Saturday, July 24, 2021

1981 Santa Fe Autos and Auto Parts in N Scale (5027)

Kato SD40-2 5027 "Snoot".  Fresh out of the paint shop.  Custom painted and decaled with all the normal rooftop additions.  After a spree of buying SD45's and SD45-2's from 1967 to 1974, Santa Fe returned to the 16 cylinder 3000 h.p. SD40-2 in 1977, purchasing 187 units thru 1981.  Along with the twenty SD40's bought in 1966, this class represented the largest type of locomotive on the Santa Fe roster.  Each cylinder on the diesel was 645 cubic inches

In 1976,  GE C30-7 was introduced as the successor to the U36C locomotive and contained several internal and external design changes resulting in 16 cylinders and 3000 h.p.  Early C30's featured a blanked nose headlight receptacle, with the headlight relocated above the window area.  The last order of 14 units of the 157 ordered between 1977 and 1982 had white number boards and a smooth nose.  8077 is mildly weathered with all the appropriate roof add-ons.



Unit 5656 was built in May 1972 and delivered in the Yellow Stripe paint scheme.  All 90 purchased were eventually repainted into the Yellow Warbonnet scheme, and equipped with air conditioning, high mounted air horns, window shades, and radio antennae.  5656 was mildly weathered, with rust showing around the air filter.  You can faintly see where the yellow paint in that air filter has just about weathered away.

The Auto Rack cars were highlighted in "1981 Auto Rack" video.
Two Micro Trains DT&I 60' Auto Box cars, mildly weathered.

the
MT 60 ft Auto Box weathered.  The roof walk has been removed.

MILW 60 ft "Waffle" DD boxcar, mildly weathered.

Texas and Pacific 86' Auto Parts Box car from Trainworx.

 Santa Fe 86' Auto Parts Box car from Trainworx.

A video of this train can be found on You Tube at:

.https://youtu.be/alSfsJ7-FMw

Thanks for Your interest.
































































































































Sunday, May 17, 2020

1991 Santa Fe UPS Piggyback Train le by FP45 #93


Motive Power for UPS train
The FP45's are highly modified Lima shells on a 
C44-9W chassis.  New ladder steps and air conditioning unit part of improvements, along with the obvious repaint and use of Micro Scale decals.
Santa Fe SD45's 5512 and 5429.  The 5429 received a 12 cylinder engine normally found in SD40-2's



The FP 45's are powered by Kato C30-7 units with SD45 trucks 

UPS trailers are from both Trainworx and Athearn.
Flat cars are from all manufacturers.







A video of this train can be found on YouTube at:

https://youtu.be/EYqQ_oBCi2M





























Wednesday, May 13, 2020

1953 Transcontinental Santa Fe Chief #20




The 1953 Chief was the last year this train handled the transcontinental traffic from New York via the New York Central, Pennsylvania via the Pennsylvania RR, and Washington/Baltimore via the B&O RR. 

 The westbound #19 Chief picked up the four sleepers in Chicago for the trip to Los Angeles.  The B&O 6-6-4 headed eventually to San Diego with transfers from the other sleepers.  Chief #20 handled the return trip to Chicago.

In 1954, the Super Chief would handle all transcontinental traffic going forward.  Santa Fe supplied their sleepers to the NYC, PRR, and B&O.  Santa Fe wanted the appearance of their top passenger train to be uniform. 


1953 Santa Fe Chief No. 20 


                                             EMD F7 ABBA No 37


            Budd                      Baggage                  3448
                             
            Pullman                 4-4-2 Sleeper          PRR
               
            Pullman                 4-4-2 Sleeper          NYC
                   
            Pullman                 10-6                          NYC
         
            Pullman                 6-6-4                         From B&O

            Budd                      BarDorm Lounge   Acoma 1370

            Budd                       Diner                       1490

            Pullman                  17 Roomette           Tonto

            Pullman                  4-4-2 Sleeper          Mojave

            Pullman                  8-2-2 Sleeper          Tohatchi

            Budd                       3-2-1 Sleeper          Navajo


Budd Baggage 3448 from Kato
Budd Baggage Lounge San Simien. The model is custom made with M&R sides fitted to an American Limited chassis, Kato trucks and wheel sets. 
Pennsylvania RR 4-4-2 Sleeper, custom painted, with the car from Kato  




NYC 4-4-2 Sleeper custom painted from Kato


NYC 10-6 Sleeper custom painted from Kato


Santa Fe 6-6-4 Estancia Valley from Kato


Budd Santa Fe Lounge Acoma. The model is custom made with M&R sides fitted to an American Limited chassis, Kato trucks and wheel sets. 
Dining Car 1490 from Kato, custom painted with Alcor Polished Aluminum, as were all Santa Fe cars in this train.




Santa Fe 17 Roomette Sleeper Tonto.  Again,  custom made with M&R sides fitted to an American Limited chassis, Kato trucks and wheel sets. 


Santa Fe 4-4-2 Mojave Sleeper.  Custom made as above.


Santa Fe Tohatchi 8-2-2 Sleeper, custom made as above.


Santa Fe 3-2-1 Observation.  Custom painted car from Oriental Limited Super Chief set.



