Just wondering if these steam beauties ever existed and if so are there details available including images ...... Also, were models ever made of them? I understand the artists have used licence to make them look the way they do, but still and all, they are absolutely beautiful to me.
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Many thanks
Steve
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Michael Kreiser
The first two show New York Centrals J3A Hudsons (4-6-4 Streamlined), the third looks a bit like Milwaukees Hiawata locomotive...
Micha
"mindesign" schrieb im Newsbeitrag news:BJZAd.2419$ snipped-for-privacy@nasal.pacific.net.au...
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Geezer
The center loco in the 1st poster, and in the 2nd is one of the 10 New York Central class J-3a Hudsons (#5445-5454) streamlined by Henry Dreyfuss in
1938 for the "20th Century Limited". Several models of these locos have been made including HO brass, HO plastic, 2-rail O brass, and 3-rail O brass and die cast (I believe). The least expensive would be the older Rivarossi HO plastic models which can be found for the mid 2 figures.
The right loco in the 1st poster and the one in the 4th are one of the 2 NYC J-3a Hudsons (#5426 and 5429) done in the aluminum top / black bottom scheme in 1941 for the "Empire State Express". This was done in HO brass. It would not be hard to carve off the vertical crest on the nose of a 20th Century plastic Hudson and do the proper paint job to make a reasonable representation of one of these locos.
The 3rd poster depicts the Reading "Crusader" streamlined Pacifics (#117 and
118) from 1938 (the diamond herald is the give-away). These have been done in HO brass, and many years ago as an inexpensive kit by Bowser (?) which is now very sought-after by collectors. Gary Q
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Mark Newton
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Links 1, 2 & & 4 show accurate renditions of New York Central J-3 Hudsons, in both Dreyfus-designed 20th Century Limited streamlining and the later modified style to match the Empire State Express cars.
Rivarossi have modelled the Dreyfus engines in HO, and the modified versions as well - I'm unsure of this.
Link 3 shows a somewhat stylised version of a Reading Railroad 4-6-2 streamlined for the "Crusader" service. It is not a Milwaukee Road Hiawatha.
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I recall a brass model of this engine in HO from some years back.
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Mark Newton
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Links 1, 2 & & 4 show accurate renditions of New York Central J-3 Hudsons, in both Dreyfus-designed 20th Century Limited streamlining and the later modified style to match the Empire State Express cars.
Rivarossi have modelled the Dreyfus engines in HO, and the modified versions as well - I'm unsure of this.
Link 3 shows a somewhat stylised version of a Reading Railroad 4-6-2 streamlined for the "Crusader" service. It is not a Milwaukee Road Hiawatha.
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I recall a brass model of this engine in HO from some years back.
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Michael Kreiser
I know that it is not a hiawata, i just said it looks a bit like one...
Micha
"Mark Newt>
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Geezer
To add to my previous post, while the 3rd art poster is most similar to the Reading Crusader Pacifics (Black Diamond herald, 4-6-2 wheel arrangement, broad raised band down the center of the shovel nose, right angle striping, etc.) the image is also close to the two Burlington class S-4A "Aeolus" streamlined Hudsons (#4000 and 4001) - shovel nose, stainless steel with fluting only half way up the side skirts, etc. And with the "Midnight Zephyr" title, a Burlington train may well have been the artist's intent. To address the original poster's real question, yes, the Aeolus locos were also done as HO brass models. Gary Q
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T
Trainman
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Link 3 is actually a stylized rendition of the CB&Q's only steam streamliner. I believe she was named "The Aolean", and was styled to match the shovel nosed diesel zephyrs of the mid 1930's. She is very similar in general lines to the Reading Crusader and the Milwaukee F-7's however, but had stainless steel sheathing.
I believe a brass model was offered at one time in HO, I want to say by either Nickle Plate Products or Custom Brass.
There was a crusader by Penn Line on eBay some time ago, went pretty high. Roger Aultman
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Geezer
Look carefully at pictures of both locos. It is definately not one of the CB&Q Aeolus locos, and definately is one of the Reading Crusaders. Look at
mid and not high headlight position
diamond and not rectangular herald
curve of pilot includes bases of running board steps, rather than being a smaller radius between the inner sides of the steps
decorative vertical band on nose apperars to be raised rather than flush
pattern of stripes on the nose
4-6-2 and not 4-6-4 wheel arrangement Now true it is just an artistic impression of a train, but the model the artist used is clearly a picture of the Reading loco. Gary Q
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Mark Newton
CB&Q had two of these engines, #4000 & #4001
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Compare this image to the painting, and I think you will agree that it is much more like the Reading Crusader - which also had stainless steel sheathing to much the Budd cars of the train.
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mindesign
Thankyou all for your kindness in contributing AND your excallent information
I feel satisfied that I have more than enough information to go on as I try to locate these locos. They are (for me anyway) stunners - on a par with Australia's own "Spirit of Progress' which I feel is a real Art Deco beauty. This loco has become available here (Australia) in Brass or perhaps diecast kitform, I believe.
Not cheap, but then it wouldve taken a LOT of work to get this baby right .... and apparently the people doing it has a very good reputation. Below is an extremely unflattering pic
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Cheers
Steve
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