I have the Athearn G-28608 HO EMD FP45 SPSF (Kodachrome) #7990. Was there a prototype ATSF loco with the same number? I can't find a prototype photo on line. Thanks,
Dave
USAF (Retired)
Road numbers 7990-7999 were never assigned, so that is not an actual road number. They were in the 5900 series in SPSF paint.
Thanks, caldreamer, that's what I suspected. I found multiple photos of 5990 in SF Kodochrome paint.
Dave,
Caldreamer is absolutely correct in th fact that the FP45's never wore the 7990 series numbers. The 7990-7997 series was the proposed number block if the merger had been successful. According to many on both sides of the merger fence. SPSF meant "Shouldn't Paint So Fast.
The entire proposed Santa Fe renumbering scheme can be found on p.160 of Joe McMillan's book "Santa Fe Motive Power" by McMillan Publications, ISBN 0-934228-08-6. The FP45s were later renumbered 90-97 and repainted into the red and silver warbonnet scheme as part of the "Super Fleet". The Super Fleet included EMD's first production wide-nosed units, the GP60m's of the 100 class.
Thanks, NHTX!
ripvanwnkl I have the Athearn G-28608 HO EMD FP45 SPSF (Kodachrome) #7990. Was there a prototype ATSF loco with the same number? I can't find a prototype photo on line. Thanks,
Hello. I just received my Athearn FP45 (Kodachrome) #7990. The first thing I saw as I went to "unsleave" the box was the word "Fantasy" highlighted on the box end illustration of the loco. Hmmm. Guess SPSF may have just been a dream afterall? Still love it!
SparkPark,
The SPSF was not as much of a "fantasy" as many of the others we encounter in this hobby. Both SP and ATSF painted a number of units of all types in the yellow nosed, red bodied scheme. Large initials of either SP or SF graced the sides of the carbodies, depending on which road it actually belonged to. Space was left for the initials of the merger partner, once it became fact. Unfortunately, the feds gave it the thumbs down and, Santa Fe repainted the ones it intended to keep back to blue and yellow.
Southern Pacific was not as well off financially and most of theirs went to the scrappers years later, still wearing their "Kodakchrome" paint, although in a much bedraggled state. SP's first Kodakchrome, SD45R 7551 wore a paint scheme that was much more Santa Fe than SP, with the SP initials on the nose in a band containing four catwhisker stripes that the rest did not receive. As a measure aimed at simplifying (and reducing the cost of) repaints, the catwhiskers were eliminated.
I have not seen the Genesis version but, it may not be as much of a fantasy as advertised. There were plans afoot to renumbere the FP45s into the 7990-7997 block, which never happened. Not being a Santa Fe guy, I can't say whether or not they got Kodakchromed and, if they did, which ones. They all wound up in the red nose/silver bodies of the SuperFleet, numbered 90-97.