Napa Valley Wine Train set from MT

[MRLX1020]

http://www.blwnscale.com/mt-special-run-trainsets.htm

Kinda cool, even if a nearly total foobie.  Too bad there isn't a decent FPA-4 in N scale, and that Intermountain didn't offer the Milwaukee Road Super Dome in NVWT colors.

[eric220]

Compare to a proto consist:

Minimally, you'd have to buy two sets, a superdome, and a baggage car to convert into the full kitchen car, and that's assuming you're modeling before the Grappa converted boxcar power car was added. I've never seen the Wine Train with less than two locos, two observation cars (one one each end), and one intermediate car between the obs and dome (you dine in one and lounge in the other; the two groups switch halfway through the trip).

Even so, it's kind of tempting, although the lack of FPA's is a big deterrent.

Edit: I suppose this is an opportunity for Intermountain to get some more return on their superdome tooling.

[Pomperaugrr]

Definitely a foobie.  There is no N scale CHULVIS included. 

Eric

[Puddington]

No FPA-4 in N scale......hmmm.....

[eric220]

No FPA-4 in N scale......hmmm.....

You do understand that that's akin to a contractual commitment. 

[eric220]

More info on the prototype:

http://winetrain.com/train/explore-train/

So the full consist is four lounges, four full-length diners (one diner being the superdome), the power car, and a kitchen car. If you're going for the original four-car 1989 train, it should be the Chardonay and Cabernet Sauvignon observations, the Le Gourmet Express diner, and the Le Chef de Cuisine kitchen car. Of the models offered, the Le Gourmet Express is the closest, and it's not very close. About the only thing that the D70 labeled Le Chef De Cuisine has in common with the real car is the fact that it has a kitchen in it; otherwise, it bears no resemblance at all.

And yet, I'm still feeling the urge to drop the coin for two sets, just to have something representative of a unique, fun, local train that I've ridden several times. If I do, I also have to face into dropping Rapido some coin down the road, assuming they do the FPA-4 and the Wine Train scheme. (Given that they didn't do it in HO, I'm probably safe there.)

[jagged ben]

So what's the difference between an FPA-4 and an FA?   (Not that Walthers is likely to do anything with its tooling.) 

[eric220]

So what's the difference between an FPA-4 and an FA?   (Not that Walthers is likely to do anything with its tooling.)

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/ALCO_FA

[eja]

All I know is my wife and I had a fun ride and a fine dinner on this train for our anniversary many years ago and the engineer let me in the cab of the MLW locos.  She was not too happy about that, (it was cold that evening as she waited for me) but she does tolerate my RR addiction.   Seriously a keeper.

eja

Oh yeah, 45 years and counting ....

[Puddington]

I also have to face into dropping Rapido some coin down the road, assuming they do the FPA-4 and the Wine Train scheme. (Given that they didn't do it in HO, I'm probably safe there.)

Um..... sorry there ol' buddy.........been there, done that......

One of those things; we damn near cancelled it due to poor orders then, when it came to market we got over 200 screaming, rampaging, crazied requests for these.... and as per policy we had 8 extra..... snooze, ya loose....unfortunate but true.

[hegstad1]

Too bad they didn't tool the ex-NP arch window coaches.

[screeh]

No FPA-4 in N scale......hmmm.....

Uh-oh... now I'm gonna spend every waking moment until Rapido's St Patrick's Day announcements wondering if my wallet's about to take a solid beating!

[eric220]

Um..... sorry there ol' buddy.........been there, done that......

I stand corrected!  Guess I'm not safe after all.

[OldEastRR]

One of those things; we damn near cancelled it due to poor orders then, when it came to market we got over 200 screaming, rampaging, crazied requests for these.... and as per policy we had 8 extra..... snooze, ya loose....unfortunate but true.

Hmmm.. the Rapido website lists Friday May 24 2016 as an order deadline .... however that date is a Tuesday.

[Puddington]

I'm confused - the HO scale FA2's and FPA-2's are listed as My 24, 2016 for a deadline - the HO scale FPA-4's are long gone... and we've not yet announced in N scale.... what are you looking at...? (Note: Our website has just been rebuilt so funny and odd things do appear and disappear