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Currently running an 8 car Daylight Special passenger set. It is the K-Line Heavyweight 18" cars. I have rewired several cars more than once to combat electrical problems. The engine, which matches colors really well, is a Williams with no extra features other than a recorded whistle and bell. Though a plain Jane it is reliable and a great puller. You just have to make sure to get those lead trucks railed correctly.

The cars also have silhouetted riders which is not favored by many. I'd really rather have actually riders in well lit cars for all to see - but it is OK. I might say, just OK....

Also, I have no diaphragms between cars and would love to have those on my passenger train.

So, in your opinion - adding REALISM and BEAUTY, diesel or steam, what would be a great passenger train to run instead of what I have?

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Since you didn't indicate what your minimum curves are, it is pretty hard to recommend ANY "most realistic" passenger train. If you have large enough curves, the absolute best "most realistic" SCALE passenger train available in O-Gauge 3-Rail, would be the full SP Daylight set, from Golden Gate Depot (it includes the 3-section articulated diner and articulated chair cars).

Michael, a photo of your Daylight Special passenger set would have been nice. I've always been partial to the Santa Fe Super Chief, even though not as colorful as the Daylight trains. I like the silver.

IMG_5251IMG_5252IMG_5253IMG_5254

Thank you for sharing these beautiful cars. I too love passenger cars, also in a variety of gauges and eras. This little Super Chief observation car from the recent starter Lion Chief set reignited a love of O and a new found love of S and Standard for me. Since I took this picture in very late December 2018, I’ve added many more elaborate observation cars to the collection. Many. Lol. And this leads me to what we all recognize is a bit of an obsession. 😎

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Last edited by WRW
@Hot Water posted:

Since you didn't indicate what your minimum curves are, it is pretty hard to recommend ANY "most realistic" passenger train. If you have large enough curves, the absolute best "most realistic" SCALE passenger train available in O-Gauge 3-Rail, would be the full SP Daylight set, from Golden Gate Depot (it includes the 3-section articulated diner and articulated chair cars).

Largest minimum curve is 0-84

First off, many, many thanks to forumite @Mike Casatelli for the following pix.  I'll take any of these (so far the only set I have is the top one (3rd-Rail Mercury), the Dreyfuss Hudson on shelf 3, and a RailSounds 2.5 board assembly from the Commodore Vanderbilt on shelf 2):

See Mike's post for more detail on his collection:

   Art Deco vs Streamlined Modern / Depression Modern | Mike Casatelli

Thanks Mike!

Mike

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Last edited by Mellow Hudson Mike


So, in your opinion - adding REALISM and BEAUTY, diesel or steam, what would be a great passenger train to run instead of what I have?

The "Realism" requirement eliminates all 15" passenger trains, and there have been some excellent ones, especially from K-Line.

For scale "Realism and Beauty," my hands down favorite is the GGD Northern Pacific North Coast Limited.

First off, many, many thanks to forumite @Mike Casatelli for the following pix.  I'll take any of these (so far the only set I have is the top one (3rd-Rail Mercury), the Dreyfuss Hudson on shelf 3, and a RailSounds 2.5 board assembly from the Commodore Vanderbilt on shelf 2):



See Mike's post for more detail on his collection:

   Art Deco vs Streamlined Modern / Depression Modern | Mike Casatelli

Thanks Mike!

Mike

I had envisioned something very similar for my living room...albeit smaller lengths (but not by much).  Then the realization of dust put a stop to uncovered locomotives.  Any ideas on who made these shelves?

Anthony

@WRW posted:

Thank you for sharing these beautiful cars. I too love passenger cars, also in a variety of gauges and eras. This little Super Chief observation car from the recent starter Lion Chief set reignited a love of O and a new found love of S and Standard for me. Since I took this picture in very late December 2018, I’ve added many more elaborate observation cars to the collection. Many. Lol. And this leads me to what we all recognize is a bit of an obsession. 😎

My pleasure, WRW. I think a collection of observation cars would be fun and quite unique. 👍

Michael, a photo of your Daylight Special passenger set would have been nice. I've always been partial to the Santa Fe Super Chief, even though not as colorful as the Daylight trains. I like the silver.

