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Post by markm on Sept 10, 2019 21:58:47 GMT -5
IT'S ZEPHYR TIME !!!
I picked-up my Zephyr car set, WP ABB F3s and PRR sleeper. I'm very impressed with the detail and overall historic accuracy, even though you may need a microscope to see it. Since this is "my train" I'm been looking with a very critical eye and see very few things that aren't right, most easy to fix. The F3sReally good detail. I was most impressed with the details in the grillwork:  I haven't opened the unit up to see how it's done, but it's a very prototypical look. I didn't notice this on the SP units, but it really pops out with the silver body. The road numbers are right for the era as WP ran the units as an ABB set so 801 is on the number board for the 801-A, 801-B, 801-C consist. After 1952 the suffix would be added to the number board. The silver cab roof is correct. While these may seem obvious, other manufacturers in other scales have gotten it wrong. The units seem to have all the right details for phase 2 F3s. The only flaws I have spotted is that the lead coupler should be silver, easily fixed with a drop of paint and the backdoor port holes are silver, easily fixed with a drop of black paint. I've been running the three units all afternoon at various speeds and combinations and they have run well pulling the train. The speed curves for the units are all within 10%.
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Post by markm on Sept 10, 2019 22:36:49 GMT -5
The TrainI can't say it enough: the detail is great:  Every fixture, appliance and grab iron I looked for is there. All cars have the tinted windows. The dome section only has appropriate interiors. But due to the window tint, I don't think you'd see it anyway. Other than the herald on the observation car, which seems to be at the limited of printing, I have no issues. While the cars don't have diaphrams, they do close couple and look good.  The locomotives have a much wider separation.Ultimately I think I'll install the drawbars to improve that. The car run well, but I'm finding the couplers more finicky than I'm accustomed to in an AZL product. Enjoy...I am. Mark
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Post by markm on Sept 10, 2019 23:05:38 GMT -5
The Consist
Finally a quick note on modeling the consist.
The baggage car runs double door forward.
The dome cars run short end forward. The dome coaches followed by the dome lounge.
At this point, the dining car could be next, followed by the 10-6 sleepers, or two 10-6 sleepers followed by the dining car and another 10-6 sleeper. The diner ran kitchen forward. The sleepers ran vestibule forward.
Foreign cars run just ahead of the observation car. This includes the PRR CZ car. So far I'm aware of SP, C&O, UP and Empire Builder sleepers also running in this spot.
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Post by charlie on Sept 13, 2019 11:38:58 GMT -5
Hi, Before 1952 the CZ ran a 10 car consist. Does one know which car was added to get a 11 car consist? Just wondering as I own the D&RGW F3 552A-552B-552C-552D which are painted. By then (1949-50) it pulled the CZ (see pict)  In 1950 they were renumbered 5521-5522-5523-5524 and repainted silver and yellow. But what I found is a bit confusing (http://calzephyr.railfan.net/cars/cars.html), they mention 1 car more on the list (is it the 10/6 PRR?) where is the mistake? 1949 consist - ( 1)Baggage car-( 3)Dome Chair Coaches-( 1)Dome-Buffet-Lounge-( 2)10/6 Sleepers-( 1)Diner-( 1)16Section Sleeper-( 1)10/6 Sleeper-( 1)Dome Observation-Lounge. = 11cars 1950 consist- ( 1)Baggage car-( 3)Dome Chair Coaches-( 1)Dome-Buffet-Lounge-( 1)Diner ( 2)10/6 Sleepers-( 1)16Section Sleeper-( 1)10/6 Sleeper-( 1)Dome Observation-Lounge. = 11cars 1951/52 consist- ( 1)Baggage car-( 3)Dome Chair Coaches-( 1)Dome-Buffet-Lounge-( 1)Diner ( 1)6/5 Sleeper-( 2)10/6 Sleepers-( 1)16Section Sleeper-( 1)10/6 Sleeper-( 1)Dome Observation-Lounge. = 12carsAm I misreading?! Thanks! Charlie |
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Post by markm on Sept 13, 2019 12:53:32 GMT -5
The CZ "fix consist" meant that after a train left the origin station no cars were added or removed. The actual train length could run from 10-13 cars. You have listed the common configurations for the years. While the train was generally 10-12 cars, they would remove a dome coach and a sleeper in the off season when ridership was low. Generally speaking the PRR car had no effect. On trains it didn't run on, a CZ or foreign road sleeper replaced it. The CZ people realized early on that the demand for the 16 section "tourist" sleeper was going away. In 1952 they introduced the 6-5 sleeper (your 12th car) and the 16 section units were converted to chair cars. So in 1952 you could have the 12 car consist that you describe or the 11 car train as AZL modeled. Perhaps a better spot to look at is: calzephyr.railfan.net/cars/consist.html although several of there "by 1964" note were actually much earlier. The DRGW locomotive situation was a bit complicated. They wanted to run 3 PA units as opposed to 4 F units. Initially in 1949 they ran the train with the 3 PAs in a silver with gold nose paint scheme. They then went to 4 F units n 1949/1950, Repainted the units in the 5-stripe "Bumblebee" scheme. Later repainted them in 3-stripe scheme and into the 1960s returned to the PAs now in the "Bumblebee" scheme. Mark |
