Undecorated model shown

The 6-6-4 is the IC King Cotton (the same as your UP American series) lot 6669 plan 4099, built in 1941-42. Other owners included ATSF, SP, CNW, MP, Erie, IC, and CRI&P.

Santa Fe ordered 26 of these cars as Lot 6669, Plan 4099, for delivery in 1942. This is a Santa Fe Valley series smoothside sleepers as used on the Summer '47 lightweight version of the Grand Canyon, and in transcontinental service on the Chief (B&O connection). This car is also available from Eastern Car works.

The paint scheme of the Walther's car is the 1953-71 all gray scheme, though photos of Valley cars in this scheme don't seem to appear before 1962. The model also lacks skirts, which date it after about 1960. These cars originally were two-tone gray and some were shadow stripped. A second two-tone gray appeared 1950-53. Pre-1960 modelers can purchase the undec kit (932-6720, with skirts) and paint for an earlier scheme. The Society painting and lettering guide has exact dates for the shadow stripped versions of these cars which runs from 1947 - 53 depending on the car. Walther's has announced the earlier ATSF paint scheme for the Spring of 2005 without skirts which limits accuracy to the 1960-62 time period.

Mainline Modeler, 11/91, had plans for this car. These have the correct 41-HR trucks. The 26 assigned had Pullman LW mechanical AC and conventional Pullman axle-driven generator while the kit has the Waukesha AC unit, so half of the underbody, which is very visible without skirts, is incorrect for ATSF. The 41-HR trucks are correct.

NYC ran 10-6 River series cars in transcontinental service on the Chief. These were two tone gray Plan 4123 for which a kit is not available, but Santa Fe modelers may want to substitute the Walther's 932-6732 for those cars as they were very similar.

Valley cars included: Antelope Valley Blue Valley, Chama Valley, Cimarron Valley, Citrus Vallen, Cottonwood Valley, Eagle Nest Valley, Estancia Valley, Hidden Valley, Kaw Valley, Mescalero Valley, Monument Valley, Paradise Valley, Pecos Valley, Pleasant Valley, Redondo Valley, Red River Valley, Red Rock Valley, Rio Grande Valley, Salt River Valley, San Miguel Valley, Sunshine Valley, Surprise Valley, Sweetwater Valley, Taos Valley, Tesuque Valley, Verde Valley, and Whitewater Valley.

The Verde Valley has been preserved and is on the web.