4884Bigboy, Wide awake as always!
Thanks for that correction and additional info (also shame on me in forgetting the "Kodachrome" scheme).
Looks like Athearn will actually have a wider selection to choose from as far as versions and road names.
As for adding the steam lines...seems like an easy mod that modelers can add if Athearn decides not to.
Another point to ponder:
The F45/FP45s on the roads mentioned had quite a few modifications over the years. Will Athearn just produce one or two "basic" versions of the F and FP and splash on all or most of the above mentioned paint schemes? For example, the 1960s SF FP45s had Gyra lights, but years later the Gyras were plated over and horns relocated to the roof center. The F45s went through some similar changes. BN's F45s had the famous yellow "beacons" on their cab roofs.
Will the gyra lights and beacons be functional?
I definetly will be e-mailing Athearn with "suggestions".
"I like my Pullman Standards & Budds in Stainless Steel flavors, thank you!"
CAZEPHYR wrote: AntonioFP45 wrote: Received a reply from Athearn after sending them an e-mail asking about the cowls. 7/19/06 - "Is true. Details will follow in several month. NO additional information at this time." I guess the rep is a man or woman of "few words" but still, it is welcome news. At this stage I wonder if Athearn is still working the details out with the manufacturer or if the tooling/dies have already being produced. My guess is a late 2007-early 2008 release. I hope I'm wrong, but based on these manufacturers' track record it's at least over one year away. Guys, it might be a good idea for you to continue to give Athearn input on this. For example what versions will we see? There's quite a few: Santa Fe Warbonnet Red 1968 with Gyra-Lights. (100 series) Santa Fe Warbonnet "Super Fleet" Red 1988. Gyra Light space plated over. (5,000 series, renumbered to 100 series, renumbered again to 90 series) - can drive a prototype modeler nuts! Santa Fe Warbonnet Blue (5000 series) Santa Fe Solid Blue Milwaukee Road Yellow (with Gyra lights) Milwaukee Road Orange Wisonsin Central AntonioFP45 Thanks for the update from Athearn. That list of FP45's will be welcomed with a lot of sales ehen they are availble.
AntonioFP45 wrote: Received a reply from Athearn after sending them an e-mail asking about the cowls. 7/19/06 - "Is true. Details will follow in several month. NO additional information at this time." I guess the rep is a man or woman of "few words" but still, it is welcome news. At this stage I wonder if Athearn is still working the details out with the manufacturer or if the tooling/dies have already being produced. My guess is a late 2007-early 2008 release. I hope I'm wrong, but based on these manufacturers' track record it's at least over one year away. Guys, it might be a good idea for you to continue to give Athearn input on this. For example what versions will we see? There's quite a few: Santa Fe Warbonnet Red 1968 with Gyra-Lights. (100 series) Santa Fe Warbonnet "Super Fleet" Red 1988. Gyra Light space plated over. (5,000 series, renumbered to 100 series, renumbered again to 90 series) - can drive a prototype modeler nuts! Santa Fe Warbonnet Blue (5000 series) Santa Fe Solid Blue Milwaukee Road Yellow (with Gyra lights) Milwaukee Road Orange Wisonsin Central
Received a reply from Athearn after sending them an e-mail asking about the cowls.
7/19/06 - "Is true. Details will follow in several month. NO additional information at this time."
I guess the rep is a man or woman of "few words" but still, it is welcome news.
At this stage I wonder if Athearn is still working the details out with the manufacturer or if the tooling/dies have already being produced. My guess is a late 2007-early 2008 release.
I hope I'm wrong, but based on these manufacturers' track record it's at least over one year away.
Guys, it might be a good idea for you to continue to give Athearn input on this. For example what versions will we see? There's quite a few:
Santa Fe Warbonnet Red 1968 with Gyra-Lights. (100 series)
Santa Fe Warbonnet "Super Fleet" Red 1988. Gyra Light space plated over. (5,000 series, renumbered to 100 series, renumbered again to 90 series) - can drive a prototype modeler nuts!
