Walthers Announces New Named Train For 2015

The B&O Capital Limited is to be the new named train Walthers will be producing for the 2015.

History:
Unveiled in May of 1923, the Capitol Limited was Baltimore & Ohio's entry into the three-way fight for the lucrative east coast-Chicago passenger traffic. Unlike NYC and PRR who focused on New York City however, B&O emphasized its Washington-Chicago service, with a connecting New York City train. Popular from the start, The Cap became the premiere train on the B&O, and the East's first streamlined, diesel-powered flagship in 1938.

By 1953, B&O had acquired enough lightweight cars, many coming from canceled C&O orders, to streamline The Cap. Among them were three unique Strata-Dome sleepers making B&O the only road with domes in the east.

To maintain high levels of service and reduce costs in the late 1950s, The Cap was combined with its running mate The Columbian. Usually handling 13 cars, the combined train included a mix of coaches, food service cars, Strata-Domes and sleepers, along with occasional heavyweights when demand warranted.

Following the C&O take-over in 1963, a concerted effort was made to consolidate and modernize passenger service with innovations such as off-peak fares and simplified ticket purchasing.

Although operating as two separate roads, equipment and motive power were freely mixed and matched, but no compromise was permitted in service, which was maintained right to the end in 1971.

A decade later, the Capitol Limited returned as a new Amtrak train, and remains one of its most popular today.

Based on the combined Capitol Limited of the late 1950s with its unique consist that included the famed Strata-Domes, Slumbercoaches, Twin-Unit Diner and other signature equipment behind new E9 diesels, this WalthersProto replica is a fitting tribute to one of America's greatest streamliners, perfect for operating or collecting!

Limited-Run Deluxe Edition B&O Capitol Limited

From Lunch Counter to Observation/Lounge, this limited-run set is the most realistic replica of the famed Capitol Limited available today! The WalthersProto Deluxe Edition Capitol Limited delivers a complete consist of 10 fully assembled HO Scale cars, each ready to enjoy in operation or on display.

But that's not all — for the first time, Deluxe Edition Capitol Limited cars feature factory-printed car names and numbers in addition to factory-Installed LED interior lighting that operates on DCC or DC layouts, and Preiser passengers (150+ figures total) — a $59.95 retail value per car if purchased separately — yours to enjoy with no extra work needed!

Limited to just 400 sets and sold only as a complete 10-car train, each superb replica includes eight newly-tooled signature models for an authentic late 1950s consist with Baggage-Dorm-Coffee Shop, Strata-Dome Coach, Strata-Dome Sleeper, Twin-Unit Full Diner & Kitchen Cars, 5-Bedroom Buffet Lounge Observation, 16-4 Sleeper, 56-Seat Coach, 24-8 Slumbercoach and 10-6 Sleeper with Fluted Sides.

Deluxe Edition cars are scheduled to arrive in the same month as the standard models, with the first release expected in November 2014. Individual Deluxe Edition cars vary in price between $110.00 and $120.00 each.

Like the original Capitol Limited, we expect this collectible car set to move quickly! Remember, previous Deluxe Edition Name Trains have sold out at Walthers in a matter of hours, so check with a participating hobby shop to reserve yours right away.

The consists are outlined on the Walthers web site as follows:

Capitol Limited Consists
Streamlined in 1953, the B&O Capitol Limited remained an all-Pullman train until 1950s, when it was combined with The Columbian.

Here are some sample consists to help you get started.

Mid-February 1955 Baggage Dorm Lounge 16-4 Sleeper 16-4 Sleeper 10-6 Sleeper - ATSF "Pine" Series (Washington - San Diego) Heavyweight 12-1 Sleeper 5-3-1 Strata-Dome Sleeper Heavyweight Diner 16-4 Sleeper 10-6 Sleeper 10-6 Sleeper 10-6 Sleeper Observation-Lounge-Sleeper 1958 - #6 Chicago-Washington Eastbound Coffee Shop/Dorm/Baggage Slumbercoach 56-Seat Coach 56-Seat Coach 42-Seat Strata-Dome Coach 16-4 Sleeper Kitchen/Dorm (Twin Unit car) 64-Seat Full Diner (Twin Unit car) 5-3-1 Strata-Dome Sleeper 16-4 Sleeper 10-6 Sleeper 10-6 Sleeper Observation-Lounge-Sleeper 1958 - #6 Washington-Baltimore Eastbound Coffee Shop/Dorm/Baggage Slumbercoach 10-6 Sleeper 56-Seat Coach 56-Seat Coach Diner 24 Roomette Duplex Sleeper* 10-6 Sleeper 10-6 Sleeper Baggage/Buffet/Lounge 10-5 Sleeper 10-6 Sleeper Coach Coffee Shop/Dorm/Baggage * Pullman-assigned L.S. Hungerford, or leased ATSF Indian Mesa or Indian Song

