Recent Train Acquisitions – New York Central’s James Whitcomb Riley Train

By • • Trains

I recently acquired a train set made by Atlas consisting of a pair of New York Central EMD E8 locomotives and a 5-car set of streamlined passenger cars.

The locomotives were a custom run by Mr. Muffin’s Trains — one of many that prototype trains that ran through Indiana. In the 1950s and beyond, E8s like these would have pulled New York Central’s James Whitcomb Riley train, which ran between Chicago and Cincinnati, via Indianapolis. The train is named for writer and poet, James Whitcomb Riley, who is probably best known for his works “Little Orphant Annie” (sic) and “The Raggedy Man”.

The image shows two model train locomotives placed on a wooden surface. They are painted in a dark green color with white stripes and have the "New York Central System" logo prominently displayed on their fronts. The locomotive on the left has the number "4049" and the one on the right has the number "4046." Both locomotives have a streamlined design typical of mid-20th century diesel engines. The background is slightly blurred, keeping the focus on the two model trains.
They’re giving me ABBA vibes.
Check out that sexy silhouette.

Locomotive Information

  • Manufacturer: Atlas O Premier
  • Type: EMD E8s
  • Road Info: New York Central 4046 & 4049
  • Product Numbers: 30138250S (4046) & 30138251S (4049)

The passenger set was also a custom run by Mr. Muffin’s. If I recall correctly, they were originally intended to accompany a Dreyfuss Hudson that Mr. Muffin’s made through Lionel (which is worth its own blog post), but these E8s represent what pulled the James Whitcomb Riley after the New York Central switched to diesel locomotives.

Just passing through.

Passenger Set Information

  • Manufacturer: Atlas O Premier
  • Type: 70′ Streamlined Passenger Set
  • Road Info: New York Central 27 (Coach), 28 (Coach), 450 (Dining), 8551 (Baggage), 48 (Observation)
  • Product Numbers: 3001588S & 3001589S

I leave you with one final photo, showing the name plaque on the back of the observation car.

The image shows the rear end of a model train car, specifically a passenger car. The car is painted in a two-tone color scheme, with the top half being a darker color and the bottom half a lighter color. The windows have silver framing, and the back of the train car features a small sign that reads "The JAMES WHITCOMB RILEY." The model train is situated on a track, and the image captures the details of the car, including its rounded rear end and the texture of the paint.
Sorry for the crummy lighting, but check out that snazzy name board there.
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