B&O Columbian; which locomotives pulled it?

I believe a lot depends on what era you desire to model. A quick Google check revealed that the train operated from about 1931 thru 1964, and the consists of the modernized train were provided. So, I'm assuming you could use either a beautiful Sunset/3rd Rail B&O Pacific (P7d?) or a pair of Sunset/3rd Rail/Golden Gate Depot B&O E7 diesel units.

Usually EMD  E units beginning in 1945.  Steam locos were used before  that .  My guess a Presidential series Pacific was used most of the time ... perhaps one of the few B&O Hudsons too. During WW2 this train was 14 cars long.

Hotwater and Patrick,

 

thank you

just what I needed to know

I use a pair of Williams B&O E7 diesels to pull my Lionel B&O Columbian cars.

B&O had some F-3's (both A's & B's) built for passenger service in 1948. Many PR photo's of  introducing the new 1949 streamlined Columbian train set, including the Strata-Dome,  show the train being handled by an F-3 A-B set. 

 

Chris

The streamlined Columbian went in service in 1949 as stated and was pulled by steam generator equipped  F3 diesels for a short time. After that it was pulled by any mix of E6, E7, and E8 units.

 

Until about 1953/54 it usually had a steam helper going up Sand Patch grade from Cumberland. This was usually a P-1d pacific or a T-3 mountain. I rode the train from Balto - Chicago and return several times in the 1950's. Steam was still being used by the B&O but the Columbian's  Sand Patch helpers were a GP one time and a set of Alco FA-FB units another.

 

As others have said, the earlier Columbian would have used a variety of steam power including the P-7e.

 

I assume you may be purchasing a Golden Gate Depot Columbian? If so, don't forget that the train used a Slumbercoach starting in 1958 and had a postal car starting early in its streamlined career. During times of heavy traffic heavyweight coaches were also added to the train.

EA's would be a nice fetch. Key Model Imports produced a very limited number of these models back in 2012. All I have is some shots of one of them in progress production sample.
(C) Key Model Imports 2012