EB, what to buy?

I want to model the mid 50's GN and am searching the internet on what to buy. I will be trying to setup a consist that would make sense to run between Spokane and Portland. I have been looking at Bachmann, Walthers and Athearn.
My layout may not be able to have more the 24 inch curves and 15 cars would look out of place on 16X12 railroad.

Any guidance would be appreciated.

Kent

Canby, Oregon

 

Portland to Spokane

The route from Portland to Spokane was the Spokane Portland & Seattle Ry's main line. The GN did run freight from Vancouver to Avrey and then down the oregon Trunk to Bend. From Bend the GN was on their own rails to Bieber California where the Western Pacific took the trains south.
As for passenger service between Portland and Spokane there were two trains each way.
1 & 2 were the Empire Builder-North Coast Limited Portland connection.
The train consisted of SP&S locomotives usually a pair of F3 or F7 cabs. The train consist was about 10 cars but this varied with the season.
RPO-Baggage, Baggage-Dorm, Coach all in SP&S paint. Next were the Empire Builder cars Coach, Dome Coach, Pullman. All in GN paint. The pullmans could be either one of the "Pass" or "River" series Pullmans or both. Diner and Pullman-Lounge both in SP&S paint. The last cars were the NCL connection which ran only as far as Pasco. The NCL cars were in NP paint. Usually a Coach, Dome Coach & Pullman or Dome Pullman or both.
The other train 3 & 4 were the Western Star and Mainstreeter connection. The train consisted of two SP&S locomotives. Several headend cars including a RPO one coach and one of the earlier 8-4-4 "Pass" Pullmans.
These trains operated on the BN for just over a year when Amtrak came on the scene and both were discontinued. Amtrak has resurrected the service as part of the Empire Builder.
As for the cars to buy the Walthers Empire Builder cars will work for the GN part of the train as well as for the NP Dome Coach. Athearn F7a will work for power. The rest of the train would have to be built from Brass Car Sides and Train Station Products kits.