North Coast Limited Project

[hegstad1]

I have posted some pictures in Weekend Update of my current NCL project and I thought I might start a thread with some more detailed pictures and descriptions.  I typically don't do this because it tends to slow my progress down and I'm more apt to want to change or redo things.  I have found that once a project is done and I step back,  I don't often dwell on minor mistakes or inaccuracies and I'm just happy it's completed. Anyway.  Here goes.

As far as era, this train will be more or less accurate for 1955.  That being said, it will be in Loewy colors, have four domes, a Pullman Standard diner and other cars appropriate for that time.  later trains are easily represented by adding the Slumbercoach, Budd diner etc.

Below is the complete consist as it stands now.  Most cars are Brass Car Sides https://www.brasscarsides.com with an M&R diner, an Athabasca sleeper, and a couple of Centralia Car Shops cars thrown in.



The first two cars are the water baggage and mail dormitory.  The baggage is an accurate car from Centralia with the center skirts removed. The mail dormitory is a Brass Car Sides car on an ALM core it.  This car is one I actually completed years ago but I have stripped it and will upgrade details for this train.  I'll mention now that I take the time to scribe seams into the roof, make sure all roof and underbody details are accurate, add stirrups to the end skirts, and make sure they ride on correct trucks.  For the most part, side grabs are added after painting.



More to come.

[seusscaboose]

needs some east coast Tuscan run through

[Mark5]

Cool. 

Once you complete it maybe somebody will announce it N. (one of my fave passenger trains)

Mark

[C855B]

needs some east coast Tuscan run through

Question is... given the investment in the Loewy scheme, did NP "enforce" their paint image on run-throughs like UP did? I don't know how they did it, but PRR, N&W, MILW (obviously!) and C&NW all had to submit to yellow & gray.

Probably not, but in thinking about it I'm somewhat curious if anybody else was as anal insistent about maintaining the marketing appearance.

[hegstad1]

needs some east coast Tuscan run through

Which is prototypical.  Especially in the summer season, there were quite a few Pennsy sleepers set out at Livingston, MT for service to Yellowstone.  Also, after at least one derailment in the 1950's, the NP leased a Pennsy obs to fill in.  It was not painted into NP colors.

[hegstad1]

Question is... given the investment in the Loewy scheme, did NP "enforce" their paint image on run-throughs like UP did? I don't know how they did it, but PRR, N&W, MILW (obviously!) and C&NW all had to submit to yellow & gray.

Probably not, but in thinking about it I'm somewhat curious if anybody else was as anal insistent about maintaining the marketing appearance.

They did not.  That being said, they did not have any regular run through cars on the NCL.  There would be extra's added for special events or tourist cars to Yellowstone but nothing on a regular schedule.

Exceptions, I guess, were the complete set of cars owned by the CB&Q and some by the SP&S.  These were painted in the Loewy colors with reporting marks for the owner roads but these cars were exclusively NCL cars and did not see service on other trains.  (Never say never though).

 The Slumbercoach was another exception.  They a had a pool agreement with the CB&Q and the Denver Zephyr and the NP cars were stainless steel.

[Mark5]

Question is... given the investment in the Loewy scheme, did NP "enforce" their paint image on run-throughs like UP did? I don't know how they did it, but PRR, N&W, MILW (obviously!) and C&NW all had to submit to yellow & gray.

Raises a question in my mind - did N&W continue supplying yellow cars up to Amtrak?. The N&W arrangement was a continuation of whatever deal Wabash had with UP.

[hegstad1]

Sorry,  These are quick and dirty pictures.

The next two cars are the Slumbercoach (not correct until 1956) and a 500 series coach.

The SC is a Kato car.  This one just happens to be the Q version.  I have done one NP as well with the skirts removed.  This one was done awhile ago.  I added free standing grabs and tinted the windows with Tamiya paint.

The coach is another BCS on ALM core.

[C855B]

Raises a question in my mind - did N&W continue supplying yellow cars up to Amtrak?. The N&W arrangement was a continuation of whatever deal Wabash had with UP.

All I know is there were cars - don't know how many, or years - lettered for N&W in UP colors. Maybe the same sort of deal with C&NW vs. MILW traffic in and out of Chicago, where the C&NW repainted back to home colors after losing the UP contract. (Very little expertise in this niche on my part, just casual awareness.)

[wcfn100]

All I know is there were cars - don't know how many, or years - lettered for N&W in UP colors.

At least one dome coach #1623.

https://dev.model160.com/n-scale-resources/prototypes-of-n-scale-models/acf-plan-76-1939-lot-4097-up-dome-coach/

Jason

[seusscaboose]

They did not.  That being said, they did not have any regular run through cars on the NCL.  There would be extra's added for special events or tourist cars to Yellowstone but nothing on a regular schedule.

This was the case... in the later years..  Extras and Specials... typically 4 car sets, 3 sleepers and a Bdr/Lounge... "Leased from the East" is how the station agents in Chicago would refer to them as...  placed on the larger name trains originating out of the Midwest, usually Chicago… NCL in this case,  (and Chief and Zephyr) to the final destination(s), typically National Parks.





as a side note... I think it is awesome you are modelling this...  I have some extra brass sides if you need... PM me... and I can send them your way...  also have core kits... if needed.. 

looking forward to watching this thread

thank you for allowing the quick diversion.

[Point353]

Was the North Coast Limited still running in 1975?
Either it was the Amtrak North Coast Hiawatha or the date is incorrect.

[hegstad1]

Was the North Coast Limited still running in 1975?
Either it was the Amtrak North Coast Hiawatha or the date is incorrect.

That date has to be 1965.  I've seen that picture before and pretty sure it's a typo.

[hegstad1]

I see I included the 500 series coach again in this picture.  I have two in the consist.  The dome coach is a Con-cor car.  These things are old but right on.  I did add end skirts and stirrups.  I also added vertical ribs to the ends to "Budd"ize them as well as diaphragms and correct trucks. 

[hegstad1]

This was the case... in the later years..  Extras and Specials... typically 4 car sets, 3 sleepers and a Bdr/Lounge... "Leased from the East" is how the station agents in Chicago would refer to them as...  placed on the larger name trains originating out of the Midwest, usually Chicago… NCL in this case,  (and Chief and Zephyr) to the final destination(s), typically National Parks.




as a side note... I think it is awesome you are modelling this...  I have some extra brass sides if you need... PM me... and I can send them your way...  also have core kits... if needed.. 

looking forward to watching this thread

thank you for allowing the quick diversion.

Thanks for the offer Seuss.  I think I have all I need for the time being.  I'm glad I stocked up on core kits a long time ago.