Southern RR Diesels

[knewsom]

What were the first diesels used by the Southern RR to pull freight in the early 40's? What kind of freight did they pull, and what manufacturer offers a model of this that is either DCC ready or DCC equiped.

[balearic]

Southern had some FTs they bought during the War. Stewart offers FTs, but I'm not sure if they have them factory-painted in Southern's colors (originally black and light gray, then green and light gray, then back to black and light gray). There was an article about modelling them in Model Railroading 2-3 years ago. Here's a link to some pics and roster info:

http://southern.railfan.net/images/archive/southern/ft/ft.html

[tomwatkins]

Stewart has offered the FT's in both Southern Schemes. Check out their website to see if they still have any available. I've got a set in the Green scheme and I really like them.
Have Fun,
Tom Watkins

[Anonymous]

They ran FT's. The only way I know this is because there is a for real FT-B unit (I suspect about the only one left) hiding in the weeds at the railroad museum in Duluth, Georgia. The peeling green and white paint is a clue. (The "Southern" print on the side is another.) Somewhere in this mess I have durty peectures of eet, senhor! Want to see them hehehehe?

Erik

[tstage]

Kevin,

Here's the direct links for Bowser/Stewart and the SR FTs:

http://www.bowser-trains.com/index.php

http://www.stewarthobbies.com/Loco%20Page/5021.htm

(Very handsome looking, I might add.)

There's also a detailing kit that you can purchase for each unit. Each kit will run you about $10. Here's the link for that:

http://www.bowser-trains.com/new_calscale.php

On a personal note, I have a Stewart EMD VO-660 switcher and it runs flawlessly. VERY nice units! I have also ordered a NYC FT A-B diesel (with sound [:D]) that I hope to get in October sometime.

Kevin, here's another site that may be helpful to you. It contains the diesel rosters for many of the RR's : http://www.thedieselshop.us/DS.html
For example, it looks like for yard switchers, Alco S1s and Baldwin VO-660s and 1000s were used on the Southern in the early 40s:

http://www.thedieselshop.us/Alco_S1.HTML (Proto 2000 makes this one)
http://www.thedieselshop.us/BLW_VO660.HTML (Stewart makes this one)
http://www.thedieselshop.us/BLW_VO1000.HTML

Hope that helps...

Tom

P.S. Kevin, Proto 2000 makes a VERY nice running and nicely detailed S1. MSRP is $110 - BUT! - it can be had for a deep discount at Trainworld.com for $29.99 or $39.99. I got my S1 from Trainworld and it runs as smooth as glass. Switching it to DCC will require you to isolate the motor from the frame before iinstalling a decoder in it. Not a difficult job, just a little extra work. [:)]

[dknelson]

According to Paul K. Withers' book "Diesels of the Southern Railway 1939-1982," the FT was indeed the first freight diesel on the Southern, although they already had SW-1 and NW-2 switchers and Alco S-1switchers that they had purchased during 1940.
The first FT was ordered for the CNO&TP subsidiary in Feb of 1941 so in a sense it was pre war. The first true Southern FT was ordered about two weeks after Pearl Harbor - not delivered until '43. Other FTs followed -- they had a large number. In 1947 the CNO&TP got F3s and there were Alco RS-2s on the Southern ordered in '48.

Color? Oddly Withers does not say, directly. The black and white photos make it hard to judge. There is a photo caption of a 1951 shot which says the FTs "wear the carriers' intermediate green scheme applied during 1949" and a 1952 photo says the engine is wearing "a coat of green paint" as if that is worth remarking on. Reading between the lines that might suggest they were not delivered in green and gray but I cannot swear to it.
Kevin, if Southern diesels interest you I strongly recommend trying to hunt down a copy of Withers' book.
Dave Nelson