im going to have to go with the crowd the powahatan arrow. it has such a strong and forceful look like it can take on anything.
I model modern amtrk acela
Well my only choice seems to be the California Zephyr. Oh wait, I already did that!
I can’t believe so few people have voted for the 20th Century! This is still one of the most famous trains in the world and it’s very tough to find good models to model it - I have not yet found any even remotely accurate NYC Pullman cars to match any of the 20th Century consists in anything but brass. I would think, with such a famous train that was pulled by such amazing locomotives (including non-streamlined Hudsons, several different streamlined Hudsons, Alco PA’s, Baldwin sharknoses and E7’s/E8’s), that there would be a lot of pent-up demand.
While I’m at it here, who makes a decent HO-scale Dreyfuss Hudson? I thought I saw a Rivarossi model somewhere but is it any good? I have not seen any others. And if I’m wrong about the Pullman cars (I’d be looking for the 1938 or 1940 versions), please let me know. I really have not seen these accurately modeled in plastic, and this is one train I would really like to get right.
The Pioneer Zephyr.
Perhaps the most attractive train ever built…
It’s not listed, but I’d really like a model of the Nebraska Zephyr set as preserved at the Illinois Railway Museum - articulated, stainless steel, and with an E5 as motive power - very sleek, elegant looking train.
The California Zephyr with Western Pacific orange and silver through the Feather River canyon. Can’t be beat!
Michael in California
That makes two of us! I’m not that far away from the IRM and the NZ is a real beauty. Standing beside it, I felt transported back in time. Absolutely gorgeous, she is! I think I took more photographs of it than anything else at the museum.[:D][:D][:D]
Rivarossi did have one. When Model Expo was the distributor for Rivarossi products, I remembered seeing it when I ordered the Santa Fe (Blue Goose) streamlined Hudson. Curiously, looking through the Walthers 2004 catalog, I don’t see one. Checking the advertisements in the pages of MR should help, as it was a popular item. My version runs smoothly and I’ve had no problems with it; the NYC version should be every bit as good.[:)]
Pennsy’s Broadway Limited.
Reading’s Crusader.
Amtrak, with lot of express boxcars and roadrailers.
Any PRSL train to the Jersey Shore.
CNJ’s Blue Comet.
1968 Empire Builder is for me.
I intend to model Santa Fe’s “Chief”, “Grand Canyon Limited”, “Fast Mail”, “El Capitan”, and the “Super Chief” in N scale. I have enough of the cars to do a shortened but credible (9 car) version of the first 3 trains, and I am accumilating the cars for the other 2. While I am satisfied with my rebuilt and/or refinished heavyweight cars, most of my lightweight cars will need to be stripped and repainted using the techniques described in the July 2003 MR article on stainless steel finishes. If I can make this work for me, it will solve a problem that has been bothering me for several decades as a modeler. The image of the gleeming streamliner, Santa Fe or otherwise, has always attracted my attention as a passenger, railfan and modeler. The train I favor but missed was the “Chief” after it was streamlined but still pulled by steam (circa 1938-46). That was a “have your cake and eat it too” kind of train. Early in 1954 the “Chief” lost its all Pullman status and received coaches. To me this was a step forward in providing for the varied needs of the traveling public rather than a loss of elitist prestige. One area that the Santa Fe misunderstood was the appeal of dome cars. For that I look to the “California Zephyr” of neighbors CB&Q, D&RGW, and WP. I missed that one too, but I rode and photographed th “Rio Grande Zephyr” in 1978 and again in '82.
I would like to model passenger trains form the turn of the 20th century when trains where the fastest mode of travel.
Well I’m modeling the late 1960’s but have considered bumping the era up to just after the creation of Amtrash. I think it’s kinda funky cool to see all the various railroad’s passenger fleet colors running together. IMO, it’s all been downhill for the American Rail Corp. since!