IMG_5251IMG_5252IMG_5253IMG_5254

Your pictures are outstanding. My problem with putting some up is that my photographs and video are on my iPhone and I usually access OGR through my Mac.... I have had a little trouble sending, receiving, and posting pictures between the two.....

First off, many, many thanks to forumite @Mike Casatelli for the following pix.  I'll take any of these (so far the only set I have is the top one (3rd-Rail Mercury), the Dreyfuss Hudson on shelf 3, and a RailSounds 2.5 board assembly from the Commodore Vanderbilt on shelf 2):

See Mike's post for more detail on his collection:

   Art Deco vs Streamlined Modern / Depression Modern | Mike Casatelli

Thanks Mike!

Mike

Killer curved glass shelves!!!

@Hot Water posted:

Since you didn't indicate what your minimum curves are, it is pretty hard to recommend ANY "most realistic" passenger train. If you have large enough curves, the absolute best "most realistic" SCALE passenger train available in O-Gauge 3-Rail, would be the full SP Daylight set, from Golden Gate Depot (it includes the 3-section articulated diner and articulated chair cars).

I would agree but would add to this list the following GGD trains:

  • The Canadian
  • The '53 Super Cheif
  • The Lark
  • The North Coast Limited
  • The 1938 Broadway Limited in "Fleet of Modernism" paint.
  • The 1938 20th Century Limited
  • The Hiawatha

In the 3 rail world, beyond the Smithsonian Lionel 20th Century Limited not much else comes close to pretty and realistic.

@GG1 4877 posted:

I would agree but would add to this list the following GGD trains:

  • The Canadian
  • The '53 Super Cheif
  • The Lark
  • The North Coast Limited
  • The 1938 Broadway Limited in "Fleet of Modernism" paint.
  • The 1938 20th Century Limited
  • The Hiawatha

In the 3 rail world, beyond the Smithsonian Lionel 20th Century Limited not much else comes close to pretty and realistic.

SP Daylight Definitely my favorite. These are ALL great really great too. I’d add the “regular” Broadway too.
BUT……..I like later “mixed” consists too !!!  I submit here a nice, very Realistic late Southern Pacific GGD consist I’ve pulled from sets with a MTH GS2 on the point. Cars in the consist are a Harriman baggage, Daylight 2 car articulated chair car, late silver/red stripe diner, Sunset Ltd 10-4, and late silver/red stripe observation. A soon to be delivered 3/4 dome in Daylight or silver/red stripe will be a sweet addition to this consist. Only thing lacking  is a gray Lark car.
Mixed consists can be a lot of fun.
Cheers !!! 14F09B06-7BF7-403B-96B7-A2078D3AE59839B65611-6868-4374-AC19-650EFEE8B117

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  • 39B65611-6868-4374-AC19-650EFEE8B117: Mixed SP consist
  • 14F09B06-7BF7-403B-96B7-A2078D3AE598: Mixed SP consist

Although I'm a Lionel loyalist (and also a collector of Rock Island trains), I bought the RI TA diesel and matching articulated passenger cars offered by Sunset 3rd Rail.  It's the most expensive train set I've ever bought. It rests on a display shelf in my Train Room.  The brass loco shows marvelous details.

This train and other RI trains (including the MTH model of the fabulous but impractical RI AEROTRAIN) bring back memories of my riding the RI PEORIA ROCKET to/from Chicago as a teenager traveling from home in Peoria to a boarding academy in La Grange, IL), a Chicago suburb. Those were the days!  Photo and a video are attached.

Mike Mottler    LCCA 12394

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  • MHM with Trains 1: Display shelf with RI trains, and a MTH NASA train
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Aerotrain Flyby

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