MKT and Frisco Texas Special AND Frisco Meteor Offered by Golden Gate Depot !!!!!

E7s now up - offered on 3rd Rail  
webpage !!!!

I glanced through the websights. What a great offering. I’ll be ordering 1 set with matching engines.

Seems like the PRR thru sleepers are not being offered. 14-4 & 10-6 sleepers

@Dj'sOgaugetrains posted:

Seems like the PRR thru sleepers are not being offered. 14-4 & 10-6 sleepers

Hang in there. I’m fine tuning things with Scott.

Dang . . . those all look very nice.  My dance card's pretty full, but I'm guessing these are at least a year out.  Maybe we'll see a rerun of the SAL Silver Meteor sometime with all the recent Seaboard diesels . . .

Also, perhaps Pere Marquette E7As in the C & O scheme would go well with the recent Chessie cars in yellow?  Deferring to the experts, but I think that'd be accurate, correct?

@TrainBub posted:

Hang in there. I’m fine tuning things with Scott.

Great!! I’m a PRR passenger nut…. Looking forward to creating a GGD Penn-Texas

This volume is a "must have" for Frisco Meteor fans:

Here are some thoughts regarding this train:  My Frisco Meteor | O Gauge Railroading On Line Forum (ogaugerr.com)

@BlueFeather posted:

Dang . . . those all look very nice.  My dance card's pretty full, but I'm guessing these are at least a year out.  Maybe we'll see a rerun of the SAL Silver Meteor sometime with all the recent Seaboard diesels . . .

Timing depends on how well reservations shape up and where it fits into the production Q. Then, throw in the health and politics in China. I’m Guessing two years for a delivery would be pretty optimistic and mean everything came together nicely. Of course, IMHO.
That’s ok by me. My dance card is pretty Full too !!! 🫢😮     And I need some time to recover from my coming Texas Eagle purchase. 🤪🤪

I already have the original Lionel 21" Texas Special but I might could go for some extra cars to add to the train. Maybe one E7 so that both are powered. Gotta pay off the Eagle and the SD40-2's first!

Here’s the scoop on E7 diesels for the Texas Special and Meteor offerings. For the Tx. Special, MKT and Frisco Each had 2 “A” units. The Frisco Meteor had 4 “A” units.
All are painted Exactly The Same. Of course the numbering is key but not everyone knows them. So….One differentiates them with other “details”.

The Texas Special loudly proclaims T.S. with lettering on the sides and on the nose and has A star on the nose - for the “Lone Star” state. The 2 road emblems are placed on the side just behind the nose. Here we go subtile. The forward road emblem shows the ownership of the diesel. Example - Frisco placed forward = Frisco ownership.

The Frisco Meteor diesel is a simpler version of the TS as there is no name proclamation on it.  There is only the Frisco road symbol on the nose and a same but smaller version placed between the cab door ladder and nose. And it’s a Bit Different from just Frisco.
I find pictures of this “decoration” variant somewhat “scarce”. Perhaps this is due to the fact these 4 were soon repainted to match the newer - arriving E8 “Racehorse” scheme.
This 3rd Rail E7 Meteor May be the First Time it’s ever been done in O scale.  🤔

Here is earlier 3rd Rail run Frisco TS with closed pilot.and MKT Cheers !!! 🙂

Man GGD and 3rd rail have been hitting my wallet hard. First the Eagle and E6's and now this

@Surefire posted:

Man GGD and 3rd rail have been hitting my wallet hard. First the Eagle and E6's and now this

Ditto that 🫢. Before that I had the EA and E1 😵‍💫. Key here now is that the Eagle won’t arrive here till fall …… and delivery usually happens a bit later than that. I’ve already started sending Scott Eagle dollars so I won’t get Hammered all at once !!! 🤔 The good thing with this TS and M offering is that we Probably Won’t see it delivered for at Least two years (IMHO) from now - At Best !!!  That Works for me.
This is where patience works in our favor.   Cheers 😜

I remember doing the painting diagrams for the E7s over 10 years ago now.  Fun times!  I'll have to pull those drawings out of archive.  Looking back, my graphics were so crude compared to the process now, but they still turned out nice. 

A really interesting train to have done correctly finally!

@Surefire posted:

Man GGD and 3rd rail have been hitting my wallet hard. First the Eagle and E6's and now this

Thanks for participating in the Eagle offering !!! I can say a lot of heart and soul went into launching it !!! It’s great to see Midwest roads being offered - so long ignored or not well executed. The inclusion of the Meteor with the Texas Special is really quite cool. Frisco is SO Ignored. 😤   I hope it is well received.

Boy I’d love to see Amtrak restore the Meteor - St. Louis to OKC. It’s a Beautiful Very Scenic run for a day train.  

Cheers !!! 😉

What would have been the typical consist for the Meteor? 1 or 2 locomotives? I noticed the base set is 6 cars.

@Surefire posted:

What would have been the typical consist for the Meteor? 1 or 2 locomotives? I noticed the base set is 6 cars.

