ACF Ranch Coffee Shop Lounge #1240-1245 ("...Lake" Series)
Walthers Part # 932-9034, p. 128 Walthers 2008 HO Scale Reference
HO scale, $44.98, currently in stock at Walthers

 

Unveiled in June 1929, the "Empire Builder" quickly established itself as the flagship passenger train of the Great Northern. Named for GN founder James J. Hill, it ran from Chicago (via the Burlington to St. Paul) to Seattle, with a separate section to Portland. Post-war plans for the new streamlined version were unveiled in early 1945 with the arrival of EMD E7A-A diesels attired in brilliant Omaha Orange and Pullman Green (later known as the Empire Builder scheme); deliveries of matching cars continued through 1947. Not content with this upgrade, GN completely refitted the train once more in 1951 and assigned A-B-A sets of F units as standard power. The Empire Builder reached its pinnacle of luxury in 1955 with the arrival of brand-new Vista-Dome and full or Great Dome cars offering incredible views of western scenery. This longer and heavier train was pulled by A-B-B-A sets of F units. Based on the 1955 train, Walthers offers a complete series of authentic models to re-create this legendary streamliner:   932-9032 ACF Baggage-Mail #37-42   932-9035 ACF Baggage-Dormitory #1200-1205   932-9031 ACF 60-Seat Coach #1209-1214   932-9039 Budd 48-Seat Vista Dome Coach #1320-1335   932-9034 ACF Ranch Coffee Shop Lounge #1240-1245 ("...Lake" Series)   932-9037 ACF 36-Seat "Lake" Series Diner   932-9040 Budd Great Dome "...View" Series Lounge #1390-95   932-9033 P-S "River" Series 7-4-3-1 Sleeper   932-9036 P-S "Pass" Series 6-5-2 Sleeper   932-9038 "Coulee" Series 6-4-1 Observation   PLEASE NOTE: As these cars are the correct prototype length and feature full underbody detail to match the prototypes, a minimum 24" radius is recommended for operation.   PROTO 2000 GN EMD F7 DIESELS:   920-40587 A-B Set w/Sound & DCC   920-40589 A-B Set Standard DC   920-40588 A Only w/Sound & DCC   920-40590 A Only Standard DC   For more details about Walthers Empire Builder series, click here.     * Third in 10-Car Series * Completely New Car * Superbly Detailed Inside & Out * Authentic Paint & Lettering * Car Name & Number Decals * Correct Truck Sideframes * Metal RP-25 Wheels * Factory-installed Electrical Pickups * Easy DC or DCC Interior Lighting Installation * Working Diaphragms * Knuckle Couplers   Rustic western decor with weathered oak trim, saddle leather accents and a unique G Bar N logo, styled after a cattle branding iron, helped make Ranch cars memorable to all who rode them while traveling on the Empire Builder. Ordered from American Car & Foundry in 1951, these 85'-long cars featured a lunch counter for 14, dinette booths for 12 and lounge seating for 18. The Ranch cars, named in the Lake series, were very popular with passengers; so much so that when GN used the cars on other trains during the 1955-56 winter season passengers barraged the railway with letters of dissatisfaction. The cars returned after the winter season and remained in service into 1967. That year, the GN made sweeping changes in its public image and introduced its striking, modern Big Sky Blue and white scheme, which the cars wore until the Burlington Northern merger in 1970. The cars served briefly in the new Cascade Green and white Hockey Stick scheme until passenger operations were turned over to Amtrak in 1971.

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