Con-Cor - 0001-04012B - Passenger Car, Smoothside, 85 Foot Sleeper - Via Rail Canada - Riverview

Specific Item Information:
With Rigid Face Couplers,$23.98 ea 0001-4012B
With Micro-Trains® Couplers,$28.98 ea. 0001-040095

Model Information: This model has been around for a while. The originals were produced by Kato Japan operating as Sekisui Kinzoku. Later versions were made in China. The models are based on prototypes from the late 1950's and reasonably accurate though somewhat "generic". As of 2016, these have been produced in 40 road names across 7 different varieties for a total of 280 cars. Each road name has a Baggage-Mail, Baggage, Coach, Sleeper, Dome, Diner and Observation variety

The models are currently available in both Micro-Trains Magnetmatic? couplers as well as Con-Cor's "Rigid Face" couplers. They are fully assembled "RTR" models with detailed interiors, and add-on lighting kits are separately available.

Prototype History: As lightweight articulated streamliners were proving their reliability and economy on the Union Pacific and Burlington route, Santa Fe made its' first investment in modern equipment with an order to Budd for a stainless steel coach numbered 3070 delivered in January of 1936. The car would be built with the patented Shotweld process that produced a full size car with a great savings in weight over the standard riveted cars (83,000 vs. 160,000 lbs.) The shiny fluted sides gave a pleasant appearance to the car and were easy to maintain. Santa Fe's second lightweight car, 3071, built at St. Louis Car Co. from welded Corten steel came in at 98,00 lbs., a great weight savings but not enough to sway Santa Fe from placing orders for 103 cars with Budd for eight new streamline train sets: a new Super Chief, San Diegan, Tulsan and twin sets for El Capitan, Golden Gate and Chicagoan-KansasCitian. A second Super Chief was also added. 47 more cars were ordered for delivery 1940-1942

119 6 Sec-6 Rmt-4 DB cars were built under Lot #6669 to Plan 4099 and delivered in June of 1942. Except for exterior paint and air conditioning systems the cars were identical and assigned to the Missouri Pacific (4), Erie (4), Illinois Central (12), Overland Route (60), Golden State (13) Santa Fe (26). These were the first smooth side streamline sleepers on the Santa Fe. These cars were to be used to provide new sleeping cars for secondary trains Grand Canyon and Ranger. Painted in the new Pullman two-tone gray scheme these cars were pressed into service during the war on the previously all-stainless steel sided Chief.

Road Name History: Via Rail Canada (reporting mark VIA) (generally shortened to Via Rail or Via; styled corporately as VIA Rail Canada) is an independent crown corporation, subsidized by the Minister of Transport, mandated to offer intercity passenger rail services in Canada.

On January 12, 1977, CN spun off its passenger services as a separate Crown corporation, VIA Rail Canada. At its inception, Via acquired all CN passenger cars and locomotives. Following several months of negotiation, on October 29, 1978, Via took over operation of CP passenger train services, and took possession of cars and locomotives. Passenger train services which were not included in the creation of Via Rail included those offered by BC Rail, Algoma Central Railway, Ontario Northland Railway, Quebec North Shore and Labrador Railway, various urban commuter train services operated by CN and CP, and remaining CN passenger services in Newfoundland.

Brand/Importer Information: Con-Cor has been in business since 1962. Many things have changed over time as originally they were a complete manufacturing operation in the USA and at one time had upwards of 45 employees. They not only designed the models,but they also built their own molds, did injection molding, painting, printing and packaging on their models.

Currently, most of their manufacturing has been moved overseas and now they import 90% of their products as totally finished goods, or in finished components. They only do some incidental manufacturing today within the USA.

Important Note: The Con-Cor product numbering can be very confusing. Please see here in the article how to properly enter Con-Cor stock numbers in the TroveStar database.