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I like a lot of the K-Line passenger cars, however some will need to have their truck assemblies replaced especially the K-Line Heavyweight cars as the factory trucks fall apart on these. Another set is the K-Line collectors of passenger cars that are semi scale(Golden State, 3 railroads went together for this one), but the roller on the center rail will lose spring pressure and cause flickering of the lights. K-Line made some nicely detailed passenger cars in other sets that hold up very well.

Lionel & MTH make some nice passenger cars but are more expensive then K-Line.

Also Atlas trains makes some nice O scale passenger cars that are of very good quality, nicely detailed and don't have problems. The only issue I had with an Atlas passenger car is not having a large enough engine with them the first time on the layout, with Atlas passenger cars you must use an SD-45 or equivalent engine with 18 & 21 inch passenger cars or have derailments.

Williams trains has made a few runs of passenger cars. The early edition of the Crown Edition passenger cars don't have opening couplers and these you must stay away from. The Crown Edition that has opening couplers work well. As for Williams by Bachmann, the only thing I know is that they are supposed to be the same as the later Williams before being sold to Bachmann.

 

Lee Fritz

Last edited by phillyreading

Since I moved into scale trains, my approach to buying passenger cars is to decide what I want to model and then look to see who makes scale models of the real trains I like.  I only have a few sets of passenger cars, but of those, I have:

  1. 3rd Rail/Golden Gate Depot - B&O Columbian set
  2. 3rd Rail/Golden Gate Depot - Train of Tomorrow set
  3. SGL - Reading semi-streamlined (“Turtleback blimps” ) set
  4. Weaver - WWII Troop cars set

I would like to purchase:

  1. Weaver - Reading Crusader set
  2. 3rd Rail/Golden Gate Depot - B&O Heavyweight set

 

Jim

 

jd-train posted:

Since I moved into scale trains, my approach to buying passenger cars is to decide what I want to model and then look to see who makes scale models of the real trains I like.  I only have a few sets of passenger cars, but of those, I have:

  1. 3rd Rail/Golden Gate Depot - B&O Columbian set
  2. 3rd Rail/Golden Gate Depot - Train of Tomorrow set
  3. SGL - Reading semi-streamlined (“Turtleback blimps” ) set
  4. Weaver - WWII Troop cars set

I would like to purchase:

  1. Weaver - Reading Crusader set
  2. 3rd Rail/Golden Gate Depot - B&O Heavyweight set

 

Jim

 

Al, good choices. For me, I have the Sunset/3rd Rail/GGD Southern Pacific Daylight set (11 or 12 cars, I can't remember which), including the articulated chair cars and three section articulated diner.

For heavy weight passenger cars, I finally accumulated the CB&Q cars , which include 6 coaches, multiple Pullmans, a diner, baggage,  and the open end observation car, totaling 12 cars.  A truly magnificent train to represent the Exposition Flyer.

It appears that Atlas O made about 6 kinds of cars so far for the Zephyr.  I can see that all appear to available in Amtrak, though I would prefer a traditional Zephyr train.  Do any of you have a recommendation for a good Atlas O dealer who might have these cars?  I cannot seem to locate all of the types made.

Thanks,

Ben 

banelson posted:

It appears that Atlas O made about 6 kinds of cars so far for the Zephyr.  I can see that all appear to available in Amtrak, though I would prefer a traditional Zephyr train.  Do any of you have a recommendation for a good Atlas O dealer who might have these cars?  I cannot seem to locate all of the types made.

Thanks,

Ben 

Since it has taken some six years for Atlas to deliver ALMOST the entire CZ passenger set, the odds of you finding the entire set for either CB&Q, D&RGW, or WP is slim to none.

CBQ_Bill posted:

I have seen Atlas O CZ cars at Chicagoland Hobby, Berwyn's Toy Trains, Des Plaines Hobby, and Head End Equipment (Highland Park IL).  

You will have to contact them to see specifically what they have.  

Very true, but NONE of those stores have a "full CZ set" in stock, which would include the special domes & diners.

banelson posted:

It appears that Atlas O made about 6 kinds of cars so far for the Zephyr.  I can see that all appear to available in Amtrak, though I would prefer a traditional Zephyr train.  Do any of you have a recommendation for a good Atlas O dealer who might have these cars?  I cannot seem to locate all of the types made.

Thanks,

Ben 

Hey Ben, this is my best attempt at compiling a list of all the cars that were part of the California Zephyr, as well as keeping track of which ones have been done by Atlas. Some CZ cars were later purchased by Amtrak, and of these cars some have been released in Amtrak paint, some in original paint (eg WP), and one has been released both ways. I've included release dates (well, what was supposed to have been the release date) and 2-rail part numbers. If anyone sees any glaring errors, I'd love to amend my list.

Here goes...

10-6 SLEEPER

Winter 2010 $155

CB&Q "Silver Butte" 425 (3002176-1)

CB&Q "Silver Cliff" 426 (3002176-2)

D&RGW "Silver Creek" 1133 (3002177-1)

D&RGW "Silver Pass" 1130 (3002177-2)

WP "Silver Bay" 866 (3002178-1)          

WP "Silver Surf" 867 (3002178-2)

PRR "Silver Rapids" 8449 (3002179)

 

Fall 2012 $155

CB&Q "Silver Point" 423 (3002176-3)

CB&Q "Silver Falls" 427 (3002176-4)

D&RGW "Silver Summit" 1131 (3002177-3)

D&RGW "Silver Glacier" 1134 (3002177-4)

WP "Silver Arroyo" 861 (3002178-3)

WP "Silver Mountain" 863 (3002178-4)

PRR "Silver Rapids" (3002180)

