Although model railroading has provided amazing new models, I am sort of in a retro mindset and kind of want the trains I admired as a kid. Yeah I know it sort of goes against the grain of wanting the latest greatest DCC sound super detailed gems, but I'm quirky like that. With my outdoor layout I just run what I want to run. Along with my european stuff I'm craving a streamlined American passenger train. ok, so here is my question: If you were a kid in the 1970's and wanted a cool model of a passenger train what would it have been? What railroad? What diesels? What brands of cars and locos? I'm thinking it would have had to be a Athearn diesel pulling a string of Rivarossi cars. But there were also toy trains then too. So what was your dream passenger train?
When I was a kid in the 80s, this would have been an Athearn F7 ABBA set in Warbonnet with some sort of Santa Fe Passenger cars.
I have to agree with YoHo because I'm partial to the Warbonnet. On the other hand my stepdad was doing n scale and all I wanted was a steamer, any steamer with the Bachmann UP old time passenger cars. I think thats why I have 8 Steamers now. I also have a Bachmann F7 Chessie because the one I had in N scale was the first loco I ever owned. Doesn't really fit with my SP, SP&S, Amtrak setup I have going, but I'm keeping it because it reminds me of our few years in upstate New York.
I was a kid in the 70s and back then what I wanted was an Amtrak Metroliner. Still have it to this day (even with the original power pack) and am in the process of fixing it up. If this was more hypothetical, it'd be a Mikado in Southern green numbered 4501 with a string of matching heavyweights (Santa, you listening?).
I think almost any kid from the 60s to now would hanker after a Warbonnet set - make, etc immaterial Timeless - it'll be back again ....
Oh my god, the metroliner! I completely forgot about that. Remember the ads for the turbo train in Mr mag? Ok, I admit that I am hankering for a super Chief. I sort of figured a Athearn train would fit the bill without spending too much cash.
Yup - Super Chief, with an Alco PA-PB set up front... My dad would have drooled over that even more than me at the time (mid 70s...). He was a BIG Santa Fe fan.
