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Post by WP 257 on Apr 15, 2014 8:21:31 GMT -8
Robert, the "Book" with the RS-37 is in my closet. believe that CP 8300/4200 has been scrapped,would like to be wrong about that. MLW built CP 8300 during April 1963,this was a month before Alco built the EL C424s,and forget which number was completed 1st,but it wasnt 2401.2401 was built near the end of May 1963. so the RS-37 does/did Exist as CP8300/4200. RS-11: how does one figure out the wheel arangement or Horse Power of a Unit with that model number ? the RS designation generally meant a B-B trucked unit,but then explain what the MLW RS-13 was ? Fast14, have never forgotten the C624,but was mainly covering some of the B-B Century units. the C624 would have been DL-600C,RSD-40 or something close to that. need to go diving into the Musty Alco files here. have seen a drawing once of a C628 looking loco on the DL-600B frame of 66'7", that would be almost 3' shorter than the C628 at 69'6". will also check into the C628,but Alco had given up on RSD use by then. Spikre Dashes are used in Alco model designations, no dashes in engineering dept. "DL" specs. According to this page www.thedieselshop.us/Alco%20Data-Index.HTML , the "RS37" (no dash) was a engineering specification for those MLW model C-424s. That's confusing, using a model designation for a DL spec. Why not just call them C-424s? There never was a MODEL RS-37 or C-624. There are lots of proposed or cataloged but not built locos from all the builders. My favorite is the EMD RB3600. There actually was a catalogued model C-624 (which didn't follow standard Century model naming convention). Diesel Era discusses it in their Alco Century Volume 1 and 2 books, and, if I recall correctly, they even show an Alco advertisement proving that Alco did indeed advertise a C-624. Diesel Era's contributing authors also clearly state that the model was quickly replaced with the Alco C-628 (Alco was leading the horsepower race and felt they had to be ahead of the competition in horsepower to gain sales). You are correct that no C-624's were ever actually built. Also--to others--I'm fine with the direction this topic has taken. If Spikre, atsfan or others want to joke about various Alco models and relatively obscure specifications--I'm ok with that. I have no problems with Spikre or anyone else on these forums (excepting that maybe one or two folks wouldn't desire to have me on their Christmas card list--lol). This has also been a pleasantly civil discussion, with some humor for good measure, so let it continue, please. Also, various folks at one HO manufacturer have kicked around the idea of offering "foobie" paint schemes on Alco Century models--at least some of these would likely be models for which orders were actually placed but then subsequently cancelled. Wouldn't that be fun?
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Post by bnsf971 on Apr 15, 2014 8:45:13 GMT -8
Okay, trying to drag this thread into something approaching the original topic: Are you wanting "new", or would you take something else you could use in "used"? Somewhere in this collage of posts, I thought I saw something about an RSD15. Maybe that's the point the thread went into the ditch.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 15, 2014 9:18:32 GMT -8
Okay, trying to drag this thread into something approaching the original topic: Are you wanting "new", or would you take something else you could use in "used"? Somewhere in this collage of posts, I thought I saw something about an RSD15. Maybe that's the point the thread went into the ditch. At this point.....who cares what the original topic was for the last page and half has been nothing but a couple tons of BS. Another derailed and lost thread.....yipee!
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Post by WP 257 on Apr 15, 2014 11:53:22 GMT -8
I was specifically soliciting comments regarding the five choices that I originally listed, which are currently or still available, brand new.
I generally avoid used diesels unless the photos document them to be in like new condition, with images on all sides of the unit, and no broken handrails since they can be difficult to repair even with Dr. Mike's special glue...
RSD-15 is just not my favorite engine, or not what I was looking for. I prefer blue and yellow warbonnet, which excludes most of them (except 5 repaints during last 3 years of operation), and they honestly aren't quite as appealing in that particular paint scheme to me.
Does anybody actually own, or want to admit to owning, the BLI C30-7's from the most recent run???
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Post by Deleted on Apr 15, 2014 12:05:22 GMT -8
I was specifically soliciting comments regarding the five choices that I originally listed, which are currently or still available, brand new. I generally avoid used diesels unless the photos document them to be in like new condition, with images on all sides of the unit, and no broken handrails since they can be difficult to repair even with Dr. Mike's special glue... RSD-15 is just not my favorite engine, or not what I was looking for. I prefer blue and yellow warbonnet, which excludes most of them (except 5 repaints during last 3 years of operation), and they honestly aren't quite as appealing in that particular paint scheme to me. No matter which brand you choose you can have quality control issues. It is not an Athearn only issue. The brand new in the box, just off the boat Proto by Walthers models I've recently purchased have had issues. A missing part on the PRR E8A which only took nearly three months to resolve and the detail parts were all nearly falling off because the factory didn't glue them properly. Other pieces were "okay" but if you are looking for faults, you'd pass. All manufacturers have problems, if you are perfectionist, then look at all models in person until you find one that meets your standards.
