Hello Tinplate World .....the New Jersey Central began running the Blue Comet in 1929 , Jersey City to Atlantic City ..flashy blue train with a yellow stripe .pulled by a Pacific steamer able to hit 100 mph. Lionel announced a Blue Comet set to come out in standard gauge June 1930 pulled by the 390 . Production and sales aimed for Christmas delivery . Horace E Boucher also brought out his much acclaimed Blue Comet in 1930 ..unknown at this time who was first with the Comet in toy trains . Boucher had continued building the late low cab versions of the Voltamp 2100, 2222, & 2500 since taking over the line in 1923 with no changes save running on standard gauge . 1929 Boucher adds a second motor to the 2500 for pulling the 4 car Washington set, the following year the 2500 body is modified with a larger cab and more flare to the boiler and cataloged as the Blue Comet engine. Cars listed in the catalog have yet to appear ..the Boucher Blue Comet cars that were made are in matching rich blue paint long and sleek ..but never seen in any printed catalogs ,flyers or ads. Boucher offered a 3 position reverse unit .. as an option... reverse is the last thing you want on the Blue Comet train as the long Boucher couplers snake and car bodies slam in reverse . The Boucher BlueComet was a deluxe set for the well heeled department stores Macy's and F A O Schwartz. It has been estimated that about 50 sets were made , last being assembled and sold in 1934 . The engines have unique stampings , assumed serial numbers found on the main frame end the cab .. 1010-1089 extremes known currently ..so perhaps 100 engines were made , engines were also offered in black ... Boucher pieces are hand built so variations can exist . Here we have two Blue Comet engines #1010 with factory reverse unit .. blue running boards and domes , and later production #1055 later added Lionel reverse unit , black running boards and domes . Tis always fun to play so lets double head !!!... one must change the coupler on the tender to do this feat....then the fun of trying to get the reverse units to work in sync....... one day may get brave and do it again pulling the Blue Comet cars ... Cheers Carey
For a video of seeing the two run please click on link thank you
Cheers Carey
