 remaining in service). In addition, the 1971 acquisition from UP included 2 cafe lounge cars and 2 mail storage cars for a total of 32 passenger cars. As noted-13 updated cars remain in service with most having been retired in 1989 after newer equipment began to be acquired by ARR.
The Walthers series of UP cars should provide a very solid foundation for modeling the ARR passenger trains during anytime between 1971 and 1989 and would provide a good start for the ARR from 1989 to the present.
It would be great if some manufacturer stepped up and molded some people to populate the passenger cars! At Trainfest and the National Train Show all I saw were empty cars with nice interiors. What can be done?