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I have become quite a huge fan of the California Zephyr, starting well before Atlas announced their production (and shortly after recovering from Reefer Madness). After the California Zephyr closed for business, Amtrak ended up with many of the zephyr cars. Eventually the Alaska Railroad ended up with 6 or 7 of them; one group which were ex D&RGW cars and one group which were ex CB&Q cars, all Vista Dome Chair Cars.

D&RGW 1106 Silver Colt became Amtrak 9446 which became ARR 7021 (also at one time numbered 7000)
D&RGW 1107 Silver Mustang became Amtrak 9447 which became ARR 7022 (also at one time numbered 7001 and 7020)
D&RGW 1108 Silver Pony became Amtrak 9448 which became ARR 7033 (also at one time numbered 7002)
CB&Q 4716 Silver Bridle became Amtrak 9450 which became ARR 7031 (also at one time numbered 7004)
CB&Q 4717 Silver Lodge became Amtrak 9451 which became ARR 7032 (also at one time numbered 7005)
CB&Q 4722 Silver Stirrup became Amtrak 9456 which became ARR 7034 (also at one time numbered 7003)

Although all of these cars were assigned numbers by ARR, they didn't necessarily all obtain an ARR paint scheme. The only picture I have seen attributed to 7021 had only the ARR logo, no other lettering or numbering; 7022 I have seen with number only and with number and logo but no lettering; 7031 and 7032 and 7034 I have seen with number and logo and ALASKA lettering (ARR 7031 at Alaska Rails) (ARR 7034 at Alaska Rails); 7033 I have seen with numbering and logo but no lettering. The 7034 picture I linked is closest to the Atlas rendition of these cars.

Silver Colt was produced by Atlas as both a D&RGW car and as an ARR car in 2016, but never as an Amtrak car.
Silver Mustang was produced by Atlas as a D&RGW car only available as part of the 4-car commemorative set 3009018B, but never as an Amtrak car or an ARR car.
Silver Pony was produced by Atlas as a D&RGW car three times (once with bad window shades in 2010, once with correct window shades in 2016 and also as part of the 4-car commemorative set 3009018B), but never as an Amtrak car or an ARR car.
Silver Bridle was produced by Atlas as a CB&Q car three times (once with bad window shades in 2010, once with correct window shades in 2016 and also as part of the 4-car commemorative set 3009017B), but never as an Amtrak car or an ARR car.
Silver Lodge was produced by Atlas as a CB&Q car twice (once in 2012 and again in 2016 as part of the 4-car commemorative set 3009020B) and also as an Amtrak car in 2012 and also as an ARR car in 2016.
Silver Stirrup was produced by Atlas as a CB&Q car only as part of the 4-car commemorative set 3009020B in 2016, and also as an Amtrak car in 2012 and also as an ARR car in 2016.

Although all of these cars have been produced by Atlas in their original road names, only 3 have been produced by Atlas as ARR cars (7021, 7032 and 7034). So to "complete the set", I picked up an extra 7021 and had it renumbered to 7022 (thanks Errol Spangler) and picked up two extra 7034s and had them renumbered to 7031 and 7033.

In addition, a search for ARR F units in 2-rail came up pretty empty, so I picked up a couple of Atlas undecorated F units and had them painted/lettered/numbered to match a couple of preserved ARR F7s (thanks again to Mr. Spangler).

Finally got them outside today and had a chance to photograph this consist. Enjoy.

ARR Zephyr 01ARR Zephyr 02ARR Zephyr 03ARR Zephyr 04ARR Zephyr 05ARR Zephyr 06ARR Zephyr 07ARR Zephyr 08ARR Zephyr 09

Please forgive the video, I'll remember a tripod next time! LOL. Also, a bit of washed out section of roadbed caused some hesitation in movement.

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Images (9)
  • ARR Zephyr 01
  • ARR Zephyr 02
  • ARR Zephyr 03
  • ARR Zephyr 04
  • ARR Zephyr 05
  • ARR Zephyr 06
  • ARR Zephyr 07
  • ARR Zephyr 08
  • ARR Zephyr 09
Videos (1)
ARR Zephyr Vid 01
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@lionel1946 posted:


D&RGW 1108 Silver Pony became Amtrak 9448 which became ARR 7033 (also at one time numbered 7002)

Silver Pony was produced by Atlas as a D&RGW car three times (once with bad window shades in 2010, once with correct window shades in 2016 and also as part of the 4-car commemorative set 3009018B), but never as an Amtrak car or an ARR car.



BTW... The Silver Pony now resides at the Illinois Railway Museum.

Rusty

Thanks Pete. No plans to dive further into ARR, I’m already deep enough into SP and SF. But maybe one ARR caboose in the same paint scheme as my F units, I’ve always liked that look.

Thanks Rusty. In my other video (see link below) I have a picture of Pony I think en route to IRM.

Here is another video that is more like an informational PowerPoint.

https://youtu.be/-sZ7n0Tq3yQ

Very nice looking train.  Two former Alaska FP7s currently are the main power for the Verde Canyon Railroad near Cottonwood Arizona and I think it is the most scenic train journey in AZ wandering through the Verde canyon. 

Recently I was able to obtain two Alaska Atlas dome cars off this forum.  I was planning on a repaint, but they are very nice the way they are. 

Joe and Ray, thanks, but the credit goes to Errol Spangler for the paint job. My only contribution there was tracking down the undecorated units and having them shipped to him!

My "layout" for these pictures is the only green I could find near me in the middle of July, a dirt road in the San Bernardino National Forest.

Jonathan, I've seen ARR 1500 in at least 3 different paint schemes. I just chose this one for personal preference, and because it matches the paint 1500 wears today. I have only seen the former zephyr cars pictured for ARR with the original CZ sidings and only the barest of ARR adornments. I think Atlas got them more or less correct. The main variation I have seen is with a small blue number board with yellow numbers on the fluted side below the window line, rather than the black numbering between windows.

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