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1935 Empire Builder

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aopagary

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Discussion Starter · #1 ·
this probably belongs in the rolling stock forum, but i thought there might be more direct interest here. i scanned in three HO models built in the 70's (OL; Japan (Million Models)). i know there is an RPO car in this series which i have never seen, but i have no info on others.

1935 Empire Builder 80' cars (scans ~1M each)
http://members.cox.net/mocko/EB%20Mod%201st%20Class%20Coach%20950-961%20--%20lg.jpg
EB Mod 1st Class Coach 950-961 -- lg.jpg (JPEG Image, 3430x2060 pixels)

http://members.cox.net/mocko/EB%20Diner%201030-1051%20--%20lg.jpg
EB Diner 1030-1051 -- lg.jpg (JPEG Image, 3500x2020 pixels)

http://members.cox.net/mocko/EB%20Obsv-Lounge%201071-1075%20--%20lg.jpg
EB Observation-Lounge 1071-1075 -- lg.jpg (JPEG Image, 3480x1950 pixels)

now if i can only find a printer that'll hold 32" paper!!
cheers...gary
 
k5pat

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#3 ·
artgibson

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#4 ·
Pat
Thanks very much. I can handle that. Maybe you can come to Houston some time and we can double
head the S2's ,even though that would not be kosher. Thanks for your help and as you can tell, i"m getting excited about my S2/
 
aopagary

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Discussion Starter · #6 ·
http://members.cox.net/mocko/GN%20HvyWt%20RPO%2025-36%20%20--%20lg.jpg


added another car, RPO #25 - 36, another HO model by Oriental Limited, but this one built by FM models and not specifically in the 1935 EB series. this one measures out to ~60' so would be 22.5" in 1:32.

actually this was more of an exercise to post a live link. is there really no HTML editor in this forum? i cut and pasted the code to get this link in, but still have no idea how to include a simple picture.

anyway, at least this seems to work, albeit not very handy.

by the way, Branchline Trains offers (HO, sorry) 12-1 and 8-1-2 Pullman sleepers with Empire Builder names, so another clue to the consist. one of these days i'll try to borrow back my GN book and get a better idea of what the 4-8-4's pulled.

received my S2 kit yesterday. once it was out of the box inside the box, inside the sleeve, inside the box (*whew*) it was a little less intimidating in size at least. not sure if i like the split instructions/illustration format vs. the Berkshire fashion. i guess i'll see.

my suggestion to anyone... skip to the tender (14-16), then start from the beginning. it's soooo nice to have that piece already assembled when the final details go on the locomotive. you also get a little practice with the sealant before you have to deal with the ceramic sheet, too. my least favorite steps! at least noticed they have a complete template of sheet shapes (pronounced very slowly) this time.

cheers...gary
 
aopagary

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Discussion Starter · #7 ·
http://members.cox.net/mocko/3WhHvyWtTrucks.jpg

back on the subject of GN passenger cars...

i notice Aristo-Craft sells 3 axle Passenger trucks (@ $53 / pair) which i've got to believe are probably close enough to 1:32 for me unless there are other suggestions out there. i can't find a source for Accucraft (more 1:32?) trucks if anyone can volunteer that information.

they look very close to accurate assuming the HO models were built correctly.
cheers...gary
 
J

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#8 ·
Sunset Valley will be producing a nice consist of 1:32 Empire Builder cars for the S2
contact Pete for more info.
The pilot model looks quite a bit different than the Aristocraft 1:29 as the height/length aspect ratio is considerably lower.
I have my order in


jim
 
G

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#14 ·
This pre-production car looks to be perfect behind the S2. Hopefully I'll have a chance to see this car at Pete's in a couple of weeks. Looks like we'll be ponying up what equates to another S2 for a set of these cars.
If you were to use the Aristocraft cars, one would need to trim down the bolster to lower the car body over the trucks for a much better look and to disguise their 1/29 scale heft. Body mounted couplers and some custom fabricated diaphrams helps to get the close couple look of the prototype.
 
J

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#15 ·
Harlan et al,

I have been playing with the Aristocraft cars for many years and will be running with them my S2 before we get Peter's cars.
I have even heard of people who have sawed the cars in half to make them narrower. When we were at NSS, Pete and I compared
the new prototype 1:32 to the Aristo 1:29. One cannot reproduce the right look from the Aristos. The model cars are the same length, but the 1:32 is lower and narrower. In comparison, the aspect ratio is much lower with Pete's cars, much more than one might think just comparing scales. So the Aristo will work for the S2, but the look will be off compared to Pete's cars in simulating the real Empire builder.
Life is short. Run trains

