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The General

Scale

WalthersProto®

Pennsylvania Railroad 1960s The General

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Rising through the ranks, in the 1960s The General quickly became one of the most popular members of Pennsylvania Railroad’s Blue Ribbon Fleet! Racing between Chicago and New York (with connections to Washington DC), this hard-working streamliner offered a lower-priced option to the flagship Broadway Limited and archrival New York Central’s 20th Century Limited. With its mix of head-end traffic, comfortable coaches and deluxe sleepers, this hard-working streamliner replica is the perfect addition to your operations or collection.

Locomotives

Given the sheer size and scope of its passenger service, the Pennsylvania operated one of the most diverse fleets of diesels in America. Building on its early success with EMD, Pennsy placed its first order for then-new EMD E8 (Class EP-22) in the spring of 1950. In time, these 74 A units (no B units were purchased) would become the biggest class of passenger power on the railroad, leading every important train in the Blue Ribbon Fleet through their long careers.

Passenger Cars

As the running mate of the Broadway Limited, The General offered similar levels of impeccable service on its overnight dash between New York and Chicago. Both trains shared luxury sleepers and the innovative full diner/kitchen-dormitory pairs. Unlike its famed counterpart, The General of the 1960s also handled lower-priced long-distance coaches, checked baggage, and a heavier volume of mail and express. Additional sleepers were added after late 1967 when the two trains were officially combined.

Deluxe Edition Trains

With its unique mix of equipment, The General is sure to be the star of any operating session or collection! Two railroad-ready 13-car consists will be available, along with the layout-sized Washington Section that connected riders between Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, and Washington, DC, with three cars. Each replica features unique names and/or numbers, Preiser figures (130 in the 13-car sets, 30 in the Washington Section), and factory-installed LED interior lighting as appropriate.

PRR Merchandise Service Cars

Although the Pennsy handled a formidable volume of less-carload-lot (LCL) traffic, increasing competition from nearby railroads and trucking companies led to the formation of a dedicated Merchandise Service after WWII. To handle higher speeds and increase carrying capacity, the railroad embarked on a major rebuilding program converting older X29s into rebuilt X29b boxcars. These moved on dedicated freight trains with expedited schedules, covering the 900 miles between New York and Chicago in as little as 32 hours.

PRR Merchandise Service Locomotives

Used primarily in freight service with matching EH-15 (F7B) boosters to keep tonnage moving, Pennsylvania's EFP-15 (FP7) diesels were geared for 77mph to pinch-hit in secondary passenger or mail service when the need arose. As a result, a handful wore the traditional passenger five-stripe Tuscan scheme, but most were dressed in the freight fleet's Dark Green Locomotive Enamel (Brunswick Green). Perfect power for your Merchandise Service and other freights, our superb replicas are railroad ready and offered in both schemes.

Add-On Pennsylvania Cars

Cornerstone Structure Kits

Expand operations on your Pennsylvania-themed layout, module or diorama with two all-new structure kits from Cornerstone! Based on authentic Pennsylvania Railroads, choose from the Pennsylvania System Brick Station, perfect for small town service, and the Pennsylvania Interlocking Tower to speeds trains safely on their way!

Lighting Kits

Add a new level of realism to your WalthersProto Pennsylvania passenger cars with these drop-in lighting kits. Fully assembled with bright LEDs, they're an easy upgrade for equipment old or new operating on DCC or DC layouts.

From its introduction, Pennsylvania's The General quickly rose through the ranks to become one of the railroad's most important streamliners. Positioned as a running mate to the fabled Broadway Limited, The General offered almost identical speed and luxury service with no extra fare, which actually made it more popular and profitable!

By the 1960s, the train was one of the hardest working streamliners in service anywhere, carrying mail and express traffic, long-distance coaches (formerly handled by the Trail Blazer) and a Washington section (formerly handled by the Liberty Limited) connecting Harrisburg, Pennsylvania and Washington, DC.

While the Pennsy began efforts to combine the Broadway and The General as early as 1961, the two continued as separate trains through mid-December of 1967. At that time, The General was simply renamed the Broadway Limited, which would remain in operation under Amtrak through 1995.

A brief history of The General as told by american-rails.com - click here

* Two authentic paint schemes -
- Tuscan Red, Buff lettering w/5 stripes (no striping on windows), PRR Keystone
- Tuscan Red, Buff lettering, single stripe, shadow Keystone
* Available with ESU LokSound 5 Sound & DCC for DCC and DC layouts
* Five-Pole, skew-wound high-efficiency can motor
* Helical gears with 14:1 ratio for smooth, ultra-quiet running
* Easy multiple-unit operation
* Superb paint and lettering with real metal and painted finish
* Heavy die-cast metal underframe
* Proto MAX™ metal knuckle couplers

* 11 signature cars used on The General and other Blue Ribbon streamliners
* Four new cars -
- P85b Coach
- POC85 Buffet-Observation
- BD85 85' ACF Pennsylvania-style Baggage-Dormitory
- PS6L 85' Pullman-Standard 6-Double Bedroom Falls series sleeper
* Available in 2 versions - Standard w/decals, or Factory-printed name/number
* Prototypically tinted windows with gaskets as appropriate
* Factory-installed grab irons
* Modeler-installed extended drawbars for 22" radius curves
* Superbly detailed inside and out
* Correct trucks with turned metal 36" wheelsets
* Proto MAX™ metal knuckle couplers

Please be aware that these sets sell out quickly, and production is strictly limited to the number of preorders received by the August 31, 2021 deadline! Reserve yours now to avoid being left at the station!

