I am still looking for a decent ob for my HO TCZ consist. I am planning on using BURLINGTON lettered BLI equipment for the domes, diner, and baggage (I bought unlettered BLI versions) but still need a stand-in ob. The dome-ob is just too unique so I am looking
for a good stand-in for a Q non-dome ob that might have shown up occasionally on the TCZ. Here is what I have so far:
1. Zephyr 62 1-11 on p. 26 shows an NYC Budd Parlor-Ob that was used on the TCZ in July 1965. Walthers has announced a new Budd ob in NYC (http://www.walthers.com/exec/productinfo/910-30355) that looks close to the photo in the Zephyr. (BTW, I don't think
the question in the Zephyr was ever answered: What was this ob doing on the TCZ for almost a month in 1965?)
2. Zephyr 65 2-12 on p. 7 has a photo of a CB&Q owned NP P-S Round End Obs/Sleeper Buffet used on the NCL that was retired from NCL service in 1967 and repainted into silver and placed into general service on the Q until the end of passenger service. I was
thinking this car might work as a general service car that might have shown up on the TCZ when its normal dome-ob was out for maintenance (or at least I could use that as an excuse to have it on the TCZ). Anyone have any suggestions on this car in HO?
3. I have the CZ dome-ob but a previous discussion indicated these would not have been used as a backup on the TCZ. So does anyone have any other suggestion on a TCZ ob?
4. Finally, does anyone have experience in approaching a vendor, like BLI, on the possibility of a limited run TCZ dome-ob? BLI has the best HO scale full-skirt CB&Q prototype cars out there. I wonder how many cars it would take to make it worth BLI's time
and effort to do the TCZ dome-ob? Even if they charged a premium for it, it would be worth it to have a matching car for the other BLI cars. I know I would pay a premium for the BLI TCZ car, but I have no idea how to really approach a manufacturer on a custom
car run.
Tom Mack
Cincinnati, OH