Summer 1965 - #5 Washington-Chicago Westbound Heavyweight Railway Post Office Heavyweight Railway Post Office Coffee Shop/Dorm/Baggage/Lounge Coach Coach Coach 42-Seat Strata-Dome Coach Coach Coach 16-4 Sleeper 10-6 Sleeper 24-8 Slumbercoach 10-6 Sleeper 10-6 Sleeper PRR 13-Double Bedroom Sleeper 16-4 Sleeper 64-Seat Full Diner (Twin Unit car) Kitchen/Dorm (Twin Unit car) Mid-Train Lounge-Sleeper (former Observation) 10-6 Sleeper 14-4 Sleeper June 1968 - #5 Washington-Chicago Westbound Heavyweight Express Heavyweight Baggage Coach Strata Club (Snack Bar/Lounge, converted Strata-Dome Coach) Coach Diner 24-8 Slumbercoach 10-6 Sleeper Observation-Lounge-Sleeper Coach* Coach* Heavyweight Baggage* Heavyweight Express* * To Train #19 at Willard, Ohio June 1968 - #6 Chicago-Washington Eastbound Heavyweight Baggage Coach Coach Strata Club (Snack Bar/Lounge, converted Strata-Dome Coach) Coach Diner Slumbercoach 10-6 Sleeper Observation-Lounge-Sleeper* Coach* Coach 11-Double Bedroom Sleeper (C&O)* * From Train #20 at Willard, Ohio

B&O Capitol Limited Passenger Cars
Welcome aboard Baltimore & Ohio's famed flagship, The Capitol Limited - the newest WalthersProto name train in HO scale, featuring:

• 10 Authentic B&O Cars — Most Available in Plastic for the Very First Time
• Eight Newly-Tooled Signature Cars
• Based on Cars in Regular "Cap" Service from the Late 1950s to 1971
• Real Metal Finish Simulates Stainless Steel as Appropriate
• Paint Color-Matched to Original Drift Cards
• Prototypically Accurate Window Tinting as Appropriate
• Factory-Installed Steel Grab Irons
• Car Name & Number Decals
• Turned Metal Wheelsets
• Proto MAX™ Metal Knuckle Couplers

Baltimore & Ohio Diesel-Electrics
Roaring across the Midwest or scaling the Alleghenies, B&O's E unit fleet was entrusted to keep The Cap on time, all the time! Replicas of the road's E9 and E8Bm diesels, our models are complete with authentic details, correct paint and lettering, and available in your choice of Soundtraxx® Tsunami® sound for DCC or DC layouts or Standard DC versions, featuring:

• Limited Edition — One-Time Run of these Engine Numbers
• Based on Class DP-6 (E9A Units) and Rebuilt DP7-X (E8Bm) Units featuring:
  * Raised B&O Capitol Dome Logo
  * Brass Nathan M5 Air Horn
  * Single Headlight with Flush "Glass" and Gasket Detail
  * Flush Number Boards
  * ATS Shoe on Engineer Side Truck
  * Stainless Steel Side Grilles
  * Full Fuel Tank Skirts
  * Improved Steam Generator Details
• Available with Soundtraxx Tsunami Sound for DCC or DC Layouts
• Five-Pole, Skew-Wound, High-Torque, High-Efficiency Can Motor
• Helical Gears with 12:1 Ratio for Smooth, Ultra-Quiet Running
• Correct 36" Wheels
• Easy Multiple-Unit Operation
• Proto MAX™ Metal Knuckle Couplers

It looks like the train will be a great addition to anyone's layout.

