MTH Premier Pioneer Zephyr Questions

I have the plated version without the taller headlight and taillight structure. It is item 20-2888-1. Attached is a photo of the Zephyr’s observation end (track 2) compared with a few other K line passenger sets. The plated version does offer some aged patina when compared to the shiny aluminum finish on the California Zephyr and the Silver painted finish on the Super Chief. Not to mention the Chrome finish on the Hi Level cars.

The one thing that I never noticed until having them side by side is the height of the Zephyr when compared to the regular passenger cars.

Converting one to two-rail (if you can not diy) is primarily a case of how much you want to pay someone to do it. I am in the same boat with the Rail King Flying Yankee and Pioneer Zephyr versions. I did have a Rail King Liberty Liner converted (basically the same four-section chassis) but the person that did it has since gone home so that option is no longer available. And I have not sought any pricing to do the job; if I ever do, it would most likely be the Yankee.

@BRicch posted:

I have the plated version without the taller headlight and taillight structure. It is item 20-2888-1. Attached is a photo of the Zephyr’s observation end (track 2) compared with a few other K line passenger sets. The plated version does offer some aged patina when compared to the shiny aluminum finish on the California Zephyr and the Silver painted finish on the Super Chief. Not to mention the Chrome finish on the Hi Level cars.

The one thing that I never noticed until having them side by side is the height of the Zephyr when compared to the regular passenger cars.

Thank you for posting the picture, what you have is beautiful!  It gives a good comparison of the plated finish to the K-Line cars.

I have some K-Line cars so know what those different finishes look like.  I took the pictures below in direct sunlight to capture the difference between K-Line Plated vs Painted cars.

I don't see a middle rail on the Gargraves track they are parked on, are you running 3R or 2R?

It is interesting that the early articulated streamliners (not just Budd, but also PS) were built "undersized" compared to the traditional Heavyweight cars being used by the railroads in the early 1930's.  Of course the idea was to save weight and be more aerodynamic.

Thanks again!

@PRRMP54 posted:

Converting one to two-rail (if you can not diy) is primarily a case of how much you want to pay someone to do it. I am in the same boat with the Rail King Flying Yankee and Pioneer Zephyr versions. I did have a Rail King Liberty Liner converted (basically the same four-section chassis) but the person that did it has since gone home so that option is no longer available. And I have not sought any pricing to do the job; if I ever do, it would most likely be the Yankee.

Thanks for the reply, sounds like it would not be easy to accomplish.

Thank you for the compliment. I do prefer the look of the K line aluminum cars, especially the 18” versions. They look right negotiating the 63 and 72 inch curves on my layout, which is 3 rail Gargraves. Unfortunately, they never made the California Zephyr in 18”, only the 15” shown in the picture, and the 21” cars that look out of place even for my layout.
You can see the center rail on the track to the right of the Hi Level car.
And though the Pioneer Zephyr states 72” curves, they do work well on the 63” ones.

@BRicch posted:

Thank you for the compliment. I do prefer the look of the K line aluminum cars, especially the 18” versions. They look right negotiating the 63 and 72 inch curves on my layout, which is 3 rail Gargraves. Unfortunately, they never made the California Zephyr in 18”, only the 15” shown in the picture, and the 21” cars that look out of place even for my layout.
You can see the center rail on the track to the right of the Hi Level car.
And though the Pioneer Zephyr states 72” curves, they do work well on the 63” ones.

Thank you for the reply.  I agree with you that 15" and 18" cars look better unless you have large curves.  I too prefer the 18".

My CZ set consist is a 7 car set. K line offered a four car dome set which included the dome observation. And along with the two car baggage and diner set, I added another Silver Mustang dome to complete it. They are pulled by an MTH CBQ F3 ABA. Again, sadly, K line never offered any CZ sleepers to position behind the diner and before the observation dome.

I know this is off topic on your Zephyr question, but on your comparison picture of the two K line Santa Fe observation cars, is the El Capitan part of the 3640T set?

if so, would you mind posting some pictures of the rest of the set?

Thanks in advance,

Bob

I’ll be looking forward to seeing them. After trying to acquiring a set, I tried my hand in converting a car to represent the Dorm Baggage car. The pictures are of my efforts. This started as a Lionel Dorm in Canadian National listed on a popular site. The CN strips are aluminum painted strips that peeled off easily. I added a set of Santa Fe strips that I got a number of years ago. The number board plates came from a trophy store who cut the pieces for me and the numbers were dry transfer from Woodland Scenics. The Lionel trucks were from the era that had some metal deterioration issues, so a set of K line passenger trucks were bought, side frames painted silver and after some measurements, a new set of mounting holes configured to accept the placement on the chassis frame.
My only downside is that I left the larger Lionel vestibules on the car. But the car resides between a baggage and a sleeper. Not bad for a total of $92 and a couple of weekends to figure out how things could work to finish it.

You just enlightened me on the set. My 18” cars are from the Super Chief and that makes sense as to they having names while the El Cap cars having numbers, and the Diner car.

Now I’ll have to continue to search for that set.

One more interesting point. Your Dorm Baggage car is numbered 3481. The actual Santa Fe Dorm cars 3480-82 were later outfitted with the streamlined styled roof extension to work with the Hi Level cars starting in 1956.
On the 21” Dorm Baggage car from K line, they numbered it 3482, but the car they made had the baggage door set back and not close to the car end. Since my Hi level cars are 18” version, years ago I was able to secure that car and with the help of some talented guys at a now closed up hobby shop, made this custom 19” car to lead my El Capitan set.

sorry for the blurry picture, it’s a closeup of the set

Jim,

Trainz has the replacement skirts. $9 on the bay. And I’m sure they can be bought directly.
They also have the Hi Level step down end cap. The K line sets only came with one step down, so I again modified one of the cars so I could make a second  end car and installed an El Cap lighted drumhead.

…and yes, that set is elusive. There was one listed around the holidays in November and it went quickly and at $650.

I’m not that good on how the site topics work. Is there a way to capture this discussion and create a new title?