NYC New enthusiast from over the Pond

Morning All!

I'm a new member from the UK and wanted to say 'hello' to all fellow-NYC fans.

As a youngster I had bought for me a second-hand Rivarossi HO scale J3a (unstreamlined) and that was it I was hooked on NYC. I've just come back to modelling in the last year or so after a break of some 15-20 years.

I know they're not hugely accurate, but I'm on the look out for a particular Ho scale Rivarossi pasenger car, if anyone can help?

It's the two-tone grey "Imperial Court" lightweight 1930s era model (I think the Rivarossi part # is 2710/0)

Best wishes


Andrew

 

Hello Andrew, Welcome to the TrainBoard. We're happy to have you on board.

Although I probably rode many of the cars you are seeking, I have no idea where you might find their HO models. Though I feel sure that one or more TB members will be able to. You might consider posting your quest on the HO Forum, that being focused on HO Scale specifically. Good Luck.

 

Welcome aboard, Andrew. It's great to have another New York Central fan here. As with the previous responders, I am unable to help with the HO cars. I am not a modeler. Do you still have the old J-3? If so, what number does it carry? :tb-biggrin:

 

Greetings Andrew,

Nice to have you here on Trainboard. What part of the U.K. do you hail from.
My ancestry on my father's side originated in England.

Charlie

 

Well you didn't ask for other NYC passenger cars but Walthers has some.
http://www.walthers.com/exec/search...rds=restrict&instock=Q&split=30&Submit=Search

 

Hello Andrew, and a hearty welcome. We are happy to have another NYC enthusiast with us.

I model N scale so may not be very helpful with your HO search. If you really must have the Rivarossi car, eBay may be the best place to search. Yahoo has a NYC modeler's group, there might even be one specifically for HO. People there might be able to help you with your search.

The Imperial Court was a 4-4-2 lightweight car built by Pullman-Standard for the 1938 20th Century Limited. At that time it wore the light gray with dark gray window band scheme and with blue and aluminum striping. The train was totally re-equipped in 1948 and by that time the color scheme had been reversed minus the blue and much of the aluminum striping. The Imperial Court was refurbished and came back in 1949 now named Castleton Bridge.

Walthers makes a very nice model of the NYC 4-4-2 in HO, but I think it is currently available only in the 1948 color scheme. You might also look at other offerings from manufacturers like Branchline or Broadway Limited.

I hope you can locate the Rivarossi car, though, as it is probably a sentimental issue for you.

Mike

 

Hello from over the Pond

Hi guys

Apologies for my tardinness in getting back to everyone and thanking them for their information.

Hytec - I'm jealous of you actually having ridden on the Century! If there was ever a time machine, I'd be back in the USA between 1935 (for the first Hiawathas - sorry guys I know this is a NYC area!) and 1940 (for the Century, and the Mercury)

Boxcab - I put an ad in the store area, but no joy (as I said in another post I've taken the plunge and will be getting two MTH car sets)

Fitz - it's the old Rivarossi non-streamlined unit from the 1970s (#5405)

Charlie - I'm from the north East of England (A county called North Yorkshire - not too far from York - as opposed to New York!

Roger - thanks for the Walthers link. I may need some decent heavyweight cars in the future so peope like Walthers and Rapido seem qaulity products.

Mike - as I've said in my other posts, I am grateful for the knowledge which members such as yourself share with us all.

OK enough for now. I'm sure I'll be back when I get the MTH cars (maybe before then) to talk about my impressions of them.


Warm regards



Andrew

 

Andrew, although you seem especially interested in the (1938 and later) 20th Century Limited with its Dreyfuss streamlined Hudson, I would also invite your attention to Dreyfuss' other masterpiece. In 1941 he designed the newly equipped Empire State Express. This train consisted totally of gleaming stainless steel streamlined cars. To complement this consist, Dreyfuss based the locomotive design on the 20th Century locomotives, but this time in glossy black with stainless steel trim to blend with the cars. Two locomotives were built with this streamlining, 5426 and 5429. Some people say this design was even more handsome than that of the ten 20th Century locomotives. I will withhold my opinions.

Since you mentioned the Mercury, you might also be interested to know that 5426 and 5429 were later assigned to the Mercury. This occurred as diesels replaced the Hudsons on the ESE and because more power was required to pull the Mercury as its popularity grew. The two locomotives retained their ESE streamlining. The only change was the replacement of the ESE name on the pilots with that of "The Mercury".