Any Illinois Central fans out there?

[Tom Todd]

Lowell Smith of Rail Smith is producing a City of Miami trainset in N Scale ( https://lowellsmith.net/product-category/railsmith/illinois-centrals-city-of-miami/ ).  But I am interested in City of New Orleans.  I will try to make one up from the cars that Lowell is producing.

But does anyone know where I can find a 1956 consist for this train.  Any web sites that might provide this info or is there a book I should buy?

I know I don't read any sleepers, but how many coaches?

Thanks in advance.

Tom Todd

[wcfn100]

I have a 1948 consist.

Jason

[Missaberoad]

Here's a September 1948 consisted reproduced from one of the Wayner books.

http://www.trainweb.org/fredatsf/IC-city.htm

Also Morning Sun has an IC Passenger book that may be helpful.

[wcfn100]

Here's a September 1948 consisted reproduced from one of the Wayner books.

http://www.trainweb.org/fredatsf/IC-city.htm

That consist is basically what I have without the dome coach and a couple other coaches.

Something to note is that the train picked up coaches along the way.  The consist I have starts in Chicago with 11 cars and adds one coach at Carbondale and another at Fulton.

Jason

[Tom Todd]

Well I'm going to use the link that you guys provided me since I think that it will do.  I was a first hesitant, fearing that 1948 cnsist would still be all heavyweight cars.  But I think that this will be okay.  Good enough for a person not located in the central part of the country.

Tom Todd

[Sokramiketes]

The only issue I see with this plan is that Lowell is putting City of Miami in the letterboard of his coaches.

I think Walthers issued these with Illinois Central in the letterboard, which is what you want.

[nickelplate759]

The only issue I see with this plan is that Lowell is putting City of Miami in the letterboard of his coaches.

I think Walthers issued these with Illinois Central in the letterboard, which is what you want.

Walthers did indeed issue these models lettered Illinois Central.

[wcfn100]

I was a first hesitant, fearing that 1948 cnsist would still be all heavyweight cars.  But I think that this will be okay. 

City of New Orleans was streamlined by 1947.

Jason

[CBQ Fan]

Walthers did indeed issue these models lettered Illinois Central.

The Walthers cars didn’t have car names or numbers.  Life Like E6 did not match up with Kato cars very well.

[Sokramiketes]

The Walthers cars didn’t have car names or numbers.  Life Like E6 did not match up with Kato cars very well.

Yes they did.  Oh, you meant pre-attached?  (They were decals) 

[CBQ Fan]

Yes they did.  Oh, you meant pre-attached?  (They were decals) 

Correct, the Kato cars in the 6 and 4 car sets also came without names or numbers also.

[wcfn100]

FWIW, that consist has two different style coaches in it.  2610-2613 are 48 seat Leg Rest Coaches the rest are the 56 seat coach.


Jason

[wcfn100]

I found a 1952 consist and it's basically the same as the 1948.

Mail Express - Baggage Dorm - 56 seat coach - 48 seat coach - Diner Lounge - 56 seat coach - 56 seat coach - Diner - 56 seat coach* - 56 seat coach - 48 seat coach - Obs

*Carbondale car

Jason

[thomasjmdavis]

I read somewhere that Lowell Smith was going to produce a 56 seat coach, but what is shown in the ad appear to be the same NYC 64 seat coaches produced 10 or 15 years ago by Walthers.  And given all the delays, trade restrictions, virus shutdowns, etc. that have impacted production over the past 10 years, I am left wondering how long it will be until you see the baggage dorm, diner, sleeper lounge and observation- unless he uses existing Kato or Centralia cars- in which case the train will be entirely "stand in" cars.

I can't speak for everyone, but in terms of eastern and mid-western trains, the 56 seat coach was quite common.  The old Con-Cor model works for a lot of roads, with some alteration to small windows.  If only it had been brought up to modern standards with a remove-able interior and flush windows.....

Hopefully, folks realize that the Lowell Smith trains are "stand in" cars with REALLY nice paint jobs (and he does that part remarkably well) and should not be confused with the accurate consists of the trains as done by Kato.

[nickelplate759]

So these cars will have "City of Miami" on the letterboard.  My understanding is that IC only put the train name on the letterboards for a while - does anyone know what years that lettering is good for?