Santa Fe Warbonnet Blue (5000 series)
Santa Fe Solid Blue
Milwaukee Road Yellow (with Gyra lights)
Milwaukee Road Orange
Wisonsin Central
AntonioFP45
Thanks for the update from Athearn. That list of FP45's will be welcomed with a lot of sales ehen they are availble.
Lets not forget the F45 that had steam lines as well. Have a noticable difference in the front plow
Ch
MP 53 on the BNSF Topeka Sub
Let's not forget the F45s, Antonio:
Santa Fe Blue w/ Yellow Details
Santa Fe Blue Bonnet
SF Kodachrome (FP45s too)
Burlington Northern
Santa Fe Blue Bonnet BNSF Patch
MKM
Wisconsin Southern
Wisconsin Central
Charlie wrote: CAZEPHYR wrote: The model FP45's will not have stainless steel side panels since the real ones did not have stainless sides. They were painted silver panels and not stainess like the later passenger F3's and the F7's/. cazypher, I'm not talking about the F45/FP45 but the F7s. I couldn't give a rats a** about the F45/FP45s. Ch
CAZEPHYR wrote: The model FP45's will not have stainless steel side panels since the real ones did not have stainless sides. They were painted silver panels and not stainess like the later passenger F3's and the F7's/.
The model FP45's will not have stainless steel side panels since the real ones did not have stainless sides. They were painted silver panels and not stainess like the later passenger F3's and the F7's/.
cazypher, I'm not talking about the F45/FP45 but the F7s. I couldn't give a rats a** about the F45/FP45s.
Sorry for the confusion. The F7's did look good in the yellow warbonnet scheme and the passenger units did retain the stainless panels without being painted.
The 347C is pictured in yellow warbonnet in the Santa Fe Diesel book. This unit was repainted back to the Red Warbonnet scheme and donated to the California State Museum in Sacramento along with an F3B in Warbonnet paint.
If you don't want to wait for Athearn Genesis to come out with that N-Scale F45, you can buy a resin body shell kit (complete with etched metal detail parts) that will fit a Kato N-scale SD40 mechanism here:
http://southernalbertarail.com/index.php?page=navleft_2_col
Pretty darn good looking N-scale kit that is too!
YES!!
Finally! An N scale FP45!!! Woohoo! I've been waiting for a good one of these ever since I started N scaling. Dreams do come true! I just hope it is reasonably priced.
I'd like to see an N scale P30...They were awesome looking.
Scott - Dispatcher, Norfolk Southern
Easy tiger!!! We knew what you were talkin' about. Give it a chance.
a rat's a**
Charlie was that comment really necessary?? C'mon amigo, it's not a cool sign of a thinking man.
4884BigBoy, interesting point.
The prototype GE P30s were rather few in number (I vaguely remember....I think Amtrak had less than 25). Here in Florida a group of P30s were assigned to handle the Auto Train for several years. A model was produced in HO scale back in the 80s. I forgot which company made it.
AntonioFP45 wrote: mustanggt wrote: This is good news for me, ................hink we may also see an F40C out of this? Or maybe that one loco that the F40PH replaced? (can't remember the designation) - Dave Mustanggt, it sounds like the "one loco" you may be referring to is the SDP40f which Cmarchand and I refer to in the above posts. Though very different from the FP45, the body style is similar. Amtrak originally intended the F40 for use in short and medium distance runs, instead it became Amtrak's primary power for most of its diesel powered trains after the problems with the SDP40fs derailing in certain situations became a public spectacle.
mustanggt wrote: This is good news for me, ................hink we may also see an F40C out of this? Or maybe that one loco that the F40PH replaced? (can't remember the designation) - Dave
This is good news for me, ................hink we may also see an F40C out of this? Or maybe that one loco that the F40PH replaced? (can't remember the designation) -
Dave
Mustanggt, it sounds like the "one loco" you may be referring to is the SDP40f which Cmarchand and I refer to in the above posts. Though very different from the FP45, the body style is similar. Amtrak originally intended the F40 for use in short and medium distance runs, instead it became Amtrak's primary power for most of its diesel powered trains after the problems with the SDP40fs derailing in certain situations became a public spectacle.
