Atlas California Zephyr continuing series, a photo album

I envy you guys.  I am all hung up on metal, and even have a hard time with plastic ends and underbody stuff.  Those are really nice cars.

Did steam locomotives ever pull California Zephyr equipment? Why, yes !!

       I purchased Atlas dome car "Silver Lariat" and subsequently found a photo of it in a publication called "Steam on the Q" sitting in front of the Denrock, IL wood depot. That was on a steam excursion pulled by Burlington 4-6-4 #3001 on 08-31-58. Found a photo of a Zephyr stainless steel baggage car and dome car right behind 4-8-4 #5632 on a Labor Day 1961 excursion. Subsequent research and reflection of personal experience revealed that Zephyr dome cars were used on virtually all Burlington steam excursions from 1955-1966. Steam locomotives employed on these trips included 4-8-4's 5600, 5618, 5626, 5631 and 5632. Also O1a 2-8-2's #'s 4955 and 4960. And 4-6-4's #'s 4000, 3003 and 3001. And.....2-10-4 #6315, with 5632 coupled, on 09-06-59.

       And more......the Illini RR Club excursions to the Missabe Range included Zephyr dome cars, so 2-8-8-4's #'s 222 and 224 + 2-10-2 #514 pulled the Burlington excursion consists around the Missabe Road. That was 1958 and 1960-1962.

       Those were beautiful trains with a mixture of stainless steel cars and classic heavyweight Pullman green clerestory roof cars. The Burlington Passenger Department bent over backwards to accomodate passengers and even railfans with excellent equipment. On one occasion, a dome car was damaged by a coal burning 4-8-4 being run by an exuberant engineer running 4-8-4 # 5631, who promised his dispatcher that he would stay ahead of the Morning Zephyr. A dome car was right behind the tender and some coal was dislodged and flew back and cracked the window of the dome car. 90 MPH running will do that!!

Those are the nicest non-brass passenger cars I've ever seen. Have to give Atlas an A on these and I've never said that before. Well detailed, color looks good, nice windows and they just represent the prototype well. I hope they continue along this vein with other name trains (UP maybe) in the future.

Butch

Mark,

I seem to remember reading that the California Zephyr was pulled by steam on every trip for years because, in Denver, the CZ went through the car wash and was pulled by a C&S 0-6-0 whilst doing so.

Someone please help me out with the correct attribution.

ChipR

I really have to echo this as well.  I would love to see Atlas capitalize on this with other trains as Butch stated.  These cars are extremely well done and for the price point can not be beat IMHO.  Well done Atlas.

Chip - By gosh, I think you are 100% correct. The Burlington had an 0-6-0 in Denver through the mid-50's. An O1a or two might also have handled the car wash duties, as there were a number of them in Denver on the Q - separate from nearby Colorado & Southern operations. The 0-6-0 would probably have been #578, by 1955. Thank you for the sharp-focus reminder! The O1a's would have included 5072 and 5092, and a bit earlier, 0-6-0 589. Maybe even 0-6-0T shop goat 304?

Re Erik's photos of big league Rio Grande steam power brings to mind the possibility that on severely cold days, when diesel locomotive steam boilers perhaps were inadequate, or non-functioning, that an L131 might well have coupled onto the Cal Zephyr diesels to provide greater steam heat, working up through the tunnel district. As with any large scale enterprise as railroads are/were, the darndest situations could pop up!

Erik,

You have another great thread here! While I know very little about it, the number of pictures that I have seen over time with either CB&Q, D&RGW or WP power on head the head end is amazing!

What I have enjoyed the most, is being able to see original photographs of the pro-types and of the beautifully done models!

While I am a fan of the D&RGW ALCo PA-1's, I would never take anything away from the CB&Q's stainless E series or the WP's F series. While not typically an EMD fan (please don't shoot me... lol...) the Western Pacific scheme was one of the best, IMHO, ever applied to the F series. (And, I am an east coaster... again, please don't shoot me...  .

You got my attention with the Rio Grande PA's. Now, one of my interests is learning more about the CZ!

I loved history as a kid and teen. Now I can love it again with railroads and model railroading!

Very impressive train!    Thanks for sharing Erik!

Erik,

That is an interesting helix that you have there.  What will be it's final configuration,where is it going?  Also,what track radius is being used ?

Looking good......

Norm

A Zephyr in Colorado pulled by WP?  Isn't that illegal?

Speaking of easy fixes, this upgrade took me 5 mins! Roof antennas too thick!

Thanks,Erik.

Norm

Santiago fantastic improvement on the antenna!  Almost need smaller mounts now! 

Ok, thanks Erik.

I don't think these rarities have been discussed here. For some time the Rio Grande Zephyr used their GP 40's to help trains keep their schedules. Albeit not as striking as the more traditional motive power, these still are plausible for modeling should anyone be interested.