Our sensational MRRHQ Custom Limited Edition GS3 1860s CP&UP "Golden Spike" Dual Passenger Trains Set commemorates this historic event. Featuring a remarkable blend of vintage IHC and Roundhouse products it is, we believe, the only heirloom quality model train set ever offered which includes replicas of BOTH participating Central and Union Pacific locomotives and cars.
The Golden Spike is the ceremonial final spike driven by Central Pacific President Leland Stanford to join the rails of the First Transcontinental Railroad across the United States connecting the Central Pacific and Union Pacific railroads. On May 10,1869 in anticipation of the Golden Spike Ceremony, Union Pacific No. 119 and Central Pacific No. 60 (better known as the Jupiter) locomotives were drawn up face-to-face on Promontory Summit Utah. It is unknown how many people attended the event but estimates run from as low as 500 to as many as 3,000. Government and railroad officials and track workers were present to witness the event.
The Locomotives
IHC Premier 34016 Central Pacific 4-4-0 "Jupiter" Locomotive
IHC Premier 34011 Union Pacific 4-4-0 Locomotive #119
Locomotives FEATURES:
C-9 Mint Condition with Excellent Original Boxes.
Test Track run time only.
MRRHQ Locomotive Works serviced, tested and certified.
Upgraded with our MRRHQ Custom "AcuGlow" Operating Headlamp.
MRRHQ Custom hand crafted-brass-metallic mount with Grain-of Rice incandescent bulb reproduces period correct intensity and hue.
Working rear McHenry Knuckle Couplers.
Engineer Figures installed in cabs.
One-piece boilers, engine covers, cabs and tenders of pressure-cast high impact plastic.
Steel main and side rods and guides.
Brass hand rails, fittings, sand pipes and headlight mounts.
Many additional fine details.
Powerful state-of-the-art can motors.
Scale 60" Drivers.
Easy rolling steel needle point truck axles.
Optional Upgrades Available:
TCS T1 Standard DCC Decoders Installed.
TCS WOWSound 101 DCC/Sound Decoders Installed. (In first coach behind locomotive.)
Production Year:1990s
Dimensions: Locomotive 4 7/8 x 1 x 1 7/8" Tender 2 3/4 x 1 1/8 x 1 1/2"
The Coaches
MDC/Roundhouse Trains began as "The Roundhouse" in 1938, then as Roundhouse Trains, later, as MDC/Roundhouse and now as Athearn/Roundhouse. For nearly 70 years Roundhouse was one of the great names in model railroading and lives on today. The beautiful coaches included in this set feature vintage kits meticulously assembled and upgraded by MRRHQ.
A Note on the J.B. Silvis UP Photography Car:
We've taken some poetic license here. J.B. Silvis WAS NOT the UP photographer for the Golden Spike Ceremony. That honor fell on Andrew J. Russell. Silvis did, however, become the official UP photographer in 1869. The building of the Transatlantic Railroad left both the Central and Union Pacific railroads nearly bankrupt. It also left them with huge tracts of free government land from land grants. To recover their financial health both the CP and UP began selling off this land which, to help promote, the UP contracted with Silvis to provide enticing photos along the entire UP right-of-way. The life of J.B. Silvis is well documented, interesting, full of failure and, ultimately, determination and innovation. It is well worth an Internet search. The rare "Red" graphics Roundhouse 3108 J.B. Silvis Photography Car included in this set is a very accurate representation of the actual car which was one of the first of it's kind.(A "Black" lettered car was also produced and is far more common)
Included:
(1) Roundhouse 3705 Central Pacific Overton Passenger Coach (From Kit)
(1) Roundhouse 3725 Central Pacific Overton Combine Coach (From Kit)
(1) Roundhouse 3735 Central Pacific Overton Observation Coach (From Kit)
(1) Roundhouse 3745 Central Pacific Overton Baggage Coach (From Kit)
(1) Rare "Red" Roundhouse 3108 Union Pacific J.B. Silvis Photography Car (From Kit)
(1) Roundhouse 3703 Union Pacific Overton Passenger Coach (From Kit)
(1) Roundhouse 3723 Union Pacific Overton Combine Coach (From Kit)
(1) Roundhouse 3733 Union Pacific Overton Observation Coach (From Kit)
(1) Roundhouse 3743 Union Pacific Overton Baggage Coach (From Kit)
FEATURES:
Tinted Clerestory Windows.
Red tinted windows in the J.P. Silvis Photography Car to simulate a dark room.
"Crystal Clear" Modern Acetate Windows
Awesome Walthers Proto 2000 RP25 All-Metal Wheel Sets.
Kadee All-Metal Knuckle Couplers.
All Kits professionally assembled and upgraded by MRRHQ from New Old Stock Kits with Mint Original Boxes.
Optional Upgrades Available:
Dimensions All Cars: 5 1/2" L x 1 7/8" T x 1 5/16" W