Trains magazine "Alco PA" issue

[Convicted One]

Maybe one of you guys with the DVD can help me a little. Back somewhere around 2001-2005, Trains Magazine devoted an issue to commemorating the Alco PA.

 

What month was that?

[erikem]

Perhaps you were thinking of Classic Trains ca 2010? That came out not to long after R&R had the three part series on the E-units.

- Erik

[Firelock76]

I seem to recall a "Classic Trains" big Alco PA issue myself, and very good it was too.

I checked the back issues available on the "Classic Trains" website but don't see the PA issue.  I suspect it's sold out by now. 

In a nutshell, what I remember concerning the PA's from that issue was once Alco had gotten the bugs out of the PA they were actually pretty good, but they just didn't age as gracefully as the EMD cab units, so that's what spelled their doom.

[erikem]

The main source of bugs for the PA was the 244 engine, had that been worked out a bit better the PA would have been a lot more successful. EMD was concerned as the single engine PA should have been much less costly to produce than an equivalent E unit and ad the potential of costing less to maintain as well.

 - Erik

[DSchmitt]

Found these in Trains Magazine - Salute to a Different Diesel Nov 1966 pg 26-39 (most comprehensive article on PA) - American Beauty Sep 2001 pg 62-69 (Entire issue dedicated to ALCO)

[Leo_Ames]

For the period you mentioned (2001-2005), the only articles dedicated about it have been a story or two about Doyle's PA and the already mentioned 'American Beauty' from the Alco issue. Everything else is miscellaneous stuff like advertisements and stories about other topics that aren't dedicated to that model of locomotive. 

It's likely not it since it was just a single story (Although it did get the cover with a nice picture of a New Haven PA), you may also be remembering TRAINS short lived 'Landmark Locomotives' line of articles from the mid 1990's. The January 1997 issue is the one that covered the PA with a nice article and picture spread.

I don't remember anything that was even remotely dedicated to the PA in Classic Trains, although it's certainly been a component of many articles since it started back in 2000 or so. If it's there, it's 2010 or later since it's not on the DVD that covers through 2009 (I don't have my issues from the past 5 years handy, except the most recent one, to easily check those).

Perhaps an issue of the annual Locomotive special? Sadly, I've missed more of those than I've read. Despite their high quality and my high level of interest, they churn these out too quickly for me to keep up with while also subscribing to Trains and Classic Trains. 

Buying a year's worth of special issues these days probably would equal the cost of 12 months of Trains. 

[mandealco]

Hi Trains' Alco Centennial issue, Sept-2001, had an article on the PA's and a Santa Fe PA on the cover. Is this the one you are thinking of? Cheers Steve NZ

[CSSHEGEWISCH]

"Salute To A Different Diesel" by J. David Ingles in the November 1966 TRAINS was one of the first articles published to cover a single diesel model so thoroughly.  I was a high school freshman at the time and I learned more about PA's from that article, including the fact that they were passenger power.  I was only familiar with Erie/EL PA's which were beginning to spend most of their time on freights so this article was an eye-opener.

[NDG]

 

Thank You.

[Convicted One]

mandealco

Trains' Alco Centennial issue, Sept-2001, had an article on the PA's and a Santa Fe PA on the cover. Is this the one you are thinking of?

 

Thanks to all who replied. It was in fact the 9/2001 Alco centenial issue I was thinking of. I recalled the War bonnet on the cover and that must have  made me think it was dedicated to the PA.  I wanted the picture of the guy boring the engine block at the Alco factory, knew it was in "that" issue.

 

Thanks!!

[carl9305]

Another article on Alco's first PA diesels was in Classic Trains Winter 2008: The First PA'S: the ecstasy, the agony, and the legacy, pp 22-35. It too had a War Bonnet on the cover showing its introduction in 1946 at Chicago's Dearborn Station.

[Leo_Ames]

Is that the one about Santa Fe's PA's? Read that the other night, after making my post earlier in this thread (Which clearly wasn't fully correct).

There's also another story following that one, that isn't really about PA's, but stars Lehigh Valley's fleet. 

[Firelock76]

I knew there was a Classic Trains PA issue, just couldn't remember which one.  It was a GOOD issue, wish I'd kept it.

[M636C]

Trains January 1997 issue had a "Landmark Locomotive" article on the PA with fold out colour drawings, one of which was the NH green colour scheme...

M636C

[ndbprr]

The reason ATSF retained the PAs and used F units instead of E units is because Es were not designed for climbing hills and long grades.

[CSSHEGEWISCH]

The PA/PB's had heavier electrical systems than the E's.  This may explain why they lasted relatively long in passenger service on Santa Fe and SP and why they lasted in freight service on many other roads.

[GDRMCo]

The PAs had electrical and traction equipment from GE, thanks to using normal sized wheels vs the Es (32" wheels on the Es vs 42" on the PAs?) the PAs had much larger traction motors and could handle hills easily despite being A-1-A.