Budd Big Dome (No Herald – Fluted) – Former GN

These are N scale 3D printable files for the Budd Big Dome as modified with the herald panel replaced by additional fluting — former Great Northern Railway (GN) Big Dome cars as they appeared after their original GN service, with the distinctive circular herald panel on the carbody side replaced by extended fluted stainless steel paneling. This body modification is the key visual distinction from the as-built GN configuration and accurately represents the cars as operated by their subsequent owners. Available in five decal variants: CR 55, NS 24 "Delaware", SLRG 511, SLRG 554, and SNC 508 and 512.

The Budd Big Dome was built by the Budd Company for the Great Northern Railway as one of the three great full-length dome car designs of the postwar streamliner era — alongside the Milwaukee Road's Super Dome and the Santa Fe's Big Dome. The Great Northern's Big Domes served on the flagship Empire Builder between Chicago and the Pacific Northwest. After their GN service, the cars dispersed to a variety of subsequent operators who modified the carbody by replacing the GN herald panel with flush fluting, giving the cars a cleaner, unadorned stainless steel appearance suited to their new owners' identities.

The five decal variants represent the operators that ran these modified cars:

• CR 55 — Conrail: the car as operated by Conrail, numbered 55, as part of Conrail's executive business train fleet.
• NS 24 "Delaware" — Norfolk Southern: the car as operated by Norfolk Southern Railway, numbered 24 and named "Delaware", as part of NS's business train fleet.
• SLRG 511 — San Luis & Rio Grande / Iowa Pacific: the car numbered 511 as operated by the San Luis & Rio Grande Railroad (SLRG) under Iowa Pacific Holdings, used on scenic excursion services in Colorado.
• SLRG 554 — San Luis & Rio Grande / Iowa Pacific: the car numbered 554 in the same Iowa Pacific/SLRG fleet, representing a second car in this scenic Colorado operation.
• SNC 508 and 512 — Saratoga & North Creek Railway: the cars numbered 508 and 512 as operated by the Saratoga & North Creek Railway on scenic excursion services through the Adirondack Mountains of New York.

See also the companion listing for the Budd Big Dome (As Built) from Out of the Box Models for the same car type in its original Great Northern configuration with herald intact.

After purchase, your digital files will be available for immediate direct download from your order confirmation. These files are for Personal Use Only — if you are interested in a commercial license, please contact us.

Please allow a few weeks for 3D printing and shipping. Decals are shipped separately — please allow some additional time for decal printing and shipping after ordering.