Con-Cor - Limited Edition Set #26 / 8508 - Passenger Train, Steam, Europe, Epoch II - Compagnie Internationale des Wagons-Lits - 7-Unit

Specific Item Information: Limited Edition Set #26 "La Flèche d'Or, The Golden Arrow": one steam locomotive with 6 Orient Express Pullman cars.

This is the only European set of the Con-Cor "Limited Edition Set" collection. It was created from existing models of Rivarossi, notably set 9011 made of the French "Chapelon" Pacific and the 3 first cars listed below, released in the late 70's.
La Flèche d'Or was the Orient Express service from Paris to London, created in 1926.

- Steam Locomotive 4-6-2 Pacific "Chapelon" Nord #3.1173 "La Chapelle" (Rivarossi 9180) w. 4-axle Tender Nord #35.118 - Chocolate
- Baggage #1263 M [P] (Rivarossi 9552) - Brown and Cream
- Restaurant Car #2871 (Rivarossi 9553) - Blue
- Pullman Salon Car #4018 E (Rivarossi 9555) - Brown and Cream
- Sleeper type S #3571 A [P] (Rivarossi 9616) - White
- Sleeper type Lx #3532 A [P] (Rivarossi 9554) - Blue
- Sleeper type Lx #3531 A [P] (Rivarossi 9617) - Blue, with banner "US Army Transportation Corps"

Set also contains:
- "Venice Simplon Orient-Express, the return of the world's most celebrated train", hard cover book, by Shirley Sherwood

Series Information: Con-Cor "Limited Edition Sets" or "Limited Edition Collector's Sets" were started after requests to 'custom paint' replicas of great passenger trains of the past. As these sets were very limited in quantity, many were sold out before they got to the retailer. While the quality of painting varied from time to time, they are a handsome addition to any collection and impressive on a layout.
With the exception of the first set, all were furnished in a wood-grained cardboard box with colored foam storage insert. For some sets, the manufacturer furnished additional cars or add-on sets.
The number of the set in the series is not printed on the box, but a listing was kept by Con-Cor and available as print-out in the most recent sets or on the (former) Con-Cor website.
Sets #1 to #13 were without stock number; stock numbers have been assigned and printed on the side label starting with set #14.

The wood-grained cardboard box has been used for other sets called "Special Edition Set" by Con-Cor, that only received a regular stock number, but were not accounted in the "Limited Edition Set" collection.

Prototype History: In Europe, the concentration of the myriad of railroads created in the 19th century culminated with the creation of large regional or national railroads in most countries by the end of the 1930s.
- 1905: Italy - Ferrovie dello Stato (FS)
- 1923: Austria: Bundesbahn Österreich (BBÖ)
- 1924: Germany - Deutsche Reichsbahn
- 1926: Belgium - SNCB-NMBS
- 1927: UK - The Big Four (GWR, LMS, LNER, SR)
- 1938: France - Société Nationale des Chemins de Fer Français (SNCF)
- 1941: Spain - RENFE
During this period, lighted signaling was introduced and the first electrification occurred.

Road Name History: Compagnie Internationale des Wagons-Lits (English: International Sleeping-Car Company), also CIWL, Compagnie des Wagons-Lits, or just Wagons-Lits, is an international hotel and travel logistics company, particularly known for its on-train catering and sleeping car services, as well as being the historical operator of the Orient Express.

The Orient Express was a showcase of luxury and comfort at a time when travelling was still rough and dangerous. CIWL soon developed a dense network of luxury trains all over Europe, whose names are still remembered today and associated to the art of luxury travel. Such as the Blue Train ("Train Bleu"), the Golden Arrow ("Flèche d'Or"), North Express ("Étoile du Nord") and many more. CIWL became the first and most important modern multinational dedicated to transport, travel agency, hospitality with activities spreading from Europe to Asia and Africa.

Now part of the French Newrest group, Compagnie Internationale des Wagons-Lits (et des grands express européens) (English: The International Sleeping-Car (and European Great Expresses) Company) was founded by Georges Nagelmackers during 1872, in Belgium. CIWL quickly established itself as the premier provider and operator of European railway sleepers and dining cars during the late 19th and the 20th centuries.

The holding company, CIWLT, is a fully owned subsidiary of the Accor Group, the historical brands were transferred to Wagons-Lits Diffusion in 1996.

From Wikipedia

Brand/Importer Information: Con-Cor has been in business since 1962. Many things have changed over time as originally they were a complete manufacturing operation in the USA and at one time had upwards of 45 employees. They not only designed the models,but they also built their own molds, did injection molding, painting, printing and packaging on their models.

Currently, most of their manufacturing has been moved overseas and now they import 90% of their products as totally finished goods, or in finished components. They only do some incidental manufacturing today within the USA.

Important Note: The Con-Cor product numbering can be very confusing. Please see here in the article how to properly enter Con-Cor stock numbers in the TroveStar database.