David Staplin's "Port Byron" in HO

This fine model is the "Port Byron," one of fourteen 12 double bedroom Pullmans, delivered in early 1949 for the Twentieth Century Limited, Commodore Vanderbilt and Detroiter. These cars were built to Pullman plan 4125 in Lot 6790 (NYC Lot 2193). According to a roster by Randall, "Port Byron" was sold to Ringling Bros. Circus in 1968. This is a late 1970s Soho brass car in HO with various detail parts added.

Alco's "Niagaras" of New Power

From Richard Leonard's New York Central Collection:

Many authorities consider the New York Central's class S1 4-8-4's, erected by American Locomotive Company in 1945-46, to be the apex of steam locomotive design in North America. Intended for long-distance, heavy-duty passenger service over the Water Level Route, they rivaled the emerging diesel in horsepower, efficiency and availability. When in service on long-distance trains such as the Commodore Vanderbilt and even the Twentieth Century Limited, they were known to make the entire run from Harmon, New York to Chicago with only a few servicing stops, whereas older power had to be changed en route.

The 6000 number series for the Niagaras was intended to reflect their nominal horsepower. No. 6000 was delivered in 1945 and was designated as class S1a. Another 25 Niagaras, Nos. 6001-6025, arrived in 1946 and were assigned to class S1b. No. 5500, which was equipped with oscillating cam Poppet valves, was also delivered in 1946 and was designated class S2a. The Niagaras had roller bearings on all axles and also on the side rods. The S1s had a boiler pressure of 275 pounds per square inch and 25.5x32-inch cylinders, and developed a tractive effort of 61,570 pounds. Their trailing truck supported a firebox with 101 square feet of grate area. This, combined with an evaporative heating surface of 4,819 square feet, produced a maximum drawbar horsepower of 5070 at 62.5 miles per hour, the equivalent at that time of four diesel units. The total weight of locomotive and tender was 891,000 pounds.

Please visit Richard Leonard's fantastic site for more information on NYC steam.

2008 releases of New York Central scale models

HO Locomotives:

Con-Cor Aerotrain
Plastic
Projected Release: Second run due August 2008

Broadway Limited (BLI) 4-6-4 20th Century Limited "Dreyfus" Hudson
Projected release: TBD

Broadway Limited (BLI) 4-8-2 L-4a/L-4b Mohawk
Composite metal and plastic
Projected release: Nov 2008

Division Point 4-8-2 L-1a/L-1b Mohawk
Brass
Projected release: Late 2008

Key Imports NYC Mohawks
Brass
Projected Release Date: ???

Key Imports NYC J-3 Hudsons
Brass
Projected Release Date: ???

True Line Trains Fairbanks-Morse CPA-24-4 (NYC DPA-6A)
Plastic
Projected release: Already released

MTH Electric Trains NYC L-3a Mohawk
Die cast
Projected release date: August 2008

MTH Electric Trains NYC L-3b Mohawk
Die cast
Projected release date: August 2008

MTH Electric Trains NYC L-3c Mohawk
Die cast
Projected release date: August 2008

MTH Electric Trains NYC L-4a Mohawk
Die cast
Projected release date: August 2008

MTH Electric Trains NYC L-3b Mohawk
Die Cast
Projected release date: August 2008

Walthers F-M H-10-44 Switchers
P&LE 9100 and P&LE 9101
Plastic
Projected Release Date: August 2008

HO Freight Cars:

Accurail 41' AAR steel gondola (NYC)
Plastic
Projected release: Unknown

Kadee 40' AAR Boxcar
NYC Century Green, plastic
Release Date: June 2008

Proto 1000 USRA 50-ton Drop-Bottom Composite gondola (NYC)
Plastic (#349992) and (#349759/#349816)
Projected release: Already released

ProtoWest Models 70-ton 53 foot AAR Flat Car (NYC)
Resin kits, Kit number PWHO-1d, comes two cars to the box
Projected release: Already on second run

Walthers Flexi-van flatcars with vans
Plastic (932-3925), (932-3921)
Projected release: Already released

HO Passenger Cars:

Nickel Plate Car Budd-built “Valley” series 10-6 Pullman
Etched brass sides and Budd core kit.
Hobbyist must by additional detail parts for underbody.
Projected release: Already released

Nickel Plate Car Heavyweight betterment Pullmans
Etched brass sides with Branchline core. Kits contain all underbody parts
Pullman Plans: 4158 “Elm”, 4172 “Oak”, 3980 “Night”, 4090D&F “Tower”, 4022A&B “Emerald”, 3411 “Villa” or “Clan”
Projected release: Already released
Pullman Plans: 4015C “Dover”, 3997A “House” or “Mansion”
Projected release: Unknown

O Scale Locomotives:

Dreyfuss J-3a Hudson (NYC)
Brass decorated in either 1938 or 1940 striping scheme
Division of Sunset Models
Projected release: Unknown

Empire State Express J-3a Hudson (NYC)
Division of Sunset Models
Projected release: Already released


O Scale Passenger Rolling Stock:

20th Century Limited Train
(three different sets totaling 12 cars) 1938 or 1940 striping scheme
Division of Sunset Models
Projected release: Unknown

Empire State Express Train (two different sets totaling 6 cars)
Division of Sunset Models
Projected release: Unknown

Mercury Train add-on set (3 cars)
Division of Sunset Models
Projected release: Already released

Key Imports Commodore Vanderbilt 4-6-4
Brass
Projected Release: ???

Gerald Brimacombe's "Centuries" in O scale

Gerald Brimacombe shares with us his O scale models of the 1938 Twentieth Century Limited. This photograph recreates the well-known "Centuries Pass in the Night" pose with his detailed scale models.

P&LE Greenville gondola in HO by Jerry Glow

Jerry Glow is a Missouri Pacific modeler, but a fan of freight cars of all roads. Jerry presents his model of a Pittsburgh & Lake Erie gondola with pipe load. This very simple project required substituting ladders from his scrap box for the grabirons on an otherwise stock Proto 2000 kit and a little touch up to the paint. He has yet to weather the trucks, add couplers and tie-downs for the load. Not all freight car projects have to be complicated!