GN Sky Blue Passenger cars

Thank you Jon, these pictures are better than pictures of a mixed painted passenger car train;  The whole train is Sky Blue.  Too bad Lionel didn't complete the 21" set.  Hopefully, a plastic 21' set could be a candidate for future production by Lionel.   

I agree, Frank, the mixed livery was unsightly.

I think it's unlikely that we'll see another run anytime soon, there's still inventory available at several dealers after these years.

A passenger train of solid Big Sky Blue was the exception rather than the rule. The motive power and cars were frequently a mix of orange/green and sky blue.  In anticipation of the BN merger, some cars received BN green paint while keeping the GN logo. (Notice the fifth car in the train shown above.) 

The problem I have with the Lionel/K-line BSB cars is that, unlike the catalog pictures, the domes are tinted a dark blue. I wish they had kept them untinted, or at least lightly tinted.

My initial reaction: they were hideous, so why would anyone want them.  But they look stunning in the above photo with the mountain peaks behind them.

I would guess the green Burlington coaches were about the bottom.

Please - opinion.  I do not mean to hurt anyone's feelings.

I don't find neither the Big Sky Blue or the Cascade Green schemes an improvement over this...

But that's just me.

Hey Mill City, I am with you on the GN - some folks just don't when to leave well enough alone!

I'm a CB&Q and GN guy. BSB color not my favorite. I often rode the Empire Builder and Western Star between Chicago to Wahpeton ND may times and have taken many photos and movies of the trains in Wahpeton. 90% of the time, the trains were mixed with BSB and Omaha Orange. Even the engines were mixed as well. I think the only time the EB was ALL BSB was for publicity shots.

RAY