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HOn3 Denver & Rio Grande Western Passenger Cars

 

THE FIRST OF THE HOn3 SERIES

 

From Third & Townsend Models & Sunset Models 3rd Rail

Recreate the legendary D&RGW narrow‑gauge passenger service in breathtaking HOn3 detail. These exquisitely crafted models evoke the golden age of Colorado mountain railroading:

 

🔧 Features

  • ABS plastic bodies for lightweight yet durable builds

  • Precision painting & lettering, true to prototype liveries

  • Painted interior detail, visible through clear glazing

  • Flicker‑free LED overhead and marker lighting—enjoy realistic illumination onboard

  • Metal wheels & Kadee couplers ensuring smooth rolling and reliable operations

  • Lettered for Denver & Rio Grande Western and Durango & Silverton

  • Authentic paint schemes: classic green, Bumble Bee Yellow, Tuscan Red, or Unlettered

  • MULTIPLE unique car numbers available, each individually lettered

  • Named & numbered sets for the famous San Juan and Shavano trains

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🕰️ Historical Background

The Denver & Rio Grande Western Railroad (originally the “Rio Grande”) was famous for its dramatic narrow-gauge routes built in the 1870s and 1880s, winding through Colorado’s mountainous terrain.

  • The Shavano, named after Mount Shavano, served the Salida–Gunnison route from 1937 to 1940.

  • The San Juan was the Rio Grande’s flagship narrow-gauge passenger train, running between Alamosa and Durango until 1951.
    During the late 1930s, D&RGW rebuilt many cars with electric lighting, steam heat, and improved seating, offering an unparalleled passenger experience for narrow-gauge service.

These cars replicate that era, from the vibrant “Bumble Bee” yellow scheme to the deep green and red paint seen in later years.

 

💰 Pricing & Availability

  • Individual Cars: $139.99 each (subject to change)

    • Baggage: #111, #127, #163, #164, #165, #167, #168 #169

    • RPO: #54, #65, #66, #119

    • Coach: #272, #310, #312, #319, #323, #325, #326, #327

    • Parlor: Alamosa, Gunnison, Chama

 

PLEASE ADD IN ORDER NOTES FOR SPECIFIC NUMBERS 

 

  • San Juan 4-Car Collector's Set: $579.99

    • Set A: Train 115, Baggage #163, RPO #65, Coach #310, Alamosa Parlor

    • Set B: Train 116, Baggage #164, RPO #66, Coach #272, Durango Parlor

    • Packaged in a special collector’s box

    • Certificate of Authenticity included

    • Literature about the history and significance of the San Juan prototype

 

Quantities are limited—secure your road numbers early to build a prototypical consist!

 

🎨 Why Collectors Love Them

Sunset Models' Golden Gate Depot Passenger Car division is renowned for high‑fidelity brass, aluminum and plastic models, and this release is no exception. Produced in collaboration with Third & Townsend Models, this limited-run project offers superb detail and operation-ready durability.

 

🎯 Summary

These HOn3 D&RGW passenger cars aren’t just rolling stock—they’re heirloom-quality tributes to one of America’s most storied mountain railroads. With lighting, interior detail, and unmatched historical accuracy, this release brings the magic of the high-country Rio Grande to your layout.

Golden Gate Depot HOn3 D&RGW Passenger Cars

$139.99 Regular Price
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