Typically 2 diesels were on the point ( but I do see single “A”s too). These trains “in the day” were heavy with sleepers and more than one coach. Add in some head end cars (heavyweights - let’s hope Scott gets back to these soon -  email him on this !!!) and the consist grows quickly. Some cars split off at Monett (west of Springfield Mo.) destined for Fayetteville and Ft. Smith Arkansas, and Paris Texas.  
This offering is essentially 3 train consists. The Texas Special is more famous and has a Large following. Those two 8 car sets are not a big stretch - the only differences being the cars names.  The Meteor is not as well known and ran in a smaller geographic area.  Again - many of the car types Are the Same as the TS (not all) (All have different names) so extending the offering with the Meteor was not difficult. The 6 car offering is a bit of a small market concession but also could appeal to those with a smaller layout.  It makes it Just a Bit easier to possibly purchase 2 consists too.  Of course the 6 car consist can Easily grow by purchasing extra coaches and 14-4s - a Nice Option. A B&O 14-4 thru car is available too. There are some other options that May yet be made available.  

Cheers 😉

FYI B&O fans. 🤔
MKT and Frisco Tx Special Plus Frisco Meteor consists picked up B&O 14-4 thru sleepers at St. Louis Union Station. They will add a bit of different color into the TS or M. They can also be a nice addition to an eastbound B&O consist from St. Louis you might be building. 😉

Scott always offers up to 4 cars in the extra car “department “ if prototypical.

Another FYI.
The Texas Special and Meteor observation cars are Different. The Frisco decided they didn’t need a full diner on the Meteor since it was a night train. They redesigned the Meteor observation car to contain a small diner. So - the Meteor  Interior and window configurations Are different from the TS !!!
Cheers !!! 😉

@TrainBub posted:

Another FYI.
The Texas Special and Meteor observation cars are Different. The Frisco decided they didn’t need a full diner on the Meteor since it was a night train. They redesigned the Meteor observation car to contain a small diner. So - the Meteor  Interior and window configurations Are different from the TS !!!
Cheers !!! 😉

I was reading up on the meteor and saw what you just stated about the train. I like this set & I’m thinking to reserve the Meteor because of its consist being a bit more unusual. Thinking to do the Meteor, 1 matching E7 & the B&O 14-4 sleeper.

@Dj'sOgaugetrains posted:

I was reading up on the meteor and saw what you just stated about the train. I like this set & I’m thinking to reserve the Meteor because of its consist being a bit more unusual. Thinking to do the Meteor, 1 matching E7 & the B&O 14-4 sleeper.

The Meteor has one cool different car - a dorm Coach - that the TS does not.  I Like that !!!  The TS has a nice diner car.  The Meteor’s dining facility is in the observation car. It has some neat roof vents to show it’s not your everyday observation car. I think that’s cool.  Of course IMHO. 🤔  

Cheers !!! 😉😉😉

@TrainBub posted:

FYI B&O fans. 🤔
MKT and Frisco Tx Special Plus Frisco Meteor consists picked up B&O 14-4 thru sleepers at St. Louis Union Station. They will add a bit of different color into the TS or M. They can also be a nice addition to an eastbound B&O consist from St. Louis you might be building. 😉

Scott always offers up to 4 cars in the extra car “department “ if prototypical.

To add on to these comments ……            St Louis was a major east-west transfer hub. Yes The Texas Special and Meteor received thru sleepers from the east in St. Louis but they Also Sent Their 14-4s east. These cars were added onto eastbound trains like the B&O National Ltd. No one’s done this train so I’ve been building my own pseudo-consist as best possible to run with my 3Rd Rail EA AB. Adding MKT and Frisco extras from this offering to my made up consist will add some color and a bit of prototypical flavor.
Sometimes one has to build a consist one or two cars at a time !!! 😜
Cheers !!! 😉

Scott continues to refine the Texas Special offering - adding more options / extras.  

64 seat coaches are now available as extras for the MKT. Frisco only had One of these so no extras are offered.  

14-4s are offered as extras too. These cars are named after significant historical people - MKT with Texas people as their dominant segment of the route was in Texas, Frisco with Missouri people as their dominant segment of the route was in Missouri. Many of the the MKT names are Very famous / recognizable. The Frisco names are also well known - but perhaps more so to Midwesterners.

Such a beautiful train, be hard to pass up. If only a guy could score one of the race horse E units Key Model Imports did in 2009. Whew 😘

Erik speaks of this Key beauty !!!!! 😮🫢😬😉

I wish it were mine …. But it’s not. ☹️  This model/paint scheme is on My wish list when Scott gets around to the next run of E8s. Someday another great add for the Meteor consist. Meanwhile, a well executed 3rd Rail Frisco E7 will  
work Great  !!!
Cheers 😉

In the “extra cars” section for the Texas Special, Scott shows how many unique numbers of cars will be available for the coaches and 14-4s. The sum of all these extra cars plus the base set with their coaches and 14-4s cars are equal to EVERY CAR that the two roads bought for their joint venture !!!  (Only exception being one later experimental car and another car that replaced a wrecked car). So ….. Every MKT and Frisco streamline car in the Texas Special Will Be Available for the completist. That might be a first. 😮🫢  

