Pre-Order - Cotton Belt Business Car Fair Lane - N Scale

The Cotton Belt Business Car Fair Lane! Now in N scale!

Before private jets the way to travel in style was by private rail car. Our representation of the Fair Lane is no exception for fans of the St Louis Southwestern/Cotton Belt Railroad. This car could be seen boozing and schmoozing executives and customers of the Cotton Belt across North & Central Texas, Missouri, Arkansas and Tennessee! This car could also be seen as far west as California when Cotton Belt Executives needed to meet with their parent company Southern Pacific overlords in San Francisco.  

This is a PRE-ORDER for the model. Artwork is conceptual and subject to change. This is a non binding PRE-ORDER for the model. Once the sets are received and ready to ship the buyer will be invoiced for the full purchase price of $79.99 (Less 10% Pre-Order Discount). These cars are expected to be delivered in 2027. 

Our Car: 

Our car is based on the PRR Z74D passenger car as done previously by Broadway Limited. This car is substantially similar to the Fair Lane in terms of overall critical dimensions and window placement.

Car History:

This car was originally purchased as a private car for Mr. Henry Ford in 1921. Originally named for his private estate, the Fair Lane retained its name throughout its time on the Cotton Belt. In 1942 it was sold by Henry Ford to the St Louis Southwestern Railroad.  As delivered the car was standard Pullman Green with a black roof. Shortly after delivery to the Cotton Belt the roof was painted Pearl Grey. This car represents its appearance from 1953-1959 when it was painted in Cotton Belt’s interpretation of the parent company’s “Daylight” scheme, however with a silver roof to better handle the warmer climate. In 1959 it was repainted into the SP Simulated Stainless paint scheme with a red stripe on the letterboard. Following retirement in 1973 the car was donated into preservation and eventually wound its way to the Henry Ford Museum where the car is on display today.   

Sources: 

Munger, Donald M., and Jeffrey Alan Cauthen. Southern Pacific Official Cars: Business, Private, Instruction, Hospital, and Company Service Cars. Southern Pacific Historical & Technical Society, 2015.