There is a 1980 Lionel TX ZYPHER set on sale, as of last Wends. at Papa Ben's Trains here in Houston at the junction of Bellaire Blvd and Stella Link.
I like a lot of the K-Line passenger cars, however some will need to have their truck assemblies replaced especially the K-Line Heavyweight cars as the factory trucks fall apart on these. Another set is the K-Line collectors of passenger cars that are semi scale(Golden State, 3 railroads went together for this one), but the roller on the center rail will lose spring pressure and cause flickering of the lights. K-Line made some nicely detailed passenger cars in other sets that hold up very well.
Lionel & MTH make some nice passenger cars but are more expensive then K-Line.
Also Atlas trains makes some nice O scale passenger cars that are of very good quality, nicely detailed and don't have problems. The only issue I had with an Atlas passenger car is not having a large enough engine with them the first time on the layout, with Atlas passenger cars you must use an SD-45 or equivalent engine with 18 & 21 inch passenger cars or have derailments.
Williams trains has made a few runs of passenger cars. The early edition of the Crown Edition passenger cars don't have opening couplers and these you must stay away from. The Crown Edition that has opening couplers work well. As for Williams by Bachmann, the only thing I know is that they are supposed to be the same as the later Williams before being sold to Bachmann.
Lee Fritz
Since I moved into scale trains, my approach to buying passenger cars is to decide what I want to model and then look to see who makes scale models of the real trains I like. I only have a few sets of passenger cars, but of those, I have:
- 3rd Rail/Golden Gate Depot - B&O Columbian set
- 3rd Rail/Golden Gate Depot - Train of Tomorrow set
- SGL - Reading semi-streamlined (“Turtleback blimps” ) set
- Weaver - WWII Troop cars set
I would like to purchase:
- Weaver - Reading Crusader set
- 3rd Rail/Golden Gate Depot - B&O Heavyweight set
Jim
While my layout runs Lionel NYC and Williams PRR painted aluminum passenger cars; I must say that the scale passenger equipment made by Bill Bensons defunct Right of Way Industries were beautiful. You don't see them very often as they were quite expensive.
jd-train posted:Since I moved into scale trains, my approach to buying passenger cars is to decide what I want to model and then look to see who makes scale models of the real trains I like. I only have a few sets of passenger cars, but of those, I have:
- 3rd Rail/Golden Gate Depot - B&O Columbian set
- 3rd Rail/Golden Gate Depot - Train of Tomorrow set
- SGL - Reading semi-streamlined (“Turtleback blimps” ) set
- Weaver - WWII Troop cars set
I would like to purchase:
- Weaver - Reading Crusader set
- 3rd Rail/Golden Gate Depot - B&O Heavyweight set
Jim
Al, good choices. For me, I have the Sunset/3rd Rail/GGD Southern Pacific Daylight set (11 or 12 cars, I can't remember which), including the articulated chair cars and three section articulated diner.
For heavy weight passenger cars, I finally accumulated the CB&Q cars , which include 6 coaches, multiple Pullmans, a diner, baggage, and the open end observation car, totaling 12 cars. A truly magnificent train to represent the Exposition Flyer.
It appears that Atlas O made about 6 kinds of cars so far for the Zephyr. I can see that all appear to available in Amtrak, though I would prefer a traditional Zephyr train. Do any of you have a recommendation for a good Atlas O dealer who might have these cars? I cannot seem to locate all of the types made.
Thanks,
Ben
banelson posted:It appears that Atlas O made about 6 kinds of cars so far for the Zephyr. I can see that all appear to available in Amtrak, though I would prefer a traditional Zephyr train. Do any of you have a recommendation for a good Atlas O dealer who might have these cars? I cannot seem to locate all of the types made.
Thanks,
Ben
Since it has taken some six years for Atlas to deliver ALMOST the entire CZ passenger set, the odds of you finding the entire set for either CB&Q, D&RGW, or WP is slim to none.