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Post by charlie on Sept 13, 2019 14:33:50 GMT -5
Thanks Mark! I understand better now  So I can run either my DRGW black and yellow in the 49-50 configuration with 10 cars or the WP ABB with the 11 Would be nice to see PAs in bumble bee scheme ;p Charlie |
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Post by smr on Sept 15, 2019 2:59:37 GMT -5
The DRGW locomotive situation was a bit complicated. They wanted to run 3 PA units as opposed to 4 F units. Initially in 1949 they ran the train with the 3 PAs in a silver with gold nose paint scheme. They then went to 4 F units n 1949/1950, Repainted the units in the 5-stripe "Bumblebee" scheme. Later repainted them in 3-stripe scheme and into the 1960s returned to the PAs now in the "Bumblebee" scheme. Mark  These are the old AZL PAs. So what are you expecting to come out the tunnel exactly? Thank you, Mark, Have a nice Sunday! Sven |
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Post by cwrr on Sept 16, 2019 14:43:43 GMT -5
Beautiful picture!!  |
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Post by Admin on Sept 17, 2019 1:41:23 GMT -5
I have GOT to get back to building scenes |
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Post by markm on Sept 17, 2019 12:20:08 GMT -5
I have GOT to get back to building scenes Well, since this is Zephyr Time may I make a couple of suggestions. Since it seems that Hans has Colorado well in hand and RobA is into the Feather River Canyon, and Sven has Niles covered, may I suggest the Livermore area. The SP & WP were frequently crossing paths in this area making for some interesting views. East Altamont: There is an interesting bridge east of Altamont.  This bridge crosses both the SP tracks and Altamont Pass Rd., both the original land route into the San Francisco Bay area. Then there is the more impressive Greenville crossing: www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=4521279 This is the route that both steam and diesel UP excursion trains have use as well. Amtrak has also used this route and the Altamont Commuter Express (ACE) uses daily:  Finally, my favorite the Verona/Hearst (depends whether you're SP or WP) crossing:   Enjoy Mark |
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Post by cwrr on Sept 17, 2019 14:51:04 GMT -5
Remember the Model Railroader Z layout they built back in 1986 I believe, and one of the sections looked like this area,(I wanna say they used real "fir" for the rolling grass covered hills!!), so it'd be easy to model this area.
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Post by markm on Sept 17, 2019 20:27:53 GMT -5
Good memory. Yes one of their scenes of California hill country models a cut east of the first bridge I showed. Two decades later there is a better solution for rolling hills than the fir. Woodland Scenics make a plastic-backed mat that can be molded into rolling hills with a heat gun.
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Post by Smolderz on Oct 5, 2019 3:29:09 GMT -5
I couldn't resist and ordered the set with D&RGW F3's.  Did a quick check on the extra truck and coupler and they're in both packages. |
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Post by billmock on Jan 14, 2020 0:01:58 GMT -5
The California Zephyr made a detour from it's normal Feather River Canyon route down to Donner Pass. And we're glad to see her.   Bill Mock |
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Post by billmock on Jan 14, 2020 0:21:48 GMT -5
Interestingly, the California Zephyr's Observation Car has a slightly different body mounted coupler design than that of the Lightweight Observation Cars. The Zephyr's coupler is attached with a screw via a small tab. This tab interfered with the rotation of the rear truck causing the rear wheel brushed this tab. So even running through a 220mm curve, the Observation Car would derail. This was not true for the Lightweight Observation Cars who's body mounted couplers were attached without this screwed tab. Well, a little R.I.P. maintenance was all it took. I filed away the edges of the offending plastic tab and this allows for a few more degrees of rear truck rotation. No more derailing. So if your California Zephyr's Observation Car is derailing, give this quick fix a try. Bill Mock  |
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