The Golden State only crossed the tinniest parts of Texas, first at El Paso before going back into New Mexico and then the very northwest corner of the Pan Handle. I personally doubt they will do the Golden State. I would say it has very limited appeal. It was kind of an "also ran" in the Los Angeles/Chicago market. The Super Chief and the City of Los Angeles were the two glamor trains there. They have done the SC so I would think the COLA would be next if they were to go that route. I think Charlie figured that because I model a lot of SP, that I would like the Daylight. Not true. I could re-letter some of the cars for the Sunbeam maybe. My guess is that it will be the Daylight. A triple unit diner and articulated coaches would be cool though. They would have to do those for sure if they do the Daylight.
Speaking of Illinois Central. How about the Green Diamond. (better known as the Green Tomato Worm) Maybe this one would be better for Con Cor to follow up the Zephyr.
My vote for passenger cars:- Heavyweights! There are several cars that would be appreciated by many N scalers. Nice simple cars, such as 60' & 72' baggage, straight RPO, combined RPO/Mail storage, 10-1-2 Pullman with air cond roof ducts, straight coach with single windows NOT the paired windows as the Rivarossi/Atlas coach. How many out there want more baggage cars and some RPO's? Reading Charlie Vlk's great treatise on N scale passenger cars is very enlightening. It seems that some of Rivarossi/Atlas heavyweight cars were based on ATSF cars and in some instances were examples of unique one-off cars. Speaking of coaches without paired windows, has anyone else noticed the cover shot on the current issue of NSR? The coach is a nice piece of rebuilding by Rich Yourstone. It appears that he has removed the paired window section and scratchbuilt new window section from styrene strip. He now has a typical coch with single windows. Gary
Thanks for pointing that out. It appears there was also some major work on the roof, different trucks and Detail Associates step boxes added to the vestibules. I have cut up so many Rivarossi heavyweight cars and reassembled them into something else that I have lost count. There is just so little out there, that if you are serious about older passenger cars, you are forced to do this. The old Atlas streamlined baggage/RPO looks like a modernized heavyweight car. There is a lot of cool rivet detail that can be used if the sides are removed and bashed onto a heavyweight car..
PCM hasn't set any future productions for the PCM E7 but once the first run is out they will be able to do a bunch as the artwork is already "in the can". SP "Golden State" is among the artworks completed so it is a good bet in the future. I am trying to convince the powers that be that the popularity of the Cal Zephyr in HO would pale in comparison to full passenger trains done in N (not the CZ)...and I think you might see something next year. Charlie Vlk Railroad Model Resources/ PCM/BLI