I have seen Atlas O CZ cars at Chicagoland Hobby, Berwyn's Toy Trains, Des Plaines Hobby, and Head End Equipment (Highland Park IL).
You will have to contact them to see specifically what they have.
CBQ_Bill posted:I have seen Atlas O CZ cars at Chicagoland Hobby, Berwyn's Toy Trains, Des Plaines Hobby, and Head End Equipment (Highland Park IL).
You will have to contact them to see specifically what they have.
Very true, but NONE of those stores have a "full CZ set" in stock, which would include the special domes & diners.
banelson posted:
It appears that Atlas O made about 6 kinds of cars so far for the Zephyr. I can see that all appear to available in Amtrak, though I would prefer a traditional Zephyr train. Do any of you have a recommendation for a good Atlas O dealer who might have these cars? I cannot seem to locate all of the types made.
Thanks,
Ben
Hey Ben, this is my best attempt at compiling a list of all the cars that were part of the California Zephyr, as well as keeping track of which ones have been done by Atlas. Some CZ cars were later purchased by Amtrak, and of these cars some have been released in Amtrak paint, some in original paint (eg WP), and one has been released both ways. I've included release dates (well, what was supposed to have been the release date) and 2-rail part numbers. If anyone sees any glaring errors, I'd love to amend my list.
Here goes...
10-6 SLEEPER
Winter 2010 $155
CB&Q "Silver Butte" 425 (3002176-1)
CB&Q "Silver Cliff" 426 (3002176-2)
D&RGW "Silver Creek" 1133 (3002177-1)
D&RGW "Silver Pass" 1130 (3002177-2)
WP "Silver Bay" 866 (3002178-1)
WP "Silver Surf" 867 (3002178-2)
PRR "Silver Rapids" 8449 (3002179)
Fall 2012 $155
CB&Q "Silver Point" 423 (3002176-3)
CB&Q "Silver Falls" 427 (3002176-4)
D&RGW "Silver Summit" 1131 (3002177-3)
D&RGW "Silver Glacier" 1134 (3002177-4)
WP "Silver Arroyo" 861 (3002178-3)
WP "Silver Mountain" 863 (3002178-4)
PRR "Silver Rapids" (3002180)
Amtrak "Silver Shore" (3002181-1)
Amtrak "Silver Valley" (3002181-2)
Not yet released
WP "Silver Canyon" 862
WP "Silver Palisade" 864
WP "Silver Range" 865
CB&Q "Silver Shore" 424 (released in Amtrak llivery)
CB&Q "Silver Valley" 428 (released in Amtrak livery)
CB&Q "Silver Crag" 429
CB&Q "Silver Chasm" 430
D&RGW "Silver Gorge" 1132
DOME
Winter 2010 $155
CB&Q "Silver Bridle" 4716 (3002151-1)
CB&Q "Silver Lariat" 4718 (3002151-2)
D&RGW "Silver Bronco" 1105 (3002152-1)
D&RGW "Silver Pony" 1108 (3002152-2)
WP "Silver Dollar" 811 (3002153-1)
WP "Silver Feather" 812 (3002153-2)
Fall 2012 $155
CB&Q "Silver Lodge" (3002151-3)
CB&Q "Silver Saddle" (3002151-4)
WP "Silver Schooner" (3002153-3)
WP "Silver Scout" (3002153-4)
Amtrak "Silver Lodge" (3002154-1)
Amtrak "Silver Stirrup" (3002154-2)
Fall 2016 w/conductor’s window $165
CB&Q "Silver Rifle" 4720 (3009012-1)
D&RGW "Silver Colt" 1106 (3009013-1)
