Should an AT&SF warbonnet scheme freight loco have "Chief" logos on the sides? In other words, did the prototypes pull passenger cars occasionally? I'm trying to get my new Bachmann EMD FT A and B units looking right...
Thanks for your help on this. Oh, and where can I find the numbers of these which were made with the warbonnet scheme for AT&SF?
-Chris G.
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AFAIK a sign or logo saying "Chief" or "Super Chief" was proposed to be part of the Warbonnet scheme, but was never actually used as part of the design.
FT's were primarily designed as freight engines, but did have an option to be ordered with a steam generator in the B unit of an A-B set so it could be used on passenger trains. (The generator and water supply went where the cab would have been in an A unit.)
Santa Fe's FTs were purchased as freight-only engines and painted in the early blue and yellow (cream) with red striping. Due to the need for more passenger diesels after WW2, they retrofitted steam generators into some of their FT sets, and repainted them in the Warbonnet scheme for passenger service. I believe it was a stop-gap measure; by the early fifties I think the FTs were all back to just doing freight hauling, and back in the later blue and yellow freight scheme.
Here's a book that has a lot of info, sells for around $25 (note ATSF FT's in top pic):
http://www.hobbylinc.com/htm/wit/wit1000.htm
Thank you very much! Happy to be here!
Santa Fe took delivery of the #167LABC FT set in February 1945. This particular set was equipped with steam generators in the B units and 95 MPH gearing. Although delivered in freight colors the 167 set was used in passenger service and tested the concept of F units pulling Santa Fe passenger trains. Between April and August 1946 the Santa Fe took an additional 10 four unit FT sets and converted them to passenger units. These units were numbered #158LABC-166LABC, and 168LABC. These Santa Fe passenger FTs were all repainted into the red and silver warbonnet scheme. See John McCall's Early Diesel Daze for details.
Gene Crossett has the roster data here: http://atsfrr.net/resources/CrossetGene/all-time%20diesel%20roster/pwr0150.htm It looks like the last Santa Fe FTs in passenger service were done by 1953.
Were the number boards only the two on either side of the nose or were there some on the sides as i've seen on a Lionel model? I need to look at the books!
Chris G. Were the number boards only the two on either side of the nose or were there some on the sides as i've seen on a Lionel model? I need to look at the books!
There were three square illuminated numbers on the sides of Santa Fe FT units.
On the book cover reproduced above you can see them under the name "Santa Fe" on the side of the blue FT.
The Bachmann HO model isn't very accurate but it looks good in Warbonnet - I've got one, I just don't stress about the fact that the detail, particularly the paint and lettering are wrong...
M636C
AFAIK all FT's were delivered with the small side-facing numberboards on the nose. Many were replaced over time with larger numberboards like the ones that were standard issue in later F and E units. You'd probably have to look for pics of a particular engine to see if/when it was converted.
FWIW Stewart/Bowser makes (or at least used to make) FT's with the large glass-covered side-of-the-body numbers. Great Northern used them also.