California Zephyrs

@thebeeman posted:

Hi guys, did 3rd rail ever issue any CZ 3 rail cars.

No. Atlas did the CZ in both 2-Rail and 3-Rail, in scale length.

Thanks, I would have (or could have) called Steve but he's sorting out a boat load of inventory. Thanks and my best regards,

Tommy

K-Line or Atlas?  Shiny or Accurate?  Take your choice!

@MainLine Steam posted:

The shiny car has the correct looking dome.

@thebeeman posted:

Hi guys, did 3rd rail ever issue any CZ 3 rail cars.  Thanks, I would have (or could have) called Steve but he's sorting out a boat load of inventory. Thanks and my best regards,

Tommy

Tommy,

I'm not sure who Steve is, but if you're trying to contact 3rd Rail/Sunset/ERR, that would be Scott Mann. Scott is a member of OGR as well, and maybe he'll chime in on this thread with a definitive answer to your question. I tend to agree with Hot Water that 3rd Rail did not offer CZ.

Golden Gate Depot (Scotts Passenger Car operation) Has Not Done the CZ.

HI guys, thanks for your reply's.  but my error.  I typed in the wrong name. 

The Atlas dome cars have, in fact, the correct prototype dome windows. The K-Line are over sized.

RAY

@Ray of sunshine posted:

The Atlas dome cars have, in fact, the correct prototype dome windows.

That Budd CZ raised ceiling and step up rear lounge, cool stuff.

I do wish Atlas would have returned my brass Midland Reproductions pattern they "borrowed" from me back when they attempted to correct the BLI HO dome which is severely off for 1/48; not as noticeable in 1:87. "Chunky" -still the side windows are rather thick for me. I prefer a brass wrapper. The new 2023 Wasatch brass CZ cars (samples are shipping monday from Korea BTW) will be the definitive Budd standard dome in any scale model including Rapido's very very nice Canadian dome toolling. Lot of years getting it right. Atlas did a great job here; I just wish I could get my Midland dome end casting back. 😕 still it was worth sending it too them they utilized it which was a very authentic sculpt measured straight from the real deal by Oscar Nuebert back in 1983. Now we use LiDar 3D scanning which solves a lot of problems. Creative interpretation in models is a bygone era; the market simply won't tolerate it, thank goodness.

@CAPPilot posted:

The shiny car has the correct looking dome.

No,,,,,,,it does NOT!

Hi Ron I understand your confusion.  As Erik mentioned the Budd Dome Observations have a raised roof behind the dome.  This makes the rear windows shorter than the standard Budd Dome end windows.  The front of the dome having the "standard" roof  height has the standard height windows.

The CP (VIA) Park Series cars are basically the same as the CZ Dome Obs.  You can still ride them through the Rockies if you head to the "Great White North".

When choosing my screen name, debated if I should use MainLine Steam or Budd Dome.  LOL

This website is all CZ with actual drawings. I thought I’d post this for those that might be interested.

Link:
Budd Observation Car Drawing

Atlas CZ is very nice model.

Wait I do have a few of my own!

Don Elliot’s Midland Reproductions kits 1980-1989 built up and correctly sectioned out with the raised rear lounge roof and narrowed rear dome windows.

Sunset did make brass CZ cars. Just 2 rail ones. Albeit basic, they were scale and factory plated.

@SANTIAGOP23 posted:

Sunset did make brass CZ cars. Just 2 rail ones. Albeit basic, they were scale and factory plated.

Well I’ll be dipped !!! 🫢😮🤔😵‍💫🤪🤪🤪 Never heard of much less never seen. Always learning something “new” is a good thing. Thanks for the pix.

Erik thanks for posting some good quality pictures.  I really need to learn some basic photography.  Hard to tell from my poor photo but the Atlas CZ cars I have bought are 2R, figured would be for display only.  The 21" K-Line and HO BLI  (just the observation cars) were likewise bought for display.

When in a "reflective mood" I debate which is my favorite rail car of all time.  The Budd Dome Observation or the Milw Skytop Lounges.

Steam Locos, I don't have that problem.  Hands down ESE Hudson (scooping water) !!!

I love my Atlas CZ train... it was cheap, too!

The CZ cars were delivered with Trico-Folberth air pressure windshield wipers on the dome windows, with the control valves accessible to passengers.  However, they did not last long.  I suspect they may have been removed because of problems with mechanical car washers.  I do not know of anyone who has added this feature to his CZ cars.

You will only see photos of these cars with wipers intact from the time of their delivery until just after the inauguration of the California Zephyr.  Denver & Rio Grande Western public timetables from 1949 through the mid-1950s had color covers with publicity photos taken during the time the cars had dome windshield wipers.

One of the Burlington Bulletins might have some more information on this.

@Number 90 posted:

The CZ cars were delivered with Trico-Folberth air pressure windshield wipers on the dome windows, with the control valves accessible to passengers.  However, they did not last long.  I suspect they may have been removed because of problems with mechanical car washers.  I do not know of anyone who has added this feature to his CZ cars.

One of the Burlington Bulletins might have some more information on this.

Interesting to know.

Assume you have seen Vista Dome Adventure.  About third through (7:30), it shows the train going through the car wash.  One of my all time favorite movies!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o_8I3yw246w

@MainLine Steam posted:

Interesting to know.

Assume you have seen Vista Dome Adventure.  About third through (7:30), it shows the train going through the car wash.  One of my all time favorite movies!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o_8I3yw246w

Thanks for the YT link; like you, I'm a huge fan of dome cars.