Amtrak "Silver Shore" (3002181-1)

Amtrak "Silver Valley" (3002181-2)

 

Not yet released

WP "Silver Canyon" 862

WP "Silver Palisade" 864

WP "Silver Range" 865

CB&Q "Silver Shore" 424 (released in Amtrak llivery)

CB&Q "Silver Valley" 428 (released in Amtrak livery)

CB&Q "Silver Crag" 429

CB&Q "Silver Chasm" 430

D&RGW "Silver Gorge" 1132

 

DOME

Winter 2010 $155

CB&Q "Silver Bridle" 4716 (3002151-1)

CB&Q "Silver Lariat" 4718 (3002151-2)

D&RGW "Silver Bronco" 1105 (3002152-1)

D&RGW "Silver Pony" 1108 (3002152-2)

WP "Silver Dollar" 811 (3002153-1)

WP "Silver Feather" 812 (3002153-2)

 

Fall 2012 $155

CB&Q "Silver Lodge" (3002151-3)

CB&Q "Silver Saddle" (3002151-4)

WP "Silver Schooner" (3002153-3)

WP "Silver Scout" (3002153-4)

Amtrak "Silver Lodge" (3002154-1)

Amtrak "Silver Stirrup" (3002154-2)

 

Fall 2016 w/conductor’s window $165

CB&Q "Silver Rifle" 4720 (3009012-1)

D&RGW "Silver Colt" 1106 (3009013-1)

WP "Silver Sage" 814 (3009014-1)

Amtrak "Silver Ranch" 4719 (3009015-1)

Amtrak "Silver Rifle" 4720 (3009016-1)

re-released

CB&Q "Silver Bridle" 4716 (3002151-1)

CB&Q "Silver Lariat" 4718 (3002151-2)

D&RGW "Silver Bronco" 1105 (3002152-1)

D&RGW "Silver Pony" 1108 (3002152-2)

WP "Silver Dollar" 811 (3002153-1)

WP "Silver Feather" 812 (3002153-2)

I don’t understand new road numbers for “Silver Lariat” and “Silver Saddle”

I don’t understand Alaska Railroad

 

Not yet released

WP "Silver Palace" 813

WP "Silver Thistle" 817

CB&Q "Silver Ranch" 4719 (released in Amtrak livery)

CB&Q "Silver Stirrup" 4722

D&RGW "Silver Mustang" 1107

 

DINING CAR

Fall 2013 $155

CB&Q "Silver Cafe" 193 (3002191-1)

D&RGW "Silver Banquet" 1115 (3002192-1)

WP "Silver Platter" 842 (3002193-1)

Amtrak "Silver Diner" 8051 (3002194-1)

Amtrak "Silver Restaurant" 8052 (3002194-2)

 

Not yet released

WP "Silver Plate" 841

CB&Q "Silver Diner" 194 (released in Amtrak livery)

CB&Q "Silver Restaurant" 195 (released in Amtrak livery)

 

16 SECTION SLEEPER

Fall 2013 $155

CB&Q "Silver Maple" 400 (3002186-1)

D&RGW "Silver Aspen" 1120 (3002187-1)

WP "Silver Palm" 871 (3002188-1)

Amtrak "Silver Larch" 4806 (3002189-1)

Amtrak "Silver Cedar" 4807 (3002189-2)

 

Not yet released

WP "Silver Poplar" 872

CB&Q "Silver Larch" 401 (released in Amtrak livery)

CB&Q "Silver Cedar" 403 (released in Amtrak livery)

D&RGW "Silver Pine" 1121

 

6-5 SLEEPER

Fall 2014 $165

CB&Q "Silver Quail" 451 (3002196-1)

D&RGW "Silver Gull" 1135 (3002197-1)

WP "Silver Crane" 851 (3002198-1)

Amtrak "Silver Dove" (3002199-1)

Amtrak "Silver Thrush" (3002199-2)

 

Not yet released

WP "Silver Swallow" 852   

CB&Q "Silver Dove" 450 (released in Amtrak livery)

CB&Q "Silver Thrush" 452 (released in Amtrak livery)

 

DOME BUFFET-LOUNGE-OBSERVATION

Fall 2014 $185

CB&Q "Silver Penthouse" 376 (3002157-1)

D&RGW "Silver Sky" 1145 (3002158-1)

WP "Silver Crescent" 881 (3002159-1)

Amtrak "Silver Horizon" (3002160-1)

Amtrak "Silver Solarium" (3002160-2)

 

Not yet released

WP "Silver Planet" 882

CB&Q "Silver Horizon" 375 (released in Amtrak livery)

CB&Q "Silver Solarium" 377 (released in Amtrak livery)

CB&Q "Silver Lookout" 378

 

BAGGAGE CAR

3rd quarter 2015 $165

CB&Q "Silver Coyote" 905 (3009001-1)

D&RGW "Silver Antelope" 1100 (3009002-1)

WP "Silver Beaver" 801 (3009003-1)

Amtrak (3009004-1)

Amtrak (3009004-2)

 

Not yet released

WP "Silver Stag" 802

CB&Q "Silver Bear" 903

CB&Q "Silver Buffalo" 904

 

DOME DORMITORY-BUFFET-LOUNGE

3rd quarter 2015 $165

CB&Q "Silver Lounge" 251 (3009006-1)

D&RGW "Silver Shop" 1140 (3009007-1)

WP "Silver Hostel" 832 (3009008-1)

Amtrak "Silver Club" (3009009-1)

Amtrak "Silver Lounge" (3009009-2)

 

Not yet released

WP "Silver Chalet" 831

CB&Q "Silver Club" 250 (released in Amtrak Livery)

CB&Q "Silver Roundup" 252

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