The Con-Cor M-10000 has provisions for adding a Digital Command Control (DCC) decoder. A sound decoder and speaker kit made by Model Rectifier Corp. is available for this model.
The set includes the original three-car consist: the power unit/railway post office/baggage, coach, and coach-buffet. Two add-on Pullman sleepers are also available in matching paint schemes: the Overland Trail, which ran with the M-10000 briefly before being assigned to the M-10001, and the Oregon Trail, which ran only with the M-10001.
America’s first streamliner. In February 1934, Pullman-Standard delivered a three-unit articulated train to the Union Pacific, which designated it the M-10000. Beating the delivery date of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy’s Pioneer Zephyr by three months, the M-10000 was the first internal- combustion streamliner to run on American rails. Made largely of aluminum alloys, the lightweight train could reach 90 mph powered by a 600-hp Winton distillate engine. After a publicity tour that included being exhibited at the Chicago World’s Fair, the M-10000 entered revenue service in 1935.
Based on the success of the M-10000, the UP ordered two near duplicates, M-10001 and M-10002, which ran as the City of Portland and the City of Los Angeles from 1935 to 1939. Unlike the M-10000 and its gasoline-distillate engine, these later streamliners had more powerful diesel engines. In 1936 the M-10000 received a new paint job and was named the City of Salina.
Although short-lived, these first streamliners influenced passenger car designs for decades. The M-10000 was retired and sold for scrap to help the war effort in 1941.
The body shells of the locomotive and cars are plastic. The models have sharply molded rivet seams and other details that match prototype photos. The handrails on the locomotive are separately applied and painted yellow. The front of the locomotive has a see-through grill with a plated horn behind it.
Paint coverage is smooth with crisp separation lines between colors. All striping and lettering are straight and correctly positioned per prototype photos.
The Con-Cor model is painted in the M-10000’s original Armour Yellow and Leaf Brown livery. However, the lettering on the model is red, while the prototype originally had gold-leaf lettering.
The locomotive has a die-cast metal chassis that provides most of its weight. The dual flywheel-equipped motor sits on top the chassis. Plastic universals and drive shafts link the motor to the front and rear truck gearboxes.
A printed-circuit (PC) board is attached to the plastic cover that conceals the motor. An eight-pin socket for a Digital Command Control (DCC) decoder is on the bottom of the PC board. The locomotive comes with a jumper plug in the socket for DC operation.
All the cars also have PC boards and are electrically linked to the locomotive by seven-pin plugs and sockets. Magnets in the diaphragms help hold the train together for realistic close coupling.
The locomotive and cars have light-emitting diodes on the PC boards for overhead lighting. The cars have one-piece tan plastic floors with seats molded in.
Inside the cars, bundles of wires are visible at each end. The wires detract from the model’s otherwise excellent appearance.
Along with a light-emitting diode headlight, the Con-Cor
M-10000 has a warning light on the cab roof. On the prototype this shot a beacon of light straight up in the air and could be seen from great distances.
The headlight and warning light shine only when the locomotive moves forward. The Con-Cor M-10000 also has green classification lamps and the coach-buffet has red marker lamps.
The streamliner looks great rounding an 18″ radius curve. The magnets in the diaphragms held the cars together tightly for a realistic articulated appearance. Because of their long length and close coupling, the cars can’t negotiate tighter-radius curves.
The prototype M-10000 didn’t have a very long career, but it’s become an icon of the streamliner era. This new HO scale model from Con-Cor is a worthy representation of this unique passenger train.
Price: $429.98 (set), Overland Trail and Oregon Trail sleeping cars $139.98 each
Manufacturer
Con-Cor International
8101 E. Research Court
Tucson, AZ 85710-6758
http://all-railroads.com/
Description: Powered plastic and metal passenger train
Road names: Union Pacific, undecorated (painted silver)
All-wheel drive on locomotive Diaphragms between cars
Eight-pin socket for a Digital Command Control decoder
Electrical pickup on all cars
Five-pole skew-wound motor with dual flywheels
Interior details and lighting
Minimum radius: 18″
Painted crew figures
RP-25 metal wheels in gauge
Weight: 9.5 ounces (locomotive), 4 ounces (per car)
