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The Illinois Central's Hawkeye, Land-O-Corn and others:

Land O' Corn 1967 RockfordLoC@Genoa

Hawkeye@SiouxCity

Both Atlas O and MTH Rail King have issued IC GP9s but neither were numbered in the ranks of passenger locomotives nor were they equipped with "torpedo tanks".  Lionel has listed GP9s with torpedo tanks in their recent catalog but not in IC colors; MTH has offered GP9s with t-tanks, in the past, but not in IC colors.

MTH has issued a very handsome version of their 70' smooth sided passenger cars that make up a good looking train.  Replacement of the two axle trucks with their three axle "heavyweight" trucks brings the train's appearance much closer to the prototype AND provides "close coupling" even with the "claws" in place.

Therefore, it would seem that MTH would be the logical manufacturer of not only the IC GP9 (offering both Hi-Rail and Scale Wheel) but it would also be the logical builder of the first O Scale/Gauge Flexi-Van equipment which operated in many of the IC's GP9 powered trains.  The New York Central, Santa Fe and Milwaukee Road also operated Flexi-Van equipment, the history of which is quite interesting:

http://www.truckinginfo.com/bl...ermodal-history.aspx

The Flexi-Van was ahead of its time and, therefore, suffered an untimely demise.  The railroads' objections were to the specialized equipment needed and the number of extra rubber tired "bogies" needed at terminals.  Fortunately, we don't have any of those kinds of issues with containerization on the rails, today!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5KjxNt8TT5A

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  • Land O' Corn 1967 Rockford
  • LoC@Genoa
  • Hawkeye@SiouxCity

An update on the NP NCL - in 2001 K-line released an ABA and 6 car consist, with interiors. The cars were both 15” traditional and 21” “scale?” In the Loewy green scheme. So the major work has already been done. I’ve only seen pics of the 2-car set -baggage and combine, I don’t know what the 4-car pack included, but I’m guessing a coach, diner, short dome and observation. Oh PLEASE! Reissue this. My F’s look so lonely without a consist! in four years of looking I haven’t been able to put this set together.

Dennis LaGrua posted:

As a big fan of the former Eastern RR's.   I would like to see Lackawanna's Phoebe Snow train reproduced. In general the market has not gone heavy on Eastern RR rolling stock, although a very major segment of the model train market is in the NE.   Reading, Central NJ, Lehigh Valley, Lackawanna, Erie, and Susquehanna cars and engines are not real easy to find

K-line did the Streamline cars for the Phoebe Snow in 15 & 18 inch, but good like finding them. Weaver did the E8's, but the nose paint was wrong. MTH bought the E8 molds from Weaver, but MTH did the wrong road numbers and have not made them since. 

So I would hope Bachmann would make the Phoebe Snow cars from the old K-line molds seeing how they own them now. Maybe MTH could do a run of JUST E8A units #810-820. 

I will not hold breath for much of anything in DL&W, even though the market is not flooded with CORRECT DL&W.  I have the MTH proto 2/3 F3 ABA but it has a freight road number in passenger paint scheme with a mars light. I also have GGD heavyweights to match the F3's for a 1946 Lackawanna Limited in GMY paint.

 

Rich posted:

An update on the NP NCL - in 2001 K-line released an ABA and 6 car consist, with interiors. The cars were both 15” traditional and 21” “scale?” In the Loewy green scheme. So the major work has already been done. I’ve only seen pics of the 2-car set -baggage and combine, I don’t know what the 4-car pack included, but I’m guessing a coach, diner, short dome and observation. Oh PLEASE! Reissue this. My F’s look so lonely without a consist! in four years of looking I haven’t been able to put this set together.

Looks like MTH 2018 Vol. 2 has some beautiful 70' Premier NP passenger cars on page 134.  You could have 11 cars total if you wanted.

The MTH Northern Pacific passenger set has been issued a number of times in the past, and attractive as it is, it's still a generic set and not a truly accurate model of the North Coast Limited.  Even the K-line cars, though scale-length and as highly desired as they have become, are not accurate scale models of the NCL.  I'd prefer a true, scale version of the Loewy-designed Vista Dome NCL, both in car-length and detail on the order of the recently released Empire Builder by GGD, and I think it'd be very successful in its own right.

Rich posted:

Any interest in Lehigh Valley’ “Black Diamond?” I don’t think as long as the western streamliners, but interesting with either Alco or EMD power.

 

Before the merger was there any interesting Erie varnish? Just some thoughts over coffee....

I mentioned it a while ago.  I'd rather see another steam version of it.  No one really seems to make LV steam that much.  Or at least in any great diversity.  

How about the Milwaukee Road's Hiawatha of 1934?  From the research I've done, here on the Forum, Weaver's is the only accurate representation available but was released many years ago.  When they appear on eBay, they go fast and they go high, proving that there is a market out there for fine models.  Perhaps GGD would be interested, if Atlas/Lionel/MTH are not?

Weaver 1934 Hiawatha

Everybody and their brother offers some version of Hiawatha locomotives, take your pick.

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  • Weaver 1934 Hiawatha
Scale City Designs posted:

Rapid Transit Holmes   Overland Model also did this Hiawatha train in brass around 1982 came with resin interior details not installed. Walthers also made kits for this train available in the late 1930's. So if you are looking for this train there are a couple of other options for you.

Yeah, all scarce as hen's teeth and twice as pricey... unless Scale City Designs decides to make 'em and flood the market - hen's teeth, that is.  Heck, you do a great job on all your other products. Thank you!

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