Thanks Csmith.
I'll send Athearn an e-mail and ask if they can give some details.
Funny, I still remember back in 2004 the posts from one or two members ridiculing the thought of Athearn re-tooling the cowls....stating that it wasn't a very good idea for Athearn as they likely wouldn't sell well. Never mind that these cowl units had a unique body style and rich history (especially with the "Super Fleet" program).
The influence of their styling was quite visible when the EMD GP60s rolled out of the plant two decades after the F45/FP45s were introduced. That modified safety cab with the tear drop windshields looked very familiar!
AntonioFP45 wrote: BigBoy, Guys..... I went to the Athearn website, clicked on various links but didn't see any info on the updating of the F45/FP45 cowls. Where can one go to view the info?
BigBoy, Guys.....
I went to the Athearn website, clicked on various links but didn't see any info on the updating of the F45/FP45 cowls.
Where can one go to view the info?
Appearantly this info came from the National Train Show.
METRO wrote:A few years ago I made the decision to use mainly GE Genesis and EMD F7As as commuter power on my line. I made that deterimination after looking at the detail of the Athearn P42 against that of the FP45 directly. (I don't particularly care for F40PHs so that's why I largely skipped those) Had a higher quality FP45 been avalible back then, I might have chosen differently. They are huge and boy do they look great. Thier cousins, the F40Cs pull bi-levels around Chicago for METRA and are pretty incredible sprinters. But this begs the question, the F40C was purpose-built for commuter service on the Milwaukee Road, which also owned FP45s. So what was it about the FP45 that made it undesireable for the Chicago area commuter assignments? Cheers! ~METRO
Metro, I hope this helps:
Remember, the FP45 was introduced in the late 1960s,
1. Equipped with a 20 cylinder engine under that carbody....
2. Produced 3,600 h.p (big muscle)
3. Had an enourmous 5,000 gallon fuel tank.
She was designed for hauling long passenger trains (and fast freight) at high speeds over long stretches of track with few curves.
The F40C was a 1970s product, newer and more efficient.
1. Equipped with a 16 cylinder engine (like her cousins the SDP40f and SD40-2)
2. Was shorter in length
3. Lighter in weight and more fuel efficient,
4. Equipped with a smaller fuel tank.
Metra's commuter trains were and still are light weight, start and stop frequently (rough on big locomotives), and travel relatively short distances. The F40C's lighter weight and gear ratios allowed it to take off rather quickly from station stops, where the FP45s "higher end" gearing and heavier weight made it slower on the take off.
The Yellowbonnet is attractive but, I want the Bluebonnet and Stainless even though is to old for my modeling time frame
This is good news for me, as I have decided to model parts of California for my next layout (forget guilford). And also because the big EMD cowls are some of my favorite locos ever. Think we may also see an F40C out of this? Or maybe that one loco that the F40PH replaced? (can't remember the designation)
Here's something I don't think anybody metioned on the forum yet...........The 700 dollar HO Walthers/Heljan operating container crane. I wish I had the URL for the pic I saw of it............but I don't. It seems pretty cool, looks to be a european prototype. But that shouldn't keep us deep-pocketed modelers (definitely not me, my parents would kill me) from buying this thing, to add an extra piece of life to a layout besides the trains and lighted buildings most of us have.......
