Alco FA-2

[Anonymous]

Did the Union Pacific use Alco FA-2's?
Q2: Does anbody use simulated grain in N-scale? I'd finally be able to do something with all those cereal crumbs at the bottom of the packet.
Q3: What kind of trains would you put behind the Life-Like 2-8-8-2? Was the 50' box car a common one, or coal drags?

[Anonymous]

Q1, in part I can only tell you, production years, 50-56, 291 units made.
Q3, according to MR March 2000 review, initially
used by N & W "In Heavy Duty Mountain Service"

I'm sure others will fill in the blanks.

[Anonymous]

Q3: I've seen only coal drags, but that doesn't mean that's all there was. As I understand it, the N&W had very few different locos, the A, J, and Y series, and a few others. So, the Y6 could pull box cars, I imagine. I got an idea! Get an O. Winston Link photo book out of the library and see what you can find behind the locos there. Of course, the loco is the focus, but maybe you'd see a few... I don't remember offhand, besides the coal, of course.
If you need to know about the UP, (sounds like you do), I'm clueless. But, Quality Craft has an FA-2 in O scale painted UP. That's no guarantee it ever happened in real life, of course, but it's a good sign!

[BRAKIE]

You want to use a 2-8-8-2 on a local? A mine run?,A coal drag? A drag freight? A hot shot? Pusher/helper? a yard switcher? It did not bother the N&W to use them as they saw fit.We modelers worry more on the"correct way" to use a given locomotive then the prototypes.I would not put it pass the N&W to used them in limited passenger service. I am not talking about the A class but the Y class 2-8-8-2...All you need to do is look at the way N&W used their diesels.The NS does the same.A locomotive to a rail road is a "tool" to get the job done.

[Anonymous]

According to the UP Historical Society roster [available linked through this website, under Community],the UP never had any Alco FA-2's.These were 1600 HP units built 1950-53.
The UP had acquired a total of 44 FA-1's and 46 FB-1's [1500 HP ] from 1947-48, and possibly as late as 1950.It seems many or most units ran up until 1965.
Historical Societies are good sources of info for this type of question, and so is the forum section on 'Trains and Railroading'. regards/Mike

[Anonymous]

A2: I'd be concerned about cereal crumbs
1) attracting critters. Hard to justify a 60ft ant on your layout!
2) getting moldy.

[Anonymous]

Thanks everyone... The main reason I was asking Question 3 was to help decide if I should get some more box cars or not. I just purchased 15 more coal cars (25 total) so I think they'll do for the time being.