Picked a PW Congressional set

ibrew,

   Clean them up and you have a real nice find, nice stuff!

PCRR/Dave

Very nice.

The Congressional is one of the PW classics.

Nice set, and as said, one of the best.  They don't appear to need much clean up either.

If I am not mistaken the unpainted stainless steel cars of the Congressional only ran on the New York to Washington, DC corridor pulled by a GG1 engine.  All of the other Pennsylvania train cars like the Broadway Limited were painted Tuscan Red and were powered by GG1's and by Diesel engines when the train continued West past Harrisburg, PA.  So if you are fussy about realism hook those nice passengers cars to a GG1.

BTW, there is also a dining car that goes with that set.  You can find them on eBay for around $100 and I will be putting a brand new one up for sale shortly

Thanks. These do need a bit of cleaning, there is a little rust on the wheels, some oxidation and cobwebs but a good value none the less.

Yes, I will plan to display/run these with a short(non scale) GG1. Until I score a postwar maroon one, it will be with the Gold GG1 that goes with the modern mint car series.

Dennis the dining car you mention, is that a post war or more recent item?

Also, anyone know if there was a baggage car like the sante fe?

In the postwar era, the 4 cars you have were the only Congressional cars offered. A diner or baggage were never offered.

In the modern era, the set has been produced at least twice with other types of cars available. The modern era cars will have a different finish from the postwar cars. They will be a more polished aluminum.

Jim

I don't think the real Congressional cars ever had vista domes because they were run under electric. Is that correct.

I have the scale 7 car set produced a few years ago and there is no vista dome car.

The PRR Congressional ran from NYC to Washington DC behind GG-1's without a dome or baggage car.  The PRR did not have domes due to clearance issues in Hudson river tunnels and under catenary.  Its sister the Senator ran from Boston to Washington . 

I have that exact set...the original four passenger cars (from 1955, I think - no dining or baggage car) with the GG-1! (#'s 2540-2544) It's one of my prize possessions and I will never, ever sell it.

I would like to clean up a bit though. Any suggestions on cleaning out the grime in between the fluting?   

409 or something similar, and a stiff toothbrush.

Thanks guys for the info. Glad I am only missing the engine which I can easily substitute. That makes sense they wouldn't have had a dome car in the real world.

Great pick up.  The Passenger Cars look to be in good condition.

I recall back in the hey day of high prices for PW trains a Congressional

Set with GG1 went for $2500.00.  It was at a NETCA meet in Franklin,

Mass at the local Middle School.

The gentleman who purchased it was very pleased with the set, had

no problem with the price.  I have to believe you had a great price to

go along with this Lionel Classic from back in the day.  Enjoy.

Many thanks,

Billy C

ibrew....these cars are very nice.  When I first started collecting many years ago, I really wanted a set of those but never had the cash at the time...so...I settled on the Williams reproductions which were very close in finish, build, and appearance.  Had them for many years!!

Alan

Dennis,

    You mean like these!  Picked these MTH Big Silver PRR cars up at Jim's Train Shop years ago, and installed people thru out the 10 Cars, all pulled by the PRR Green GG-1.  PRRGuy is correct in reality the Big Silvers had no vista domes when starting in Harrisburg, no way for them to get thru the tunnels, I road that trains to Ft Dix, NJ when I was drafted, it flew down the tracks.

PCRR/Dave

What's the difference between the Postwar and MPC Congressional sets?

MPC offered a greater choice of cars, and they also had a shinier, almost chrome finish.  Can't remember for certain, but I believe they came with conventional wheel sets instead of fast angles.  Around seven cars, IIRC.