Upgraded Mint Condition Con-Cor/Rivarossi 000007 "The Chessie" 6-Coach Streamliner Set w/Streamlined 4-6-4 Hudson Locomotive #492

In the mid 1980's Con-Cor partnered with Rivarossi to offer a series of boxed sets including Rivarossi locomotives and Con-Cor Coaches. This legendary Limited Edition series included: USATC United States Army Transport Corp " Hospital Train", the New York Central "Cardinals Train", "The Valley Flyer" of Santa Fe RR and "The Chessie" being the fourth and final set of the partnership. The four locomotives of this series were NEVER offered separately by Rivarossi or AHM.

The extreme rarity of "The Chessie" is only part of what makes it so desirable. C&O #492 included in this set was in reality NOT a Dreyfus streamlined 4-6-4 but actually a uniquely streamlined C&O Class L1 Hudson. Additionally, AHM/Rivarossi NEVER sold the C&O Dreyfus Streamlined Hudson #492 included in this set making it indeed a model railroading legend.

The C&O L1s were a class of five 4-6-4 steam locomotives, originally built in 1926 as F19 class 4-6-2s. In 1946 the F19s were rebuilt as Hudsons in Huntington, West Virginia. Four of the five L1s were streamlined (494 was the odd one out), with the streamlining originallypainted orange.After the C&O acquired the Pere Marquette in1948, the streamlined L1s were repainted yellow. They were intended to run trains that would connect with “The Chessie” Streamliner, a train that would have run from Washington D.C. to Cincinnati, Ohio. “The Chessie” itself would have been hauled by the unique M1 steam turbines. While three M1s were built, they were never very reliable, so much so that they were scrapped after only three years on the rails. "The Chessie" Streamliner project was cancelled, before the train had ever carried a paying passenger. As for the L1 Hudsons, they remained in service into the 1950s, with 491 and 492 being retired in 1953 and the rest in 1955. Engine No. 490 is the sole survivor of her class, and is now on display at the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Museum.

THE LOCOMOTIVE

FEATURES:

• Stunning C-9 Mint+ Condition w/Excellent Original Box
• No evidence of run time.
• ALL Original Paperwork including a comprehensive history of "The Chessie" and C&O Lightweight Passenger Equipment 1946-1972.
• MRRHQ Locomotive Works serviced, tested and certified.
• Original "Geez, we hope some light gets through" incandescent headlight upgraded with MRRHQ Custom High Performance LED.
• Upgraded w/MRRHQ Factory Quality LED Directional Back-up Light w/Plastic Lens..
• 12 Wheel Long Haul Tender.
• One-piece locomotive and tender bodies of pressure-cast high impact plastic.
• Baker Valve Gear w/steel main and side rods, guides, hand rails and fittings.
• Many additional fine details.
• Powerful can motor w/sealed gearbox.
• Scale 79" Drivers.
• Easy rolling steel needle point truck axles.
• Upgraded with Factory Quality MRRHQ Custom rear Knuckle Coupler.
• Optional Upgrades Available:
  • TCS T1 Standard DCC Decoder Installed.
  • TCS T1KA Standard DCC Decoder w/KA4 Keep Alive Installed.
  • TCS WOWSound 101 DCC/Digital Sound Decoder Installed.
  • TCS WOWSound 101KA DCC/Digital Sound Decoder w/KeepAlive Installed.
  • Engineer Figure Installed in Cab.
• Made in Italy by Rivarossi. Production Year 1985.

Dimensions: Locomotive 8" L x 2 1/4" T x 1 1/2" W Tender 5 3/4" L x 2" T x 1 1/2" W

THE COACHES

• #7609 Baggage Coach
• #1603 Budd Pullman Coach
• #1702 Budd Passenger Coach
• #1921 Budd Diner Coach
• #1852 Budd Vista Dome Coach
• #1875 Budd Domed Observation Coach

FEATURES

• All Metal Wheel Sets
• Upgraded w/MRRHQ MagLED® ML1 Evolutionary Model Railroad Lighting Systems
• Vista Dome & OBS Coaches Upgraded w/Custom Dome Seating & Twin/LED Lighting
• OBS Coach Upgraded w/Custom Operating Tail-lamp w/Plastic Lens
• All Coaches Upgraded w/McHenry MCH56 Knuckle Couplers. (Original Rivarossi "Spring" NMRA Couplers Included)

Limited Production in 1985

HO Scale 1:87