Flagship of the Chesapeake & Ohio, the George Washington was a favorite with folks traveling for business or pleasure between Washington, DC, and Cincinnati. Serving other key southern cities and famed resorts along its route, it was known simply as the George to its legions of fans. Designed for maximum comfort with unique interior features, riders enjoyed C&O’s unique streamlined Pullman-Standard coaches or cozy overnight accommodations aboard luxurious 10-6 sleepers.

In later years, meal service was provided inside updated dormitory-diner cars, rebuilt especially for the train. Following the consolidation of B&O passenger services, George became the hardest working train in America, handling up to 16 cars (including repainted heavyweights carrying mail and baggage) and requiring a trio of E8A units on parts of its run. Blocks of cars were set out and picked up at major stations en route, with service extending as far west as St. Louis. C&O’s long-standing tradition of providing the finest service possible continues into Amtrak era, with much of its route now served by the Cardinal.

As exciting as its prototype, Walthers’ new HO Scale George Washington features seven authentic cars including the newly-tooled 70ft ACF Heavyweight Railway Post Office-Baggage car, an 85ft Pullman-Standard Dormitory-Diner rebuilt for mid-train service, plus a matching heavyweight baggage car, and the road's unique Pullman-Standard 52-seat coaches and 10-6 sleepers in both skirted and unskirted versions.

The George Washington appeals to anyone who models or collects:

• Passenger trains
• Chesapeake & Ohio Railroad
• Eastern streamliners
• WalthersProto Name Trains

Major points include:

• Two all-new models - seven authentic cars in all - including the:                               70ft ACF Heavyweight Railway Post Office-Baggage                                       85ft Pullman-Standard Dormitory-Diner Rebuild Plan 4165
• Factory-finished in Enchantment Blue and Federal Yellow, accented by our real metal finish that simulates stainless steel as appropriate
• Modeler-installed extended drawbars for use on 22" radius curves
• Factory-installed grab irons
• Name and number decals
• Prototypically accurate window tinting & gaskets
• Fully assembled, superbly detailed inside and out

Matching E8A diesels  -  To Be Accurate to the Prototype, Choose Three Units, one AA set and One Matching A Unit:

A-A Sets

ESU LokSound and DCC:   920-42360 #4016, 4021 // 920-42361 #4018, 4027

Standard DC:  920-49360 #4016, 4021 // 920-49361 #4018, 4027

Matching A Units

ESU LokSound and DCC:  920-42362 #4012 // 920-42363 #4029

Standard DC:  920-49362 #4012  //  920-49363 #4029

E8A Features:

• Based on Class PE-225 units delivered in 1953 and in service to the late 1960s
• Available for the first time with ESU LokSound Select sound for DCC & DC layouts
• Standard DC versions also available
• Choose A-A sets and matching A units
• NEW - Dual lens lower headlight in door
• Mars light in upper headlight opening
• Brass Nathan five-chime air horn with all bells forward
• Whip-type radio antenna w/conduit
• Plus 13 additional railroad-specific details as used on C&O E8 A Units

Two Limited Run Deluxe Edition George Washington Seven-Car Sets

• Major features available only on these cars include seven different factory-printed car numbers and/or names as appropriate in each consist,
• Factory-installed LED interior lighting as appropriate and over 80 Preiser passengers and crew figures installed throughout the train.
• Limited quantities sold only as a complete seven-car purchase.
• First Deluxe Edition car scheduled for January, 2018

Here's what makes the George Washington a great train for modelers and collectors
No other name train offers so many operating and modeling possibilities as the George Washington! By the 1960s, C&O's premiere connection between Washington, D.C. and Cincinnati, Ohio, was actually several trains in one. Three E8A diesels handled up to 16 cars on parts of the run, with individual cars and entire sections set out and picked up at major cities en route, which operated as separate trains continuing to Detroit, Louisville, Chicago and St. Louis. Many cars were in service from 1955 to 1971 and some went on to work for Amtrak.

George Washington Consists

Befitting its flagship status, the George Washington was listed in public timetables as train number one (westbound) and two (eastbound). By the 1960s, it was actually several trains in one, setting out and picking up blocks of cars at key cities that then operated as separate trains continuing to Detroit, Louisville, Chicago and St. Louis. The following lists from June of 1965 illustrate the complexity of these operations, showing the type and routing for each car.