I recently purchased an Intermountain RR Great Northern “Great Dome” car to add to and complete my Kato Empire Builder Consist. The car is a great hit as far as I am concerned. The colors blend in nicely with the Kato Cars and the detail looks nice. As far as I am concerned my Empire Builder is complete and I could care less now if Kato every decides now to do it. My only negative comment would be is that initially the car derailed a lot. I traced this to the trucks binding on the wheel well sides. This was easily fixed by adding two of the Micro Trains washers that come with their wheel sets, one to each truck. This eliminated the binding so now it runs as nice as it looks. Hats off to Intermountain for bringing this long-awaited car to n-Scale. now if the would just do regular dome cars I may yet see a NCL passenger. Set.
Really wish they had done one to match the Kato BN passenger set. "BURLINGTON" just ain't good enough.
Thanks for the review. So, this means I'm going to need some form of nylon washer? if I order one? I have a couple of 'excursion' trains planned including one luxury through the mountains type.
Hey Grey, if you have every gotten a MT 10-pack of couplers, they come with thin washers. I believe that's what kverdon was referring to.
IIRC, some of the predecessor roads started to repaint some of their equipment into Cascade green prior to the merger. That GN version might be more prototypical than one that says BN.
I run a combo of 19 inch and 15 inch on the mainlines. It would catch when transitioning from curve to straight I believe. Yes, the washer I used was the one from the MT 10 coupler pack. Maybe mine was riding a tad low. Like I said, the washer fixed it right away.
I bought the great dome for my Empire Builder consist. Too bad they didn't offer more than one road number since the EB had as many as three in the consist. I guess renumbering is in the cards.
Do you have a photo link? I have a meaningful library of GN passenger train books, and I've never seen mention of more than one Great Dome Lounge in an Empire Builder consist. Note: the GN called all of their dome cars "Great Dome" cars. The full length first class dome cars were distinguished by the reference "Great Dome Lounge."
Dodged that bullet. My suppler says the road names I was open to are out of stock at IM. Oh, look! I found my box with my good older Con Cor, (I think), Empire Builder. Complete with powered A unit and dummy BBA units. Ok, Ok, I want it but I'll wait till next time. It just would have looked soooo cooool behind the FEF-3 with a removable placard covering the UP name and bearing: 'Grandure Excursions'. Still for now I'll settle for putting my wife's and grandson's name on the side of the cars I do have. Maybe when I get the trackwork down and have a bit of scenery they will get a 2nd run.
I stand corrected. I should have noticed the difference between Great Dome and Great Dome Lounge. Thanks, John
I stand corrected. I should have noticed the difference between Great Dome and Great Dome Lounge! Thanks.
I believe you're right. The Ocean View looks to have never been relettered for BN before ownership was transferred to Amtrak. https://web.archive.org/web/20130916024550/http://www.american-rails.com/dome-cars.html
OOPS !!! Guess only MY BN needs a few of those cars. You see, in the '70s, passenger service was still quite popular and profitable. AMTRAK never existed and each RR was still proud of their "name" trains. So glad I don't live in YOUR World !!! All the same, thank you for the "correct" info. I was not aware, and I learned something. I could be wrong, but wasn't a Great Dome converted to a business car and actually painted for BN ???
Yes one was and I modeled it way back when. I had to order a kit for the sides. http://s3.amazonaws.com/rrpa_photos/77221/bna24-1.jpg
At this point the information I found isn't going to help but I'll throw it out here. This is the Intermountain, Super Dome Car. Quote: Each car comes fully assembled with interior detail and lighting, wire grab irons, operating truck mounted knuckle couplers and InterMountain metal wheelsets. Unquote. My only thought is if you continue to have trouble you might want to look to Micro-Trains for replacement trucks. Although, I don't know if they have the 3 axle trucks in that style. A little research and yes they have a three axle light weight/streamline passenger trucks. You are good should you need them. The best.