Complete AHM/Rivarossi C&A Limited Set with Premier Production Run C&A ALCO P-16A Heavy Pacific Locomotive #5299 and (8) Heavyweight Coaches

The Chicago & Alton Railroad was a pioneer of luxury passenger service. In the nineteenth century, the first sleeper cars and the first true dining cars saw service on the C & A. Since the turn of the twentieth century, the railroad's premier run between Chicago and St. Louis was named the Alton Limited, often referred to as the "red train" because of its trademark livery. In 1924, although on the verge of bankruptcy, the C & A updated the Alton Limited into a railroading legend. Fast, Heavy Pacific type locomotives pulled a brand new set of Pullman steel-sided heavyweight cars, all painted in matching shades of maroon and red. Inside, the cars featured luxurious rosewood, plush green fabrics and even Venetian blue smoking couches. From its debut at Chicago's then under-construction Union Station, the "new" Alton Limited held the title "Handsomest Train in the World."

Technological Advances by the Alton Railroad

• The Alton was the first railroad to install a sleeping car designed by George Pullman and built in the C&A’s Bloomington shops. This went into service on the Chicago to East St. Louis line on September 1, 1859.
• The Alton was the first railroad to install a dining car, the Delmonico, in regular service. It was built by George Pullman in the CB&Q Railroad’s Aurora, Illinois shops. Two more dining cars, the Tremont and the Southern were also built and leased by the Chicago and Alton, providing dining car service on all of its Chicago to East St. Louis trains.
• In 1932 the Alton was the first Chicago-St. Louis Railroad to install air conditioning on its passenger trains.

THE LOCOMOTIVE

AHM5087-11 Premier Production Run ALCO P-16A 4-6-2 Heavy Pacific Locomotive #5299

FEATURES:

• NEW C-9 Mint+ Condition with Mint Original Box..
• Test Track run time only.
• MRRHQ Locomotive Works serviced, tested and certified.
• Upgraded with MRRHQ Custom High Performance LED Headlamp.
• Upgraded with MRRHQ Custom Factory Quality LED Back-up Light w/Plastic Lens.
• Two-piece boiler, cab and tender of pressure-cast high impact plastic.
• 12 Wheel Long Haul Tender.
• Steel main and side rods, guides, hand rails, fittings and coupler lift bars.
• Many additional fine details.
• Beautiful 4-Color Paint.
• Powerful state-of-the-art can motor.
• Scale 73" Drivers.
• Easy rolling steel needle point truck axles.
• Upgraded with rear Kadee all-metal Knuckle Coupler.
• Optional Upgrades Available:
  • SOUNDTRAXX 852204 Standard DCC Decoder Installed.
  • SOUNDTRAXX 852204 Standard DCC Decoder w/ Keep Alive Installed.
  • SOUNDTRAXX TSU2200 2 Amp Digital DCC/Sound Decoder Installed
  • SOUNDTRAXX TSU2200 2 Amp Digital DCC/Sound Decoder w/Keep Alive Installed
• Made in Italy. Production year 1996.

THE COACHES

• AHM 6202-21 "Chicago" 1920's Heavyweigh Observation Coach.
• AHM 6203-21 "Missouri" 1920's Heavyweight Combine Coach.
• AHM 6204-21 "Bloomington" 1920's Heavyweight Diner
• AHM 6205-21 "Webster Groves" 1920's Heavyweight Coach.
• AHM 6206-21 "Armstrong" 1920's Heavyweight Baggage/RPO Coach.
• AHM 6208-21 "Lincoln" 1920's Heavyweight Pullman Coach.
• AHM 6209-21 "Wilson" 1920's Heavyweight Pullman Coach.
• AHM 6210-21 "Jefferson" 1920's Heavyweight Pullman Coach.
  

FEATURES:

• C8-C9 Mint Condition with Mint Original Boxes.
• .039" Wheel Flanges.
• Upgraded with McHenry Knuckle Couplers.
• Upgraded with Magnet Controlled MRRHQ MagLED® MLM1 Evolutionary Model Railroad Lighting Systems.
• Production Year 1997.