California Zephyr announced

[Bananarama]

I wonder why this was. My only though was how they would have to form the steel to create the top of the hood.

The nose was cast steel. The stainless panels were simply riveted on top.

[OpenRailer90]

The coaches are so well done. http://train-simulator.com/silver-splendor/

[AlecWarper]

Oooh nice, they're going to do the D&RGW version as well. Hoping that version comes with a Rio Grande F7, too.

I'm not a modder, but I wonder how fast someone's gonna try to make a CB&Q pack just so we have all the coaches.

[buzz456]

Oooh nice, they're going to do the D&RGW version as well. Hoping that version comes with a Rio Grande F7, too.

I'm not a modder, but I wonder how fast someone's gonna try to make a CB&Q pack just so we have all the coaches.

It all depends on their mapping at DTG.

[Bananarama]

Those are great looking cars. Now all they need is to be consisted correctly with their doors on the head end.

[_o_OOOO_oo-Kanawha]

But what about the motive power? That article doesn't reveal anything about a F3 ABB set or later FP7A stand-by engines, the Zephyr's standard power on WP.

The passenger cars do look nice and appear to have the correct Budd fluting and trucks.

Did the small rib fluting run all the way over the roof? According to this modeling article it did: http://www.atsfrr.net/resources/Kogan/FLUTTING/Flutting%203.pdf

Regarding the rock slide detector fences that are absent on the Railworks route, I've read they were specifically meant to protect the Zephyr. So after the demise of this train, the fences could well have been eliminated.
I think I've read somewhere that Amtrak does't use the FRC because of the still present danger of rock slides. How frequent are these then?

[ElphabaWS]

But what about the motive power?

As mentioned in the article, "Dovetail Games will soon be bringing the complete consist of the California Zephyr, along with the train’s authentic Western Pacific and Rio Grande motive power ..." . Full details on that will be appearing in an upcoming article.

But for the record, the FP7s were far from "back-up power," and in fact, especially during the 1960s and into 1970, were very much the typical lead-unit power for the Zephyr, operating with either F3B or F7Bs.

[Rbsanford]

Oh wow that stuff is hot!

Will there be modeled interiors with passenger views like the AmTrak Superliner, or will it have the same limited views as the GN Empire Builder? Just curious. Even if there were no passenger views at all I wouldn't mind, these are such beautiful cars! I can't wait to see the motive power.

[ErikGorbiHamilton]

I can see some amtrak and Via Repaints being made

[buzz456]

I can see some amtrak and Via Repaints being made

Is this through your crystal ball?

[ErikGorbiHamilton]

I can see some amtrak and Via Repaints being made

Is this through your crystal ball?

Actually no, I was hanging with Asriel warping through the multiverses and i happened to stumble upon a universe where there were Amtrak and Via repaints

[_o_OOOO_oo-Kanawha]

So the motive power has yet to be revealed.

DRGW used different locos from WP at the start of the Zephyr service; the beautiful ALCo PA. It would be very nice to have those in the game.

They were repainted 4 times, as explained in this article: http://streamlinermemories.info/?p=1103 All four schemes equally handsome IMO, but I like these ones the best:


One is allowed to dream ....
In reality, getting these to pull the Zephyr over Soldier Pass is a likely probability:


Now we must wait for the WIP to be revealed.

[BKRR605]

I can see some amtrak and Via Repaints being made

Is this through your crystal ball?

Actually no, I was hanging with Asriel warping through the multiverses and i happened to stumble upon a universe where there were Amtrak and Via repaints

[OpenRailer90]

New article from Gary Dolzall (Elphaba): http://train-simulator.com/zephyr-power/

[AlecWarper]

Looks like they're gonna opt for the late version of the DRGW Zephyr
considering we already the 4 stripe version for earlier runs, I'm completely okay with this.

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