Empire Builder Passenger Cars

Providing direct Chicago to Seattle service and fantastic mountain views, the Empire Builder offered travelers a unique way to travel east or west! Based on the great streamliner as it appeared from 1955 to 1971, the WalthersProto train features 10 railroad-ready cars upgraded with:

• Factory Installed Grab Irons
• Prototypically Accurate Window Tinting as Appropriate
• Empire Builder and Big Sky Blue Schemes
• Correct Turned Metal 36" Wheels
• Proto MAX Metal Knuckle Couplers
• Available with Factory Installed LED Interior Lighting
• Matching EMD F7s in Two Paint Schemes

• Fully Assembled, Ready to Operate
• Detailed Interiors
• Car Name & Number Decals
• Working Diaphragms
• Correct Trucks

EMD F7s
 

From 1955 on, A-B-B-A sets of F7s were standard power for the Empire Builder to handle the longer, heavier consists and the 44-hour schedules. Starting in 1962, a "Simplified Scheme" was unveiled to reduce repainting time and costs, that was used through 1967. Perfect for powering your GN streamliners, and available with Tsunami® sound for operation on DCC or DC layouts, these limited-run WathersProto locos feature:

• Typically Run in A-B-B-A Sets
• Choose from Empire Builder & Simplified 1962-67 Schemes
• Perfect with Empire Builder or Big Sky Blue Passenger Equipment
• Limited Edition - One Time Run of these Roadnumbers
• Available with Soundtraxx® Tsunami® Sound for DCC & DC Layouts
• Authentic Bulldog Nose
• 14:1 Ratio Gears for Smooth, Quiet Performance
• 5-Pole Skew-Wound High-Torque High-Efficiency Can Motor
• LED Constant & Directional Headlights
• Equipped with GN-Specific Details:
       * GN-Specific Snowplow Pilot
       * Carbody Filter Vent
       * GN-Specific Style Cut Skirts
       * Square-Cornered Winterization Hatch
       * Roof-Mounted Cooling Coil
       * Scheme-Specific Horn Placement

Empire Builder Consists

GN's flagship streamliner was actually operated by the CB&Q (Chicago-St. Paul), the GN (St. Paul-Portland) and the SP&S (Portland-Seattle), with highest ridership in the summer vacation months. All cars were finished in Empire Builder Omaha Orange and Pullman Green until the debut of Big Sky Blue in 1967. Motive power included CB&Q E8s, GN A-B-B-A sets of F7s, and SP&S E7s or F series locos.

A Bright Addition to Your Passenger Trains from WalthersProto

Moths flicker quietly in the yellow glow of lights from the station windows. The dark rails begin to gleam, swept by the beams of the Mars light and headlights on the approaching engine. Pools of light ripple over the brick platforms as the cars ease to a stop, providing a brief glimpse of the warmth and comfort to be found inside.

Traveling by train at night is a magical experience, and now, you can bring that same romance to your HO layout quickly and easily with WalthersProto®.

For instant fun and realism, we're now offering cars with factory installed interior lighting ready to enjoy right out of the box! Each features bright light emitting diodes (LEDs) that produce a warm, uniform light throughout the car. The cars are equally at home whether your railroad runs on DC or DCC, and feature constant lighting, so whenever there's power to the tracks the lights come on and stay on. Unlike bulbs, there's no heat that can damage plastic parts, and LEDs last for thousands of hours in normal operation.

These same lighting circuits will also be available as ready-to-install upgrades you can add to Walthers passenger cars at any time! Each drop-in unit comes fully assembled, with constant lighting circuitry and LEDs in place. Powered by the built-in electrical contacts on the cars, just remove the roof, install the kit, put the roof back on and enjoy! Three different kits are available to fit a wide range of equipment including:

Standard Car Lighting Kit
920-1060
Made to fit most full-length cars, including the P-S and ACF coaches, diners, sleepers and observations found in this Empire Builder train.

Vista Dome Lighting Kit
920-1061
This set is made especially for the lower level of Budd Vista Domes.

Great Dome Car Lighting Kit
920-1062
Some of the best seats were found in the full domes from Pullman-Standard and Budd, including Milwaukee's "Super Domes," Santa Fe's "Big Domes" and Great Northern's "Great Dome" cars. This kit makes it easy to light the lower level of these cars that housed a variety of lounges and other on-board services.

Reservations Due By: Septemter 29, 2013

See Individual Listings For Release Dates