I am modeling the BNSF in N scale. Although not protypical my busines train will consist of the five orignal Rivarossi heavyweight passenger cars, a Con Cor smooth side coach and the Bachmann full dome. All cars will be painted silver with the BNSF emblem and a car number. What is the consist of your business train?
I operate freight on my NYC layout. However, when I have the chance to run my Dreyfuss Hudson, I pull the following consist of '40 20th Century Limited passenger cars:
I worked on the units below a few years back for my wife’s cousin, who is a Vietnam Vet. He enjoys freelancing and wanted help to create his version of a BNSF business train. I stripped and metalized a Bachmann full length dome and an IHC Pleasure Dome with Alclad2.
I’ll be doing a sleeper, diner and observation car for him as well. He also asked me to help him freelance a BNSF SD60 B-unit. Here it’s in the decaling stages:
Summerset Ry business train consist of a observation car that hasn’t been used in years. Its stored in a warehouse with inside tracks along with SSRy first diesel # 5 a ALCO S4 which is still in workable condition.
Actually if the LION had a flock of big wigs to show about the system, he would put them on the track inspection car with its bright lights lighting the tunnels and its row of elevated seating for the inspectors to inspect at.
My 1954 Western Maryland Ry business train is usually just a combine, maybe a baggage car and business cars 203 & 204. Sometimes the President entertains railroad officers from other railroads that come in their own business cars. The President entertains them and they all tour the road in a special train that consists of their Norfolk Southern (original RR), Virginian, RF&P, Reading, Allegheny Midland, Lehigh Valley, Tennessee Central office cars. Something different in a sea or oxide red 2 bay hoppers!
Depending on the length of the journey, it’s either couple up the Doodlebug and it’s obs trailer (the sunday and holiday special) or couple up whichever steeplecab is the cleanest and the obs trailer.
We’re running on almost no profits here. Can’t afford cars to just sit, and the trackage ain’t long enough to afford more than what’s we got.
I have only two business cars on the layout, and both are for railroad execs and their guests.
Rockhaven is a shortened Athearn observation car, with some added details and a simple scratchbuilt interior:
Tyandaga is a Rivarossi observation car, with added details and a scratchbuilt interior:
If extra room were needed, solarium/lounge/coach Tuscarora, an Ex-Rivarossi 12-1 Pullman, might be used:
…or one of the road’s air conditioned coaches (also converted from Rivarossi 12-1 Pullmans):
These cars would move either as add-ons to a regularly scheduled passenger train or as an extra movement behind its own locomotive, although I have seen them as part of a freight train, too. [swg]
Business Executive Train #11/20
-E9A/B set
-HW Full RPO (converted power car)
-Coach
-6-6-4 sleeper (converted coach)
-5 DB Lounge Sleeper (converted lounge coach)
-11 DB Sleeper
-HW Observation car
The Tomikawa Tani Tetsudo officials’ car is a strange looking four-wheeler created from the remains of an old (1920s era) JNR car that couldn’t take the curves of the mountain goat trail. It has an open platform and nice seating, but no other amenities. (The TTT is only 14 kilometers long, counting the interchange track at Tomikawa and the longest track under the bins of the bigger colliery.)
I have not provided a business car for the JNR. This jerkwater route would probably see an official train once a decade, if that. However, there is a plan in the back of my head for one rather special five car train, highly polished (even though it’s the traditional mud brown) and definitely non-standard. The main spotting features will be the twin national flags, staffs crossed behind the golden chrysanthemum fixed to the front railings, the golden chrysanthemum on the gate of the open platform and the golden chrysanthemums on both sides of the middle car - under The Emperor’s window.
If it ever gets built it will spend most of its time in a cassette. How often would His Imperial Highness visit, or even travel through, the approximate middle of nowhere?
In my minature railroad world…there is no privilege with rank. The CEO, President…etc, ride in freight train cabs so they can see and experience…reality.
It’s the 1990s so it’s not really a true business train but Santa Fe employees take trips on a steam powered excursion with a trio of dash nine locomotives in war bonnet livery. The Mayor and other politicians and employees of local government take trips in the same steam excursion but with a single Metrolink loco for head end power instead of the war bonnets. The local government train only runs in the valley and never goes up the pass. The Santa Fe train goes up the pass and continues all the way to Chicago or Kansas City or wherever….
The cars consist of a pair of dome cars, a pair of coaches, and an end of train observation car. More cars are planned for the future. They are a miss match of cars from western roads including Union Pacific, Great Northern, Santa Fe and Southern Pacific.