The 1953 Chief was the last year this train handled the transcontinental traffic from New York via the New York Central, Pennsylvania via the Pennsylvania RR, and Washington/Baltimore via the B&O RR. 

 The westbound #19 Chief picked up the four sleepers in Chicago for the trip to Los Angeles.  The B&O 6-6-4 headed eventually to San Diego with transfers from the other sleepers.  Chief #20 handled the return trip to Chicago.

In 1954, the Super Chief would handle all transcontinental traffic going forward.  Santa Fe supplied their sleepers to the NYC, PRR, and B&O.  Santa Fe wanted the appearance of their top passenger train to be uniform. 


1953 Santa Fe Chief No. 20 


                                             EMD F7 ABBA No 37


            Budd                      Baggage                  3448
                             
            Pullman                 4-4-2 Sleeper          PRR
                
            Pullman                 4-4-2 Sleeper          NYC
                   
            Pullman                 10-6                          NYC
         
            Pullman                 6-6-4                         From B&O

            Budd                      BarDorm Lounge   Acoma 1370

            Budd                       Diner                       1490

            Pullman                  17 Roomette           Tonto

            Pullman                  4-4-2 Sleeper          Mojave

            Pullman                  8-2-2 Sleeper          Tohatchi

            Budd                       3-2-1 Sleeper          Navajo



A video of this train can be found on YouTube at: 

        https://youtu.be/eL6yx2K933c                             






































































































Tuesday, April 7, 2020

1981 Santa Fe Auto and Auto Parts in N Scale (8755)



U36C 8755, mildly weathered, custom painted.  This is a Kato U30C, with a N Scale of Nevada U36C conversion kit.  N Scale of Nevada is now out of business.  The U36C was manufactured by General Electric, and Santa Fe purchased 100 of these 16 cylinder, 3600h.p. units between 1972 and 1975.

Nicely weathered Kato SD45 with fading blue paint, and the usual rooftop features.

4011 is another custom SD39, made from a Kato SD40.  Please refer to my last post for info on the conversion.













   

Video posted on YouTube at:
 
https://youtu.be/7GV_6Ds_jaM


Tuesday, March 24, 2020

1981 Santa Fe train #678 Autos and Auto Parts in N Scale (5002)




  1. Electro Motive Division SD40 5002.  This is part of an order of 20 delivered in 1966.  The SD40's were rebuilt in the late 70's and brought up as close as possible  to the SD40-2 standards, primarily in the electrical components area.  Of course, these locos received air conditioning, "can" antennae, raised air horns, and a rotating beacon.  They also had their footboards removed from the pilot, and replaced with snow plows.  All received the Yellow Warbonnet paint scheme.



SD40 5012, part of initial order of 20 locomotives in 1966 (5000-5019).  Santa Fe then targeted the SD45 for future deliveries, until 1977 with the initial purchases of the SD40-2.  Delivered in the Yellow Stripe paint scheme and numbered 1700-1719, they were part of a remanufacturing program during 1980 and 1981.  Unit 5012 appears as if it has just been released from it's rebuilding!

Trailing unit 5945.  Many of my FP45's are old Lima units (70's) rebuilt with frames from Kato C44-9W's. This unit also sports SD-45 trucks, Fuel tank from SD-75M, fan covers from BLMA, and steps from J&J.

The Auto Rack cars were highlighted in "1981 Auto Rack" blog.


aut
UP 60' DD Box from MT (Auto Parts)
 
SP 86 ft Open Air Auto Rack from Athearn

WP 60 ft DD box (Auto Parts)

60 ft. Auto Parts car from Atlas

Frisco 86' Auto Parts car from Blueford Shops

You can view a video of this train at:

https://youtu.be/-1yxxGmx9Bk

Thanks for viewing my blog!

Sunday, February 2, 2020

1981 Santa Fe Auto and Auto Parts in N Scale (5512)

SD45 5512, straight from the paint shop in San Bernardino.


General Electric U36C, created from a U30C Kato frame and a N Scale of Nevada (now OOB) U36C conversion kit.  You can occasionally find these kits on Ebay.  Custom painted with the normal roof additions.


U30CG was a General Electric custom project for the Santa Fe.  I have a thorough description of the modifications done to a similar Trix unit in my July 21, 2012 blog, the most important being the use of a Kato chassis.  Although these units were retired in September of 1980, I couldn't resist having one these on my roster in June of 1981.


Santa Fe SD39 4015.  Please refer to my April 15, 2013 blog for a thorough review of the SD39's on my roster (three).  This 
particular unit represents a freshly repainted unit. 

UP 60ft. Hi Cube box car from Micro Trains


86 ft. Mo Pac Auto Parts car from Trainworx

Athearn  60 ft C&O Double Door Auto Parts car, Heavily Weathered

Micro Trains 60' single door Grand Trunk Hi Cube box car


Micro Trains 60 ft Auto Parts car, Roof Walk removed


60' Custom Painted single door box car from Atlas


Santa Fe 86 ft Auto Parts car from Trainworx

Detroit and Toledo Shore Line 86' Auto Parts car from Bluford Shops

Heavily weathered UP 60' Auto Parts car from Atlas.


86' Santa Fe Auto Parts car, possibly very old Atlas car, weathered and partially repainted. 

You can see a video of this train at: