Three railroads participated in the CZ’s daily service between Chicago and Oakland: the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy; Denver & Rio Grande Western; and Western Pacific. The trains went into service on March 12, 1949, operating on a schedule timed so passengers in the domes passed through Colorado’s scenic Rocky Mountains and California’s Feather River Canyon during daylight.
This model is part of a series of California Zephyr cars from Atlas O. It represents a Vista-Dome chair car (CB&Q’s elegant name for its dome coaches). Each consist had three of these cars that seated 24 passengers in the dome and 46 on the main level. The rest rooms were beneath the dome.
Impressive certainly describes this ready-to-run model which measures just over 21″ long (85 scale feet). A single instruction sheet shows how to install the batteries. However, exploded isometric drawings are on the Atlas website.
The car is made almost entirely from superbly-detailed plastic parts. Appropriate Budd fluting covers the one-piece body casting. Other cast details include the access panels, letterboards, vertical door panels, weld seams, window gaskets, and rivets on the dome and ends.
The dome is a single casting that locks neatly into an opening in the roof. It has tinted window glazing that matches the prototype dome contours. The dome seats correctly face the car’s blind end.
The lower-level windows also have a realistic light greenish-gray tint. This glazing is inset into the window openings so it’s flush with the exterior wall.
The underbody is fully detailed with numerous boxes, brake fittings, tanks, and plumbing lines. Atlas scale couplers are mounted on the floor, and the coupler height is correct.
The model rides on General Steel Foundries type 41-NDO four-wheel trucks with die-cast metal sideframes rigidly mounted on plastic bolsters. The coil springs are cosmetic. The RP-25 metal wheels are insulated from the steel axles. A set of brass wipers collects current from all eight wheels. The wheelsets match the National Model Railroad Association’s O scale Standards Gauge.
Our sample came smoothly painted with a bright silver finish and clear printed black lettering.
Overall, Atlas deserves high marks for this well-executed model of a classic California Zephyr Vista-Dome chair car.
Manufacturer
Atlas Model Railroad Co.
378 Florence Ave.
Hillside, NJ 07205
www.atlaso.com
Road names: Amtrak (phase I scheme): Silver Lodge, Silver Stirrup Chicago, Burlington & Quincy: Silver Lodge, Silver Saddle Western Pacific: Silver Schooner, Silver Scout. Unlettered Era: 1948 to early 1990s (Amtrak)
Features
- Accurate cross section
- Full scale length (21¼” overall)
- Free-rolling die-cast trucks with RP-25 wheelsets (in gauge; 2-rail)
- Interior details and LED lighting
- Minimum radius 40½” (2-rail)
- Selectable interior lighting–choice of track or battery power
- Sprung diaphragms
- Weight: 43 ounces (17 ounces over NMRA Recommended Practice 20.1)
