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The three Big Sky Blue 21" cars were actually K-Line by Lionel items from 2010, well after the demise of K-Line itself.

 

K-Line did make a made a full set of 21" streamlined passenger cars in Omaha Orange and Pullman Green back in 2004.  They are hard to find.  While the colors may be a little off from GN drift cards I would be happy to have them.  Here is a photo of all 11 of them behind an MTH W-1 electric.

 

 

MTH has 70 foot empire builder cars on the way.  They were announced in the 2013 volume 2 catalog.  Contact your favorite MTH dealer if you would like to get them.  There are a total of 10 cars available.  The five car set includes a baggage car, a vista dome, two coaches and an observation.  There are two car sleeper/diner and coach baggage sets too as well as separate sale RPOs and a full length dome.  The MTH Great domes come with prototypically correct six wheel trucks.

 

http://www.mthtrains.com/content/20-69229

 

http://www.mthtrains.com/content/20-68229

 

http://www.mthtrains.com/content/20-67229

 

http://www.mthtrains.com/content/20-66229

 

http://www.mthtrains.com/content/20-65229

 

MTH offered GN E8 diesels in the same 2013 catalog.  The GN had E7As but no B units nor any E8s.  If that isn't a deal breaker for you they will look great, have accurate colors and they will match the MTH passenger cars perfectly.

 

Sunset did GN E7As in their initial run of E units.  If TMCC locomotives are candidates for your layout you should consider these.  The orange is too bright and the green isn't Pullman green but the 2 rail set that I got to operate ran very nicely with its QSI DCC sound decoder.  Note that the GN ordered E7s for the first streamlined Empire Builder that went into service in 1947.  The GN, like the Santa Fe, soon decided that F units were better for passenger service on a mountain railroad and the E7s were moved off of the Builder by the time dome cars came along.

 

For prototypical motive power you could look for a set of the 20-20054 F7s from 2010 volume 2.  I have a set of the -2 version and I am very happy with them.  They run as good as they look. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Last edited by Ted Hikel

Max

 

I would like to see a complete set of Big Shy Blue passenger cars offered.  I do not know why Lionel did not do so with the K-Line cars.

 

That said, Big Sky Blue was only introduced in 1967.  The BN merger took place in 1970 and a few GN passenger cars were painted in Cascade Green with the new Rocky herald before the merger.  Solid Big Sky Blue passenger consists were rare.

 

And FYI, the paint 1941-67 Omaha Orange and Pullman Green passenger scheme is referred to as the Empire Builder scheme.  The 1967-70 scheme is Big Sky Blue.  A verbal short hand reference to the scheme as Big Sky is acceptable. 

 

Ask about sky blue and you may get house paint or art supplies.

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