Any Suggestions on What Santa Fe Steam Loco?

[Smoke Stack Lightnin']

I got a deal on some Lionel Santa Fe heavyweight (3 axle truck) passenger cars (circa 2004). Being more of a first generation diesel, Pennsy kinda guy, I am at a loss for what would be nice to pull 6 or 7 of these cars. Of course Lionel has suggested their $1100 Northern, but not even Santa Claus will get me that Santa Fe! Can anyone suggest a steam loco perhaps at half the aforementioned price, that would be appropriate and substantial enough for these cars. They don't exactly glide over the rails or through the 072 curves (tubular track). My heavier engines with traction tires or Magnatraction do fine, but wrong roads. The lighter engines just sit and spin.

PS- I don't ebay. My loss, or maybe not.

Thanks,
Rich F.

[Birds]

Steam: a 4-8-4 or a 4-10-4.
(Williams sells a 4-8-4 Berkshire in the Santa Fe roadname: http://www.williamstrains.com/HTML/TL_Berkshires.htm).

Here's a good article on Sante Fe history from Wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atchison%2C_Topeka_and_Santa_Fe_Railway

Which of Sante Fe's passenger service's are you going to run?

Super Chief:
- started in 1926 with heavy weights
- diesel in 1936 with EMD engines
- streamliners added in 1937

[Birds]

I forgot the obvious...

Williams sells Sante Fe's "Blue Goose" J-Class 4-8-4 streamlined engine:

http://www.williamstrains.com/HTML/TL_JClass.htm

[Smoke Stack Lightnin']

Birds,
Thanks for responding and the history site. The cars are heavy weight "Super Chief" dusty green with black roofs. The dining car announcements actually mention "thanks for riding the Super Chief, so I guess 1926ish must be the era. Do you know if these cars would have been in service with F units i.e. war bonet 2343's (FA-B-A)? Williams would be in my price range and could easily pull the consist. Blue goose is real cool.

Thanks,
Rich F.

[Birds]

Rich,

My knowledge of the Santa Fe is limited.

The first "F" diesel units came out in 1939 (the "FT").  The heavy weights were phased out on the Super Chief in 1937.  So that would not have been a real life combination, but that doesn't mean you can't run yours that way!

The only year for a diesel / heavy weight combination would have been in 1936 using an EMD.
Here is a link that has pictures and shares the history of EMD diesels on the Sante Fe (half way down the page):
http://www.answers.com/topic/emd-1800-hp-b-b

Here's a picture of the first diesel in 1936 - notice the heavy weights at the right edge of the photo (click photo to enlarge):


The Berkishire 4-8-4 from Williams would be a pretty good match for the heavy weights in terms of looks.  That would have been the look up to 1936.  I didn't mention the Williams Hudsons because those are O-27, and you didn't comment on how long or large the heavy weights were.

The Blue Goose pulled streamlined cars (but it wasn't the Super Chief), so the heavy weights wouldn't be a real life match either - but it's a great looking engine!

Have fun!
Chris

[Jumijo]

I'll second the nomination for the Williams Santa Fe Berk.


Jim

[mpzpw3]

If they are 60 ft. versions, no engine will look right pulling them, and you should sell them ( I been looking  for these cars for a long time!)!!

If you just have to keep them, I would recommend the 8900 MPC FARR#1 engine, or 665, 2055 postwar hudson, or Williams counterpart. If they are 72 ft., I would say a postwar 773 hudson, or the modern Williams or Lionel version. I have the Santa Fe warhorse hudson that would look great with those cars (hint,hint)!

[Smoke Stack Lightnin']

Thanks guys, and IMHO they will look best with steam power. So mpzpw3, how much for the warhorse hudson, LOL. If it makes you feel better, they are 19" long, so I think that makes them an 80' proto.

Rich F.

[Texas Chief]

Birds, your knowledge of steam is limited also. A 4-8-4 is a "Northern" on the Santa Fe. A berkshire is a 2-8-4. The Santa Fe "Blue Goose" was a 4-6-4 "Hudson", and only the NW had a "J" class 4-8-4.  Rich, MTH also made a Railking version of the ATSF 4-8-4 "Northern" for about $500 if you can still find it. Try the discount houses that advertize in CTT and "O"Gauge mag. That's where I bought mine.

Dick

Texas Chief

[Birds]

Post removed by "Birds"

[lionelsoni]

The Berkshires on the Williams web site look like 2-8-4s to me.

[Birds]

Yup!  Here's mud in my eye!

Look at it hundreds of times and still got it wrong!

 

[RR Redneck]

Well I dont know what all this fuss is about, far as I am concerned almost any ATSF loco that ever pulled a passenger train (be it a small town local or a major express) would work just as great as the next.

[Smoke Stack Lightnin']

I ordered the Williams SF scale Hudson.  According to the picture, it looks great, and considering I've never had a problem with any of my Williams units, I'm sure I've made a solid choice.  Thanks to all for your opinions and help.

Rich F.