WP "Silver Sage" 814 (3009014-1)
Amtrak "Silver Ranch" 4719 (3009015-1)
Amtrak "Silver Rifle" 4720 (3009016-1)
re-released
CB&Q "Silver Bridle" 4716 (3002151-1)
CB&Q "Silver Lariat" 4718 (3002151-2)
D&RGW "Silver Bronco" 1105 (3002152-1)
D&RGW "Silver Pony" 1108 (3002152-2)
WP "Silver Dollar" 811 (3002153-1)
WP "Silver Feather" 812 (3002153-2)
I don’t understand new road numbers for “Silver Lariat” and “Silver Saddle”
I don’t understand Alaska Railroad
Not yet released
WP "Silver Palace" 813
WP "Silver Thistle" 817
CB&Q "Silver Ranch" 4719 (released in Amtrak livery)
CB&Q "Silver Stirrup" 4722
D&RGW "Silver Mustang" 1107
DINING CAR
Fall 2013 $155
CB&Q "Silver Cafe" 193 (3002191-1)
D&RGW "Silver Banquet" 1115 (3002192-1)
WP "Silver Platter" 842 (3002193-1)
Amtrak "Silver Diner" 8051 (3002194-1)
Amtrak "Silver Restaurant" 8052 (3002194-2)
Not yet released
WP "Silver Plate" 841
CB&Q "Silver Diner" 194 (released in Amtrak livery)
CB&Q "Silver Restaurant" 195 (released in Amtrak livery)
16 SECTION SLEEPER
Fall 2013 $155
CB&Q "Silver Maple" 400 (3002186-1)
D&RGW "Silver Aspen" 1120 (3002187-1)
WP "Silver Palm" 871 (3002188-1)
Amtrak "Silver Larch" 4806 (3002189-1)
Amtrak "Silver Cedar" 4807 (3002189-2)
Not yet released
WP "Silver Poplar" 872
CB&Q "Silver Larch" 401 (released in Amtrak livery)
CB&Q "Silver Cedar" 403 (released in Amtrak livery)
D&RGW "Silver Pine" 1121
6-5 SLEEPER
Fall 2014 $165
CB&Q "Silver Quail" 451 (3002196-1)
D&RGW "Silver Gull" 1135 (3002197-1)
WP "Silver Crane" 851 (3002198-1)
Amtrak "Silver Dove" (3002199-1)
Amtrak "Silver Thrush" (3002199-2)
Not yet released
WP "Silver Swallow" 852
CB&Q "Silver Dove" 450 (released in Amtrak livery)
CB&Q "Silver Thrush" 452 (released in Amtrak livery)
DOME BUFFET-LOUNGE-OBSERVATION
Fall 2014 $185
CB&Q "Silver Penthouse" 376 (3002157-1)
D&RGW "Silver Sky" 1145 (3002158-1)
WP "Silver Crescent" 881 (3002159-1)
Amtrak "Silver Horizon" (3002160-1)
Amtrak "Silver Solarium" (3002160-2)
Not yet released
WP "Silver Planet" 882
CB&Q "Silver Horizon" 375 (released in Amtrak livery)
CB&Q "Silver Solarium" 377 (released in Amtrak livery)
CB&Q "Silver Lookout" 378
BAGGAGE CAR
3rd quarter 2015 $165
CB&Q "Silver Coyote" 905 (3009001-1)
D&RGW "Silver Antelope" 1100 (3009002-1)
WP "Silver Beaver" 801 (3009003-1)
Amtrak (3009004-1)
Amtrak (3009004-2)
Not yet released
WP "Silver Stag" 802
CB&Q "Silver Bear" 903
CB&Q "Silver Buffalo" 904
DOME DORMITORY-BUFFET-LOUNGE
3rd quarter 2015 $165
CB&Q "Silver Lounge" 251 (3009006-1)
D&RGW "Silver Shop" 1140 (3009007-1)
WP "Silver Hostel" 832 (3009008-1)
Amtrak "Silver Club" (3009009-1)
Amtrak "Silver Lounge" (3009009-2)
Not yet released
WP "Silver Chalet" 831
CB&Q "Silver Club" 250 (released in Amtrak Livery)
CB&Q "Silver Roundup" 252
Jay:
That was really kind and of you to provide that. I really appreciate it!
Ben