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Post by WP 257 on Apr 15, 2014 14:16:55 GMT -8
Yes, I fully understand that all manufacturers have problems. Some folks have been "burned" by Walthers; as for me personally, most of my problem child locomotives have been Athearn or Athearn Genesis, but I generally find their freight cars to be acceptable (with limited fragile exceptions).
I've seen enough new locomotives to be able to notice some trends. If, for example, a manufacturer has a QA/QC issue, it will generally manifest itself on most locomotives of a given run. Yet another model from the very same manufacturer might be a winner in most every respect. Sometimes a different production run of a given engine will be just fine. I also just avoid certain locomotive models from certain manufacturers simply because most of the ones I've ever seen had handrails that looked absolutely terrible (were never straight, and/or are sloppily glued and/or ridiculously thick/gross paint or just plain break too easily--the latest trend since delrin is now "out"). I'm just not paying $100 or more for sloppy glue that can't always be removed without paint damage (I've tried).
I always look at models in person when possible, paying a premium to my favorite stores for the privilege of doing so--yet there are other models I can only see if I order one in. Even the best stores don't stock every single Santa Fe engine that gets released (unless they happen to be out west, where I don't live).
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Post by Spikre on Apr 16, 2014 13:43:45 GMT -8
when Trains annouced the New Alco "CENTURY SERIES" locos about mid 63, there were actually 4 Models annouced: the C420 the C424 the C624 the C855. the C628 wasnt annouced until very late 63,maybe the December issue of Trains ? dont have too many of those issues any more,they fell apart from constant use. but do have another issue with some that dont do thier own Research,but then try to get others to do Research for Free. or if what is found doesnt agree with thier view of the RR world they try to dismiss those Findings. Spikre
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Post by Spikre on Apr 16, 2014 14:38:42 GMT -8
Fast14, some favorite Cancelled locos here; DT&I C420s Rock Island C430s EL GP38-2s EL U23Bs. not cancelled,but passed on were the Alco CF636 cowl units proposal to ATSF. or Alco refusing SP&Ss third C636 order. and a 15 unit PC order for C636s or C430s,units werent specified. Spikre
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Post by WP 257 on Apr 16, 2014 16:51:32 GMT -8
Spikre--
Somewhat surprisingly, there's also a documented (in writing) Lehigh Valley order that was placed but later cancelled, but I'm not sure off the top of my head exactly which Century model it was (sorry, wasn't fully paying attention that day). Perhaps it's one you would "need" lol.
I just read, in the Joe McMillan book Route of the Warbonnets that the Alco C-636 demos failed on 3 of 4 attempts that Santa Fe made to run them on a mainline freight train. They completed the third attempt, making it all the way across the mainline, but failed somewhere near Barstow on the 4th attempt, were repaired, and promptly shipped off to SP.
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Post by WP 257 on Apr 16, 2014 17:02:44 GMT -8
Thanks to all for the locomotive purchase suggestions.
My Ebay sales didn't go as well as I thought or even expected they would this week. So although I was very interested in possibly buying a BLI C30-7, I opted for something at lesser cost. (Occasionally train money is needed for family expenses too).
Although Amherst Depot is selling pristine brand new in box Kato Santa Fe GP-35's from the second run (2000) that they've sat on all these years, at about $115 plus shipping on Ebay (there's the tip--go get 'em if you want 'em), I found an Atlas Trainman Phase 2 GP39-2 in the blue and yellow warbonnet at a Midwestern dealer for only $75, so I took it instead, mainly because if I get motivated to detail it, it can be a nice looking engine, too, and I thought the price was right for an Atlas unit.
After blowing out some other roadname stuff on the evil auction site, that pretty much completes my engine purchases for this year, which also include: one Walthers/Proto Santa Fe GP-30 with sound/DCC, one without sound/DCC, and an Atlas Trainman Phase 1 GP39-2 in the Kodachrome scheme.
I know the GP39-2's may not be the most accurate models on earth, but if/when I get motivated to add the detail parts, are good motive power cheap...
The Walthers/Proto GP-30's as modeled are detailed to match some actual early 1980's photos, so while not Genesis-level units, they appear to be a pretty good value for the price I actually paid.
Thank you all for your comments, once again.
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Post by Spikre on Apr 19, 2014 9:54:26 GMT -8
Fast14, according to the X2200 C628 Study,LV had an order for about 10 C628s in,but then cancelled when the Monon fleet was traded back to Alco for C420s. so they revised the order to include the 8 Monon units,and 1 built new C628 to meet thier needs for awhile. LV never did order anything else from Alco before Alco closed down about 12/30/68. Spikre
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Post by grabbem88 on Apr 20, 2014 3:55:02 GMT -8
Not sure if this is old news but there is an athearn gp50 Santa Fe on eBay dcc/sound for 159.00 plus 12.00 shipping...
Had been watching it but ended up getting an atlas rs3 with loksound for the same price which was well worth it..
Thought I'd throw that out there for ya..
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