And Now I Have A Bus Station

I searched for a while because Walthers didn't have this item in stock anymore and couldn't say if or when they would be getting anymore. I found one at Junction Valley Railroad in Bridgeport Michigan. It was just what I needed to go with my layout. I still need to define the road a bit better. I placed it in front of and to one side of Grand Central Station.The plan is to add a residential street behind the Bus Station.

Walthers announces New Named Train

My September flyer came from Walthers and the cover announced new named trains for 2014. They are the Great Northern Railway's Empire Builder and the Big Sky Blue. There will be 10 different passenger cars for each train. the following is their offering:

Omaha Orange &
Pullman Green Scheme

85' ACF Baggage-Mail—Standard


85' ACF Baggage-Dorm—Standard
85' ACF Baggage-Dorm—Lighted


85' ACF 60-Seat Coach—Standard
85' ACF 60-Seat Coach—Lighted


85' Pullman-Standard "River" Series 7-4-3-1 Sleeper—Standard
85' Pullman-Standard "River" Series 7-4-3-1 Sleeper—Lighted


85' ACF Ranch Series Coffee Shop Lounge—Standard
85' ACF Ranch Series Coffee Shop Lounge—Lighted


85' Pullman-Standard "Pass" Series 6-5-2 Sleeper—Standard
85' Pullman-Standard "Pass" Series 6-5-2 Sleeper—Lighted


85' ACF 36-Seat "Lake" Series Diner—Standard
85' ACF 36-Seat "Lake" Series Diner—Lighted


85' Budd 46-Seat Vista-Dome Coach—Standard
85' Budd 46-Seat Vista-Dome Coach—Lighted


85' Budd "View" Series Great Dome Lounge—Standard
85' Budd "View" Series Great Dome Lounge—Lighted


85' Pullman-Standard "Coulee" Series 6-4-1 Observation—Standard
85' Pullman-Standard "Coulee" Series 6-4-1 Observation—Lighted

 

Big Sky Blue
Scheme

85' ACF Baggage-Mail—Standard


85' ACF Baggage-Dorm—Standard
85' ACF Baggage-Dorm—Lighted


85' ACF 60-Seat Coach—Standard
85' ACF 60-Seat Coach—Lighted


85' Pullman-Standard "River" Series 7-4-3-1 Sleeper—Standard
85' Pullman-Standard "River" Series 7-4-3-1 Sleeper—Lighted


85' ACF Ranch "Lake…" Series Coffee Shop Lounge—Standard
85' ACF Ranch "Lake…" Series Coffee Shop Lounge—Lighted


85' Pullman-Standard "Pass" Series 6-5-2 Sleeper—Standard
85' Pullman-Standard "Pass" Series 6-5-2 Sleeper—Lighted


85' ACF 36-Seat "…Lake" Series Diner—Standard
85' ACF 36-Seat "…Lake" Series Diner—Lighted


85' Budd 46-Seat Vista-Dome Coach—Standard
85' Budd 46-Seat Vista-Dome Coach—Lighted


85' Budd "View" Series Great Dome Lounge—Standard
85' Budd "View" Series Great Dome Lounge—Lighted


85' Pullman-Standard "Coulee" Series 6-4-1 Observation—Standard
85' Pullman-Standard "Coulee" Series 6-4-1 Observation—Lighted

The locomotives offered are:

 

WalthersProto®
EMD F7 Diesels
Power Your Empire Builder Train
with these EMD F7s!
Available in Two Paint Schemes
Equipped with GN-Specific Details:

• GN-Specific Snowplow Pilot
• Carbody Filter Vent
• GN-Specific Style Cut Skirts
• Square-Cornered Winterization Hatch
• Roof-Mounted Cooling Coil
• Scheme-Specific Horn Placement

EMPIRE BUILDER SCHEME

A-B Sets
With Tsunami® Sound for DCC & DC
A-B Set #364A & 364B
A-B Set #368C & 372B

