Atlas O California Zephyr Seminar

I got to meet Jerry at York running the layout.  Super guy. They have hit a  home run on these sets and I love running mine!

Great job, Jerry!

Thanks for sharing the video!!! Great information in there, really liked all the little known facts. 

These sets are going to be ruling the rails of modular and train club layouts for a long time!!! Can't wait to see 'em running!

J. Daddy, Rocky Mountaineer and Big Truck Pete,

Thanks for your kind words which are appreciated. I have a lot of enthusiasm for this train because I've done a lot of research on it and the more I dig the more I learn. For instance did you know that at one point 6 class 1 railroads were involved in the operation of this beautiful train. The first person that names all 6 correctly I'll give a free primary membership to our Golden Spike Club or if you're already a member I'll find a scale piece of rolling stock to send you at no charge, thanks.

PS The pictures above are of the box art we'll be using on the Golden Spike Club sets along with a metal certificate that is a brushed metal luggage tag. The front side of the tag will be etched with a California Zephyr route map, as well as the unique set number. The back of the tag is comprised of a window that will accommodate an actual luggage tag placard so it could be use for travel purposes, which I wouldn't recommend. I worked for a luxury automaker for 35 years and the number of travel tags that were stolen off my luggage was staggering. It's OK to put it on a piece of luggage in your train room, but for real world use you'll be taking a big chance of having it stolen.

Jerry Kimble - Atlas Model Railroad Company

How is this?

CB&Q

Burlington Northern

PRR

WP

DRGW

Amtrak

Donald

Donald,

Excellent try but not correct, sorry.

Jerry Kimble - Atlas Model Railroad Company

Here's my entry...

CB&Q, D&RGW,  WP, PRR, NYC, and Amtrak

I'm almost 100% certain on the first 5... Amtrak is a guess.

David

David,

Close but no cigar, sorry.

Jerry Kimble - Atlas Model Railroad Company

OK... so let me amend the Amtrak portion of my answer to be a combination of Burlington Northern (east of Denver) and Southern Pacific (west of Ogden, UT) during the Amtrak era.  Am I getting warmer?  Or colder?    But now I'm counting 7 RR names (not including Amtrak). 

David

David,

Cooler and I'm headed home from work.

Jerry Kimble - Atlas Model Railroad Company

WP

CB&Q

D&RGW

PRR

NYC

AT&SF

My guess on the six Class Ones involved are:

CBQ, Rio Grande, Western Pacific, Union Pacific, Southern Pacific, Pennsylvania

Jerry Kimble posted:

For instance did you know that at one point 6 class 1 railroads were involved in the operation of this beautiful train.

Jerry Kimble - Atlas Model Railroad Company

 

In my opinion the key phrase here is the "operation of.......". Thus, the CB&Q, D&RGW, and WP are obvious, however switching operations on Oakland, CA and Chicago Union Station could involve other "railroads". Just because the CZ carried a PRR car in the consist does NOT mean that the PRR was even remotely involved in the "operation of" the CZ.

If all 12 cars in the set come packed inside of the white box then it should probably arrive on a skid and require a forklift to pick up. I get the impression that each car is quite heavy.

Hot Water posted:

Just because the CZ carried a PRR car in the consist does NOT mean that the PRR was even remotely involved in the "operation of" the CZ.

I don't know. Seems if a railroad supplies some cars for a train, it's involved in the operation of that train. I'm sure there were numerous agreements entered into, and requirements exchanged, between the Pennsylvania and the DRG, WP and Q involving the accommodation of a through sleeper, that affected the operation of the train.

As to what constitutes "operation" of the CZ, that's a matter of semantics. I believe there is a difference between operating a train, and being involved in the operation of a train. The specific requirement here is to name the railroads "involved in" the operation. I think the Pennsylvania was indeed "involved in" the operation.

Everyone,

Thanks for your participation as VidKidz got it correct in being the CB&Q, DRG&W, WP, PRR, NYC and AT&SF. You can read about it here: http://calzephyr.railfan.net/history.html

Let me know via e-mail what your preference is for coming up with the right answer either the primary membership to our Golden Spike Club or a scale rolling stock piece 3 or 2-rail.

My e-mail is jkimble@atlaso.com and with the e-mail give me your full name and address, thanks.

Jerry Kimble - Atlas Model Railroad Company

breezinup posted:

Hot Water posted:

Just because the CZ carried a PRR car in the consist does NOT mean that the PRR was even remotely involved in the "operation of" the CZ.

I don't know. Seems if a railroad supplies some cars for a train, it's involved in the operation of that train. I'm sure there were numerous agreements entered into and requirements exchanged between the Pennsylvania and the DRG, WP and Q involving the accommodation of a through sleeper, that affected the operation of the train.

As to what constitutes "operation" of the CZ, that's a matter of semantics. I believe there is a difference between operating a train, and being involved in the operation of a train. The specific requirement here is to name the railroads "involved in" the operation. I think the Pennsylvania was indeed "involved in" the operation.

As was the NYC when it occasionally added the PRR CZ car to one of its NYC bound trains.

Not sure this was in effect at some time during the running of the CZ, but if so I suppose the SP could be said to be involved in the operation as well. Gets confusing. 

"The Feather River Route parallels the Overland Route in central Nevada between Weso (near Winnemucca) and Alazon (near Wells). The Southern Pacific Railroad and Western Pacific came to a shared trackage agreement to use directional running. Eastbound trains of both companies used the tracks for the Feather River Route while westbound trains used the Overland Route."