jim
 
aopagary

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Discussion Starter · #16 ·
i asked Phil Bonner of Kern Valley Railway if he might offer an Empire Builder consist and this is the reply i received...
--------------------
Philip Bronner wrote:
>
> There are 275-300 separate parts in a KVR heavyweight, most cast by us in resin from RTV molds. We put about $300 in our material costs and parts costs (trucks, Kadee couplers, custom decals and full underbody detail included), then add a minimum of 40 hours assembly time. The interiors are detailed down to the Oriental carpets on the floor to the wood paneling on the walls. Sound, smoke and running water are extra (no joke).
>
> No shop in China will do that small (100 pieces) a number, Japanese and Korean labor costs approach ours---so where to go? Kits, maybe, would that I interest you?
>
> Phil Bronner
--------------------
then in a follow-up note...
--------------------
Philip Bronner wrote:
>
> Hi Gary…received your note. Was about ready to fold up KVR since couldn’t produce RTR’s and there was no interest in kits. BUT…just lately there is a small interest expressed and may resurrect the kit idea if I can afford to. I do have a 3990 about ready to produce and the 8-1-2 is the Henry H Sibley from that 1935 consist. I’ll send you the data.
--------------------
so if there is any interest in a craftsman kit, please stop by his website and express interest. i sure would like to see a fully detailed Lounge-Buffet-SunRoom (Plan 3990 is the EB 'observation' car).

with a little further research, i finally got to my GN book the other day and though little is said about exact consists, 10 heavyweight cars was mentioned as a typical EB train for the mid-30. the 8-1-2 Pullman plan was listed along with 'Tourist' sleepers which i've got to imagine were 12 or 14 section cars. 1st and 2nd class coaches were also listed along with an RPO, Baggage, Diner and the enclosed Sun Room-Observation car.

12-1 Pullman plans were only listed for the Oriental Limited, but perhaps when that service ceased, some of those cars made the EB run when needed. can't confirm this, though.
again, i hope anyone interested expresses interest in the KV kits.
cheers...gary
 
aopagary

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Discussion Starter · #17 ·
G

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#19 ·
The open observation cars were replaced by enclosed cars because of the Great Northern route through the lengthy Cascade Tunnel to and from Eastern Washington to the west, making the ride in an open ended car a dark and smokey experience.
 
aopagary

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Discussion Starter · #20 ·
i just received some reference sheets from the GNRHS.
some i would recommend...

RS040 - GN Class S2 4-8-4
RS110 - Heavyweight Pullman Equipment
RS178 - GN Empire Builder Part 1, 1929-1947

the S2's came online in the Spring of 1930 and went right to work pulling the Empire Builder over certain sections (Spokane Wenatchee, WA & Williston, ND Havre, MT). this assignment seems to have lasted until ~1945 when diesels started taking over the EB duties.

from these write-ups i've tried to piece together the Empire Builder consist from this decade and a half and here's what i've come up with:

#52-71 -- RPO / Baggage

#643-667 -- 2nd class Coach / Sleeper
(Dorm - Smoker)

#950-979 -- 80' Coach
replaced by
#938-949 -- 58 seat luxury coach in 1937

#950-979 -- 80' Coach
replaced by
#938-949 -- 58 seat luxury coach in 1937

#var -- Pullman 16 Section Sleeper

#var -- Pullman 16 Section Sleeper

#1030-1051 -- 36 seat Diner

(added in Summer)
14 Section Sleeper
replaced by
6 Section, 6 Double Bedroom in 1935

named -- 8-1-2 Sleeper (Chicago - Spokane)
or
named -- 12-1 Sleeper (Spokane - Seattle)
with the almost 12 hour leg from Spokane to the coast, both eastbound and westbound trains scheduled this as an overnight leg departing ~9-10pm and arriving between 8-9am the next morning. so the 8-2-1 sleeper was transferred to (W) or picked up (E) from the SP&S in Spokane where a 12-1 sleeper was added to (W) or dropped off (E) from the EB consist.


named -- 8-1-2 Sleeper

named -- 8-1-2 Sleeper

named -- 8-1-2 Sleeper
or
named -- 12-1 Sleeper

#1070-1076 (named) -- Buffet - Lounge - Sun Room

-------------

the bad news is that the EB seemed to always be at least 10 cars and the good news is that it was almost always held under 15 cars.

in the early 40's (i imagine with the war and all) consists were often split into two trains; a sleeper section followed by an all coach section. these are detailed in RS110.

one thing i couldn't find out is when the heavyweight cars were painted in EB orange/green. i'm assuming it would be after the introduction of the 1947 streamlined lightweight EB. the heavyweight cars returned later that year as the revived Oriental Limited which had been discontinued in 1931, but now behind F7 A-B-A's. so i doubt if the S2 ever regularly pulled anything other than Pullman Green w/ gold lettering heavyweight EMPIRE BUILDER cars.

thirty+ feet of EB behind these engines whould look sharp!
but even as kits, this is going to be a pricey train.

cheers...gary
 
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aopagary
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