A Units
With Tsunami® Sound for DCC & DC
A Unit #364C
A Unit #367C

A-B Sets
Standard DC
A-B Set #364A & 364B
A-B Set #368C & 372B

A Units
Standard DC
A Unit #364C
A Unit #367C


SIMPLIFIED SCHEME

A-B Sets
With Tsunami® Sound for DCC & DC
A-B Set #363A & 365B
A-B Set #364A & 364B

A Units
With Tsunami® Sound for DCC & DC Layouts
A Unit #363C
A Unit #364C

A-B Sets
Standard DC
A-B Set #368C & 371B
A-B Set #370A & 372B

A Units
Standard DC
A Unit #365C
A Unit #367C

I am excited about the new release but I don't know how I can come up with the money for this one.

Another Delay

On a whim I checked the Walthers site to see if there were any changes in the many times revised delivery date for the EMD E7A locomotives for the Pere Marquette passenger train. I was expecting to have the two I ordered at the end of last month. Once again the expected date had been revised. The date is now shown to be 28-July-2013.

There is nothing I can do about this delay except sit by and wait. Walthers has had one delay after another on this name train. I must admit I am not disappointed with the passenger cars I have received so far. One more month is a small price to pay in order to own such a nicely crafted passenger train.

Info about Pere Marquette Passenger Service

Walthers Published the following regarding its named train release for 2012:

"Speeding travelers from Chicago to Detroit, the Pere Marquette was the pride of C&O postwar streamliner service! Updated with new cars from Pullman-Standard in the 1950s, the trains offered a wide range of comfortable accommodations whether traveling for business or pleasure.

C&O's Pere Marquette had the distinction of being the first all-new American streamliner to enter service in 1946, running between Grand Rapids, and Detroit, Michigan. Based on its initial success, service was soon extended to Chicago. A variety of new Pullman-Standard cars were assigned in the 1950s, as the trains were kept fresh and modern to attract riders. Providing convenient service for business travelers and tourists, the trains also handled large volumes of mail into the 1960s. While the C&O had opted to join Amtrak, the Pere Marquette was one of many smaller trains that faded in history on May 1, 1971.

The C&O Pere Marquette service operated between Chicago and Detroit carrying passengers through the hub of Grand Rapids. While through-service tickets were sold, the route was handled with two separate trains, meaning through-service passengers changed trains in Grand Rapids.

Actual consists varied as demand changed but C&O usually ran a minimum of two and regularly up to four Pullman-Standard 52-Seat Coaches per train. Originally put into service with side skirts attached, as maintenance was required skirts were removed and one could often see both versions of the car operating on the same train.

Between Chicago and Grand Rapids the 85' P-S Diner Coach was employed for food service, while the Lunch Counter Lounge served patrons traveling from Grand Rapids to Detroit. The remainder of the consist typically included one of each ACF RPO-Baggage Car, P-S Baggage Car, and P-S 10-6 Sleeper, all pulled by an EMD E7A."

I currently have collected all of the cars produced by Walthers but I am still waiting for the two EMD E7A locomotives they are producing for this set. The consists for my train are as follows:

• 85' ACF RPO-Baggage #60
• 72' P-S Baggage #50
• 72' P-S Baggage #51
• 85' P-S 52-Seat Coach #1614
• 85' P-S 52-Seat Coach #1618
• 85' P-S 52-Seat Coach #1621
• 85' P-S Diner Coach #1610
• 85' P-S Lunch Counter Lounge #1903
• 85' P-S 10-6 Sleeper Plan 4167 #2645 "City of Midland"
• 85' P-S 10-6 Sleeper Plan 4167 #2640 "City of Saginaw"
• 85' P-S 10-6 Sleeper Plan 4167 #2636 "City of Grand Rapids"

As I stated above I am still waiting for the two EMD E7A locomotives they are due to arrive Jun 28th 2013. Numbers 103 and 105.

Mid May 2013 and Still No Pere Marquette EMD E7A Locomotives

The Pere Marquette named train offered by Walthers has been met with one delay after another. I finally received all the passenger cars, but now the locomotives are not expected until 28-Jun-2013. They were supposed to be here the end of March then later projected for the end of April. It seems to have been one thing after another. I can't wait. That will complete the set when locomotives number #103 and #105 come in.