Deluxe Edition #1
920-828 $1535.00

50' R50b Express Reefer #2556
60' B60b Baggage Car w/Standard Doors, Messenger Service #9277
85' ACF PRR-Style Baggage Dormitory #6693
85' Pullman-Standard 10-6 Sleeper Plan 4129 Kalamazoo Rapids
85' Budd 21-Roomette Sleeper Latrobe Inn
85' Pullman-Standard 12-4 Sleeper Plan 4130 Chimney Creek
85' Pullman-Standard 6-Double Bedroom Sleeper Plan 4131 Balsam Falls
85' Budd 68-Seat Full Diner #16
85' Budd Kitchen-Dormitory #17
85' ACF PRR-Style P85b Coach #4064
85' ACF PRR-Style P85b Coach #4089
85' ACF PRR-Style P85b Coach #4049
85' Pennsylvania Buffet-Lounge Observation #1132

Deluxe Edition #2
920-829 $1535.00

50' R50b Express Reefer #2597
60' B60b Baggage Car w/Standard Doors, Messenger Service #9343
85' ACF PRR-Style Baggage Dormitory #6691
85' Pullman-Standard 10-6 Sleeper Plan 4129 Muskegon Rapids
85' Budd 21-Roomette Sleeper Lewiston Inn
85' Pullman-Standard 12-4 Sleeper Plan 4130 Chippewa Creek
85' Pullman-Standard 6-Double Bedroom Sleeper Plan 4131 Catalpa Falls
85' Budd 68-Seat Full Diner #18
85' Budd Kitchen-Dormitory #19
85' ACF PRR-Style P85b Coach #4046
85' ACF PRR-Style P85b Coach #4082
85' ACF PRR-Style P85b Coach #4060
85' Pennsylvania Buffet-Lounge Observation #1133

Deluxe Edition #3 - Washington Section
920-830 $380.00

85' ACF PRR-Style P85b Coach #4058
85' Pullman-Standard 10-6 Sleeper Plan 4129 Conemaugh Rapids
85' Pullman-Standard 12-4 Sleeper Plan 4130 Cabin Creek

With all-new tooling to capture the look of the prototypes, the WalthersProto X29b features the correct larger body, 7' Youngstown doors, a diagonal panel roof and 4/3/1 Dreadnaught ends, and come finished in the early silver scheme with the circle Keystone. Sold only in sets, choose from three limited-run 13-packs, each featuring 12 X29bs with different numbers and a matching N6b wood caboose (cabin car), to model these unique freight trains. Matching WalthersProto FP7/F7B freight diesels will be available too, perfect power for your new model!

EMD EFP-15 / EH-15 FP7-F7 Diesels

Perfect power for your Merchandise Service and other freights, our superb replicas are railroad ready and offered in both schemes, featuring train phone antennas and a host of era-specific details. Choose from LokSound 5 Sound and DCC versions for DCC or DC layouts, or Standard DC models.

* Nathan M-3 air horn
* Pennsylvania Train Phone antenna
* No body skirts
* Single reflector headlight
* Frame-mounted water tank
* Rear sheet roof access grab irons
* Passenger pilot
* Engineer's side nose grab irons

After assuming the duties of The Trailblazer and the Liberty Limited in the 1950s, The General was called on to do double-duty, handling coaches as well as a block of cars heading to and from Washington, DC. These hand-offs took place at Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, where schedules allowed roughly 20 minutes to transition from electric engines to diesels, and complete switching chores. One of the few major trains without a true observation bringing up the rear; a coach-lounge-observation was placed up front as a buffer between the long-distance coaches and the head-end cars, and actually ran backward. The train also lacked a working railway post office but handled more than its share of bulk mail, typically weekly magazines such as Life and Look moving from eastern publishers to post offices in outlying large cities.

These 1960s-era consists show the varied make-up of The General, including cars added during peak demand days.