I don't know if I was spoiled, but here in New York the speed-stripe Gennies I saw are the P32AC-DMs (the dual-mode Gennies). And their faded scheme didn't look anywhere as pixilated as that!
http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/pictures/4922/Amtrak%20P32ACDM%20700%20at%20Albany,%20NY%204-20-2004%20II.JPG
Ah well. At least we got the AMD103's painted up in the New Haven scheme around these parts, which looks just as nice. ;)
LongIslandTom wrote:Yep.. Both Details West and Detail Associates have detail kits for the AMD103. DW #271 and DA #771. I am very disappointed in the paint quality of some of the Athearn AMD103's, in particular the Phase-3 speed stripe versions. The red-white-and-blue striping looked HORRIBLE on the Athearn model-- The striping was pixelated, like it was made on a newsprint machine or something. Blech.
Yep.. Both Details West and Detail Associates have detail kits for the AMD103. DW #271 and DA #771.
I am very disappointed in the paint quality of some of the Athearn AMD103's, in particular the Phase-3 speed stripe versions. The red-white-and-blue striping looked HORRIBLE on the Athearn model-- The striping was pixelated, like it was made on a newsprint machine or something. Blech.
I bet you already know this, but if not; The original phase III striping on Amtrak P40's was in fact sort of pixilated toward the rear. Railfans sometimes refer to it as the "faded" scheme. So this may be what you are referring to as pixilated. Check it out here: http://www.hebners.net/amtrak/amtGEN40_800_809/amt802side.jpg
Matt from Anaheim, CA and Bayfield, COClick Here for my model train photo website
Southwest Chief wrote: Another loco I'd love to see with genesis quality tooling is, well the Amtrak genesis. Originally Athearn intended this to be the first in the genesis line but something caused delays.
Another loco I'd love to see with genesis quality tooling is, well the Amtrak genesis. Originally Athearn intended this to be the first in the genesis line but something caused delays.
That does make sense, having a Genesis in the Genesis line. But the RTR model is still pretty well detailed, and also has a more perfected version of the mechanism Athearn developed almost 40 years ago, which runs both quietly and smoothly. I'm pretty sure there's also a detail kit for it, so it can have near Genesis quality detailing.
_________________________________________________________________
Finally! The old Athearn F45 and FP45's sure were looking quite dated compared with today's tooling. Oh and for you late Santa Fe early Amtrak fans, don't forget the Intermountain Yellowbonnet (passenger unit #304). I have one and it's hot, although it's been out of production for a while now. It would be great if Athearn released a genesis F7 in the Yellowbonnet passenger scheme...but being such a rare scheme (only an ABBA set ever wore it) I doubt it.
Definetly agree that SDP40fs would be neat models to be produced in HO and N.
These giants were essentially modified SD40-2s with streamlined carbodies.
Inspite of the derailment problems on certain curves, SDP40fs hauled Amtrak trains on the east coast all the way up until 1981 after the last sections of the Silver Star and Silver Meteor were converted to HEP and the F40s took over.
I have very fond memories of these big cowls and took quite a few photos of them. Even got a cab ride on one occasion. Cab interiors were roomy, color was gray. The SCL crews that ran these trains from the Florida west coast back then were very friendly towards railfans.
Was really neat that the locomotive class "redeemed" itself after Amtrak traded 18 of the SDP40fs to Santa Fe in exchange for CF7s. After Santa Fe regeared them and replaced the "hollow bolster" trucks with standard trucks, they racked up hundreds of thousands of miles before being retired in the late 90s. Photos of them on hot shot Santa Fe intermodal trains can be found on railpictures.net.
One prototype was saved last year by a gentleman who purchased it. I'm not certain, but someone on the TRAINS forum mentioned that it was the MAERSK unit.
The SDP40fs, IMHO, were attractive units that should not be so easily overlooked, especially by Amtrak and Santa Fe modelers/fans.
Now if we can get them to manufacture an SDP40F! For those of us modeling Amtrak in the early days, this would be a dream come true. E-units alone do not complete the Phase I timeline. Fellow Amtrak modelers send a email to Athearn! Hopefully they will take it into consideration.
Happy Railroading!
Carl in Florida - - - - - - - - - - We need an HO Amtrak SDP40F and GE U36B oh wait- We GOT THEM!