Budd "Shovelnose" Trainsets Delivered!

River Raisin Models proudly announces a project to build in S Scale three of the famous Budd 'Shovelnose' trainsets. This committed project calls for the following Budd trains to be built:

• #6000  The original three car B&M/MEC "Flying Yankee" as delivered 1/1935
• Burlington #9900:  The original three car CB&Q "Pioneer Zephyr" as delivered 4/1934
• Burlington #9900: The "Pioneer Zephyr", expanded to four cars with Budd chair car #500, the correct Budd-built dinette/ 24 seat coach delivered in 1938, as operated after 6/1938

The models will be built in brass with nickel silver plating, and be correctly detailed with interiors, interior lighting, and several other features. The lettering will come from railroad drawings and the colors will be accurate.  The models will be DCC ready and a version with hirail wheel sets will be offered. All the research materials including copies of original Budd drawings are coming together. Delivery will be early 2005.

A popular misconception is that the "Flying Yankee" and "Pioneer Zephyr" are identical.  They are not!  The two 3 unit train sets are completely different in window configuration and will be correctly executed by our builder.  Close enough is NOT good enough at River Raisin Models!

Ralph Budd (Not related to the Edward G. Budd Manufacturing Company) chose the name "Zephyr" for his new trainset. It was chosen for its symbolization of renaissance in Chaucer's "Canterbury Tales".  The original Pioneer Zephyr was introduced in April 1934, during a very tough period in the history of the United States.  It did indeed signal a renaissance in railroading.  Somehow this seemed an appropriate project and sentiment for Dan and Jim as all of us face the challenges of this time in our own history.

If you have questions about the project, or would like to place an order for one or more, we would love to hear from you! Please feel free to contact us via e' mail, phone, FAX or by mail.

Limited Models remain...

Here are some photos of the production models (click on any photo for a larger view):

The price for each of the trains is as follows:

Send your order to:

River Raisin Models Deposit Policy: All deposits will be returned if insufficient deposits are received to proceed with the project.

Flying Yankee (B&M/MEC #6000)

The Flying Yankee, B&M/MEC #6000, is currently being restored by the The Flying Yankee Restoration Group of Glen, NH.  It is currently in the shops at Claremont, NH. Their goal is to restore it to operating condition so that it can tour the country. To see the current status of the restoration, learn more about the history of the Flying Yankee, and find out how you can contribute to the restoration effort, click the image at the left to visit the restoration group's web site. Note they also host open houses from time to time, where you can see the restoration results so far.

Other resources on the #6000 Flying Yankee you may find of interest include:

• The Streamlined Flying Yankee Comes to New England - reproduction of the Boston & Maine/Maine Central brochure introducing the Flying Yankee, published in the B&M Bulletin (Boston & Maine Railroad Historical Society), June 1985, pgs 4-8.
• The Zephyr's Eastern Sister - B&M 6000: A New Era in New England Railroading, by Chuck Crouse, B&M Bulletin, June 1985, pgs 9-16.
• Streamlined Train No. 6000 - Scheduling History compiled by Leroy C. Hutchinson, B&M Bulletin, Spring 1982, pgs 29-33
• The Passenger Car Library - Volume 2: NYC and North Eastern Railroads, by W. David Randall, published by RPC Publications Inc., 2000, pages 108-115.
• Flying Yankee - New England's first streamliner by Carl Byron, Classic Toy Trains, February 1998, page 71.
• Nashua City Station Flying Yankee web pages -  a brief history as well as a collection of past and present photos
• Reminiscences of the old Flying Yankee, compiled from notes by Richard F. Dole, B&M Bulletin, June 1985, pgs 17-19. Using information from various sources, the author sketches a chronology of this famous B&M/MEC name train starting with its inception in the steam era in 1883, and ending with its abandonment in 1959, including the period when the streamlined No. 6000 took the name & ran.

Burlington Pioneer Zephyr #9900

Today the Pioneer Zephyr makes its home at the Museum of Science & Industry in Chicago, IL. The Zephyr is the centerpiece of the Museum's new permanent exhibit, All Aboard the Silver Streak. Walk through the train, take a guided tour, and learn about the science that made this famous train come to life. Click on the image to the left to explore the Pioneer Zephyr online via the Museum of Science & Industry's online exhibit, or to get more information on exploring the real, fully restored Pioneer Zephyr by visiting the Museum of Science and Industry Chicago.

Other resources on the Pioneer Zephyr you may find of interest include:

• The Pioneer Zephyr by Jeff Wilson, Model Railroader, January 1999, beginning on page 118.
• Zephyr gleams in its new home by Robert S. McGonical, Trains, January 1999, page 26
• Where are they now - The Pioneer Zephyr by Robert S. McGonical, Trains, September 1997, page 46.
• A Wind from the West - Parts 1 and 2 by Marshall Thayer, Railroad Model Craftsman, February 1971 (page 24) and March 1971 (page 20).
• The Passenger Car Library - Volume 1: CB&Q, by W. David Randall, published by RPC Publications Inc.
• Burlington Route - The Early Zephyrs, by Geoffrey H. Doughty, published by TLC Publishing.
• The Art of the Streamliner, by Bob Johnston, Joseph M. Welsh, & Mike Schafer, published by Metro Books, 2001.
• Burlington Route Historical Society Bulletin #13, published by the Burlington Route Historical Society, totally devoted to the Shovelnoes/Zephyrs.