April 1960

Train #48 East Bound
Unless noted, all cars run Chicago-New York City

MS-60 (Mail Storage, 60' capacity; typically R50B or B60B)
BD85 Baggage-Dormitory
POC85 Coach-Lounge-Observation: observation end to East (car runs backward)
P85BR Long-distance coach
P85BR Long-distance coach
P85BR Long-distance coach
P85BR Long-distance coach
P85BR Long-distance coach
Twin-Unit Diner and Kitchen-Dormitory pair
P85BR Long-distance coach
P85BR Long-distance coach: Chicago-Washington, to train #548 at Harrisburg
12-4 Sleeper: Chicago-Washington, to train #548 at Harrisburg
10-6 Sleeper: Chicago-Washington, to train #548 at Harrisburg
6-Double Bedroom Sleeper
12-4 Sleeper
10-6 Sleeper
10-6 Sleeper: Roanoke to New York, to train #638 at Harrisburg
10-5 Sleeper: Erie to New York, to train #574 at Harrisburg
10-5 Sleeper: Buffalo to New York, to train #574 at Harrisburg

Train #49 West Bound
Unless noted, all cars run New York City-Chicago

MS-60 (Mail Storage, 60' capacity; typically R50B or B60B to Harrisburg)
MS-60 (Mail Storage, 60' capacity; typically R50B or B60B to Chicago or Oakland Pier)
BD85 Baggage-Dormitory
POC85 Coach-Lounge-Observation: observation end to west (car runs backward)
P85BR Long-distance coach
P85BR Long-distance coach
P85BR Long-distance coach
P85BR Long-distance coach
P85BR Long-distance coach
P85BR Long-distance coach
Twin-Unit Diner and Kitchen-Dormitory pair
P85BR Long-distance coach
P85BR Long-distance coach: Washington-Chicago, from train #549 at Harrisburg
12-4 Sleeper: Washington-Chicago from train #549 at Harrisburg
10-6 Sleeper: Washington-Chicago from, train #549 at Harrisburg
6-Double Bedroom Sleeper
12-4 Sleeper
10-6 Sleeper
21-Roomette Sleeper

April 1964

Train #48 East Bound
Unless noted, all cars run Chicago-New York

MS-60 (Mail Storage, 60' capacity; typically R50B or B60B to New York)
BD85 Baggage-Dormitory
POC85 Coach-Lounge-Observation: observation end to east (car runs backward)
P85BR Long-distance coach
P85BR Long-distance coach
P85BR Long-distance coach: May 29 to Sept. 13
P85BR Long-distance coach: Last trip September 13
P85BR Long-distance coach
P85BR Long-distance coach
Twin-Unit Diner and Kitchen-Dormitory pair
P85BR Long-distance coach
P85BR Long-distance coach: Chicago-Washington, to train #548 at Harrisburg
P85BR Long-distance coach: Chicago-Washington, to train #548 at Harrisburg
P85BR Long-distance coach: Chicago-Washington, to train #548 at Harrisburg
10-6 Sleeper: Chicago-Washington, to train #548 at Harrisburg
6-Double Bedroom Sleeper
12-4 Sleeper
10-6 Sleeper: Cleveland-New York, from train #38 (Pittsburgh)

Train #49 West Bound
Unless noted, all cars run New York City - Chicago

Express Car: Sunday only, New York-Harrisburg
BD85 Baggage-Dormitory
POC85 Coach-Lounge-Observation: observation end to west (car runs backward)
P85BR Long-distance coach
P85BR Long-distance coach
P85BR Long-distance coach: Friday Only
P85BR Long-distance coach: May 29-September 13
P85BR Long-distance coach; to September 13th
P85BR Long-distance coach
P85BR Long-distance coach
Twin-Unit Diner and Kitchen-Dormitory pair
P85BR Long-distance coach
P85BR Long-distance coach: Washington-Chicago, from train #549 at Harrisburg
P85BR Long-distance coach: Washington-Chicago, from train #549 at Harrisburg P85BR Long-distance coach: Washington-Chicago, from train #549 at Harrisburg
10-6 Sleeper: Washington-Chicago from, train #549 at Harrisburg
6-Double Bedroom Sleeper
12-4 Sleeper
10-6 Sleeper
10-6 Sleeper

April 30, 1967

#48 East Bound
Unless noted, all cars run Chicago-New York

Express Car: Chicago-New Haven (via NH train #172)
MS-60 (Mail Storage, 60' capacity; typically B60B to New York)
Baggage-Mail X29 boxcar
P85BR Long-distance coach, December 15-January 3rd
P85BR Long-distance coach
P85BR Long-distance coach
Coach-Lounge (#1132, or #1133)
Twin-Unit Diner and Kitchen-Dormitory pair
P85BR Long-distance coach: Chicago-Washington, to train #548 at Harrisburg
10-6 Sleeper: Chicago-Washington, to train #548 at Harrisburg
6-Double Bedroom Sleeper
10-6 Sleeper

Train #49 West Bound
Unless noted, all cars run New York-Chicago

Express Car; Sunday Only New York - Harrisburg
Baggage-Mail X29 boxcar
P85BR Long-distance coach, December 15-January 3rd
P85BR Long-distance coach
P85BR Long-distance coach
Coach-Lounge (#1132, or #1133)
Twin-Unit Diner and Kitchen-Dormitory pair
P85BR Long-distance coach: Washington-Chicago, from train #549 at Harrisburg
10-6 Sleeper: Washington-Chicago, from train #549 at Harrisburg
6-Double Bedroom Sleeper
10-6 Sleeper
10-6 Sleeper
P85BR Long-distance coach: Friday Only, New York-Harrisburg
Mail Storage: Tuesday morning only, Pittsburgh-Chicago

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