S Gauge Flying Yankee Set

River Raisin.  They made the Yankee's the same time as the Zephyr's in 2005:

Rusty

Rusty, that's beautiful! I shudder to think of the cost...

Jeff C

They are indeed beautiful sets.  Here's a description of them from the RR site: http://www.riverraisinmodels.com/budTrainsets.html

I too shuddered...  But they are museum quality models.

I wanna say the 4-unit Pioneer Zephyr was $1200 ($1100 pre-production,) but I really don't remember.  I'd have to see if the receipt's still in the box.

Fortunately, River Raisin offers "easy payment plans."  I had them charge my CC monthly and it was paid for before delivery.

Now, before everyone gets their tidy-whities all in a knot: Yes, River Raisin requires a deposit and after that, how and when you want to pay the balance is up to you.  If a project is cancelled, you get your money back.

Rusty

Did they offer Hi-Rail sets or just scale? 

River Raisin offered both the Flying Yankee and Pioneer Zephyr in Scale or DC HiRail.

Rusty

Darn, DC HiRail wouldn't work if I found one.  AC only on my layout.

A simple diode bridge or an electronic E-unit would solve that.

Roundhouse Bill posted:

Darn, DC HiRail wouldn't work if I found one.  AC only on my layout.

I don't think the models will handle R20 curves.

Rusty

Rusty Traque posted:

Roundhouse Bill posted:

Darn, DC HiRail wouldn't work if I found one.  AC only on my layout.

I don't think the models will handle R20 curves.

Rusty

Actually, I think they can.  Back in 2004 a fellow club member ran his Burlington set on a member's layout.  It ran well on standard American Flyer track.

Dean

Dean Hall posted:

Rusty Traque posted:

Roundhouse Bill posted:

Darn, DC HiRail wouldn't work if I found one.  AC only on my layout.

I don't think the models will handle R20 curves.

Rusty

Actually, I think they can.  Back in 2004 a fellow club member ran his Burlington set on a member's layout.  It ran well on standard American Flyer track.

Dean

Not all Zephyr's were created equal.

That's an American HiRail Zephyr.  A totally different animal, which while being sold as a Pioneer Zephyr, was a resin S clone of an HO Twin Zephyr model.

Rusty

Ah, I stand corrected then.  But they are both beautiful models!

Dean

Gosh now I really want one!!!!!!

Tom at Sidetracks has one of each for sale, but he is still closed due to illness...

http://www.sidetracks.net/Prod...odIDRiver_Raisin.htm

I thought American High Rail was DC only due to the sealed brick of a power truck they used. If they could be made AC, then DCC is possible too.

They look wonderful.  Price is high, but I expected that.  They are for scale operation however. They did make them for Hi-Rail and AC as it shows on the box.  I guess I will look for one of those sets. 

That would be my train budget for the next four years...but I still want one.

Jeff C

The Zephyrs are a streamliner-era favorite of mine along with the Dreyfuss Hudson and so many other classic art deco design streamlined engines of those days.  A real pity more of them weren't/aren't produced in S.  I was lucky enough to find a 4-car American Hi-rail B Rte 9900 at York several years ago.    It runs on AC with a 2-position reverse unit and directional lighting.  

Quick Casey posted:

I thought American High Rail was DC only due to the sealed brick of a power truck they used. If they could be made AC, then DCC is possible too.

These can be adapted to TMCC with the ERR boards. We have a club member who has done this, with sound, and it was beautiful on our clubs modular layout. I have also adapted one of the American High Rail Doodlebugs with sound to TMCC and have added all wheel power pick-up, Runs fine on my home layout with A C  Gilbert track.

Ray

Yep, this Zephyr, that Doodlebug, and just about anything with a DC motor and enough room inside can be converted/upgraded from straight DC to AC, TMCC/Legacy, or DCC.  Time, money, and ability assumed.

Ray, that ERR converted AHR Zephyr must be great.  Which ERR boards and primary mover sounds did they elect to use?  Thanks.  

Sgaugian posted:

The Zephyrs are a streamliner-era favorite of mine along with the Dreyfuss Hudson and so many other classic art deco design streamlined engines of those days.  A real pity more of them weren't/aren't produced in S.  I was lucky enough to find a 4-car American Hi-rail B Rte 9900 at York several years ago.    It runs on AC with a 2-position reverse unit and directional lighting.  

You got one of the ones where Tom added extra (RPO) windows to the power car to better simulate the 9900.  I know he made less of them, I just don't know how many.

Nice picture, by the way.

Rusty

I  was lucky enough to pick up one of Tom's American Hi-Rail Zephyrs when I spotted him at a DuPage show a few years back. He was actually dealing with another collector and had what I believe were the last two examples with him. One was AC and the other DC. The other guy took the AC and I was happy to get the other one (DC).  As others have mentioned, converting to AC is simple.

I think I paid about $500 for the set. I'm really happy to have it along with the other beautiful models Tom created. I showed some in an earlier thread on this forum. 

https://ogrforum.com/t...32#41130793470104232

OK, I just found my receipt.  My River Raisin 4-unit Pioneer Zephyr was $2196.00 in 2005 (Boy, was my memory off...Wishful thinking?)  So it seems they've pretty much held their value over the past 12 years.

It was a "must have" for me.  I've loved the Pioneer Zephyr ever since I saw the old RKO "Silver Streak" movie on TV when the Earth was cooling in the 1950's. 

With RR's monthly payment plan, it didn't hurt too much...

I also checked... There is no way the River Raisin models will make it around R20 curves.  It barely makes it into the curve before the front truck hits the skirting:

As I recall, it will make it around my 27" radius test curve/interchange track.

Rusty

Yep, this Zephyr, that Doodlebug, and just about anything with a DC motor and enough room inside can be converted/upgraded from straight DC to AC, TMCC/Legacy, or DCC.  Time, money, and ability assumed.

Ray, that ERR converted AHR Zephyr must be great.  Which ERR boards and primary mover sounds did they elect to use?  Thanks.  

David, sorry for the late reply. Both of these were converted using the ERR Mini-2 motor board. I am not sure of the sound used in the Zephyr other than it being a Sound Commander, I converted my Doodlebug before the news of the Gas-electric board came out so I used the Sound Commander BL-2, not right but I wanted the sound. It will be up for a change when the new board comes available.

Ray