Western Coil Burlington Zephyr
The Western Coil & Electrical Company of Racine, Wisconsin produced sand cast aluminum Burlington Zephyr sets in the 1930's (see an operating video). Instructions for this train may be found here. Barber-Colman unidirectional motors powered these trains. The vestibules, also called bellows, between the cars were made from heavy paper.
The Consoli Family Train Company of Wayne, New Jersey acquired original Western Coil tooling and parts to reproduce these sets in the 1980's.
Regular production 1930's Western Coil Burlington Zephyr. The three-car set included a lead power car, Pullman car and observation. The car bodies were unpolished.
Regular production 1980's Consoli Family Burlington Zephyr. The three-car set included a lead power car, Pullman car and observation. Note that the car bodies have a more polished look.
The 1930's Western Coil DeLuxe Burlington Zephyr three-car set had lead power car flag holders, metal handrails and window panes applied to the outside of the car bodies.
The photos that follow highlight the features of the Western Coil DeLuxe Zephyr --
Western Coil Burlington Zephyr 9900 United States Mail Railway Post Office lead power car.
Western Coil Burlington Zephyr Railway Express Agency Pullman car.
Western Coil Burlington Zephyr 9900 observation car.
In the left picture above, the front of the lead power car has marker lights on either side of the headlight. The right photo shows the rear of the observation car with two red taillights and one back-up light.
Western Coil lead power car roof. A cotter pin secured the motor to the car body. The later Consoli sets did not have a cotter pin. Instead, the lead power car body simply rested on the motor.
Western Coil center rail pickup roller for car lighting. The later Consoli Family sets eliminated pickup rollers and instead used electrical barrel connectors between cars to connect lighting wires.
Two different sizes of Western Coil Burlington Zephyr set boxes.