Monday, September 24, 2012

Renumbered "Super C" FP45's 1971

 
As part of a general renumbering  scheme on the Santa Fe in 1969-70, the 100 Class FP45's were renumbered into the 5940 class, just ahead of the 40 F45's (5900-5939).  At this time, the FP45's still retained their steam boilers necessary for use in passenger service.  However, with Amtrak taking over, the FP45's were relegated to freight service, and any use of Santa Fe locomotives by Amtrak were to be handled by the venerable F7's.  The newer FP45's were to be used hauling freight.
 
 
Renumbered FP45's 5944, 5947 and 5946.
 


Close up of the Athearn 5947

The 5946 and 5947 were painted into the blue with yellow trim paint scheme (as rendered in my August 6th blog) sometime between July 1971 and May 1972.  The 5944 bypassed this paint job, and was painted in the yellowbonnet scheme in August of 1973.  That paint scheme would be present on the Santa Fe until the railroads' independent operations ended and they became part of BNSF in the mid-nineties.
 
 
Mitsui 40' container and independent operator trailer. Both custom painted.


I originally put this train together in the early 80's.  The Trailer Train 85' trailer is an early ConCor 89' trailer cut down to about 85'.  Some of the cars are Rapido models, again cut down to size.
 
These are early Con Cor 40' trailers.  These are custom painted.  Please also note these and nearly all the trailers have Micro Train wheelsets.  These are available via special order direct from MT. 


The Micro Train wheelsets hugely improve the looks of these old trailers.  While the trailers did not have much detail, a little custom painting, decalling and weathering can greatly improve the looks of the model.

TRS and BN

Not sure if the BN  trailer is era appropriaate.

Looks like I need to work on these two trailer hitches!

Note weathered flat car.

Couple more customs, a K Line container and an IC custom trailer, which should not be in this train as the ICG was not consolidated until 1972.

Matson container on spine trailer and MT 40' CNW trailer.
This era is not my area of expertise, and as I said, I put this train together in the late 70's or early 80's, so I am not sure if the trailers are are appropriate.  However, I recently got some of the new Trainworks 40' trailers, and those, along with the recently released Athearn trailers,  would make this train authentic for the time period.  As soon as I get enough of them, I will modify this train, and create a new video.  In the meantime, please click on the link below, which will take you to YouTube and a video of this train.  Thanks for you interest.
 

You can view a 3 minute video of this train on YouTube at:




 
                http://youtu.be/_bDnnOIJ5A0
                                               

3 comments:

  1. FYI. If this train is supposed to represent 1971, the Illinois Central Gulf didn't come into existence until Aug 1972.

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    1. As stated in the above paragraph, "This era is not my area of expertise...".

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