Cheers !!! 😉

@TrainBub posted:

In the “extra cars” section for the Texas Special, Scott shows how many unique numbers of cars will be available for the coaches and 14-4s. The sum of all these extra cars plus the base set with their coaches and 14-4s cars are equal to Every Car that the two roads bought for their joint venture !!!  (Only exception being one later experimental car and another car that replaced a wrecked car). So ….. Every MKT and Frisco streamline car in the Texas Special Will Be Available for the completist. That might be a first. 😮🫢  

Cheers !!! 😉

Love to see that he posted how many of the extras are available. I tend to be a bit of a completist. All we have to do now is get the reservations and get this set across the finish line!

FYI    
3rd Rail has posted a better image of the Frisco Meteor E7. It correctly shows the engine without the Texas Special script on the side and nose - but is missing the small Frisco symbol between the door and the nose. Still - a better representation of this early E7 Meteor engine. This early paint version has never been done in O scale before !!!

@TrainBub posted:

Hang in there. I’m fine tuning things with Scott.

Sorry but as of mid August,  2023 I don't see any mention of PRR/Frisco MKT cars.

@prrhorseshoecurve posted:

Sorry but as of mid August,  2023 I don't see any mention of PRR/Frisco MKT cars.

Sorry this hasn’t been addressed / updated yet. 🫢🫣

@TrainBub posted:

Sorry this hasn’t been addressed / updated yet. 🫢🫣

Can it be addressed?

@Dj'sOgaugetrains posted:

Can it be addressed?

We will get there 😉 It’s one of three more items I want to see listed. 🤞🤞🤞
Let’s see ……..🤔

Bob Leese earlier mentions/shows (above in this thread) my key Frisco METEOR reference book. It’s by and is still in print. I highly  
recommend it !!!!  

For the Texas Special, my key reference book that I Highly recommend (also from TRRA) is It is, however, out-of-print and will be hard to find.  It is worth seeking out !!!  If you spot one, don’t pass it up  

Both make Great Reads !!!!  👍
Cheers 😉

Demand for the Tx. Special was so great, MKT and Frisco had to quickly add cars to meet that demand. They did it with Heavyweights painted to match the streamline cars. They mixed them into the streamline consists and that enabled them to add another consist.  

Be sure to Email Scott that you Would Like To See these cars Get Done when he gets back to doing Heavyweights !!!!  He Needs to Know there IS a Desire to see Heavyweights Done Again !!!!!!
Cheers 😉

Will the add on coaches and sleepers be named cars? If so, will they be different names than what came in the Lionel sets? The reason I ask is that I already have the Lionel from 2007. I added an RPO from MTH, and a heavyweight baggage and coach from Lionel. I would just have to have duplicated a named car between the different manufacturers. Thoughts?

@Texas Eagle 77 posted:

Will the add on coaches and sleepers be named cars? If so, will they be different names than what came in the Lionel sets? The reason I ask is that I already have the Lionel from 2007. I added an RPO from MTH, and a heavyweight baggage and coach from Lionel. I would just have to have duplicated a named car between the different manufacturers. Thoughts?

Ricky,

Every car has a name and a number. This includes any extras. If you add a listed car “extra” unique number to the same car in the set, you will get the total number of variations of a specific car to be offered. They may not all be used if the orders aren’t there.  Every (original - no wreck replacement) Texas Special car is offered though.
The Meteor had 10 14-4s. 5 or 6 May be offered - again, if orders are there.

Its still early in the reservation/ which cars process. It always beneficial to everyone to avoid what’s been done before. However, the field of names is not large. There’s bound to be some repeat names between manufacturers. Stay tuned …… 🤔

All these offerings are possible but actual production will be driven by reservations.  Final decisions are From Scott.  

Cheers 😉

@Rob Leese posted:

This volume is a "must have" for Frisco Meteor fans:

Here are some thoughts regarding this train:  My Frisco Meteor | O Gauge Railroading On Line Forum (ogaugerr.com)

Rob:

Where to find/purchase that book? Hardcover or soft?

I think I would like to have that book.

Thanks for any info.

Andre

P.S. I found a copy at $49.95 + $6.95 shipping. Sound like a fair deal?

@laming posted:

Rob:

Where to find/purchase that book? Hardcover or soft?

I think I would like to have that book.

Thanks for any info.

Andre

P.S. I found a copy at $49.95 + $6.95 shipping. Sound like a fair deal?

Best price I know - Ron’s Books $38.75 / new - only available in soft cover. I believe USPS book rate shipping is Included in the price. Quicker delivery is available for additional $.

TrainBub 😉🙂

@TrainBub posted:

Best price I know - Ron’s Books $38.75 / new - only available in soft cover.

Thanks Rob.

Searching Ron's using the terms:

"Terminal RR Issue 75"

"Meteor"

"Meteor Story"

etc...

...has not resulted in finding the book at Ron's. Suggestions?

Andre