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Post by jimnorton on Sept 20, 2012 12:46:34 GMT -8
Two questions regarding the Old Forrester Covered hopper:
1) Does anyone know the story of Athearn's limited and un cataloged run of these covered hoppers(TLDX 5658) ? I recently came across one and am curious about its production.
2) While in Nashville, Tennessee in 2001 I glanced out my hotel window and saw an Old Forrester covered hopper in a CSX train. Does anybody have any photos and information about these prototypes? Thanks.
Jim Norton
Huntsville, AL
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Post by jimnorton on Sept 20, 2012 12:59:13 GMT -8
I dug deeper in the Athearn box of the Old Forrester hopper and in there under everything was a 7 fold Old Forrester Whiskey brochure. Unfortunatly, no date on any of the material but there is general mention of their fleet of covered hoppers.
Jim Norton
Huntsville, AL
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Post by bncr78 on Sept 20, 2012 13:38:41 GMT -8
If I'm not mistaken, this was a promotional offering back in about 1978 or 1979. I believe I got one back then, but don't remember the details; I assume the model was offered by the distillery. Sorry I can't be more helpful.
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Post by curtmc on Sept 21, 2012 20:05:34 GMT -8
The prototype car was a PS-4427cf covered hopper built in Feb 1966 and part of a 10 car series TLDX 5650-5659 some of which were apparently initially leased to Brown-Foreman (makers of both Early Times and Old Forester). Some cars in the series (5650-5652) were painted with Early Times logo on sides and at least one other (5658) was painted with Old Forester logos. In HO Walthers did their PS4427 car in the Old Forester scheme (kit form) in 1990s. I'm not sure when Athearn did their HO car but the Athearn HO car is an ACF 5250cf car, not a PS 4427cf car. see: freight.railfan.ca/cgi-bin/image.pl?i=tldx5652&o=ptlx(Early Times prototype) and www.walthers.com/exec/productinfo/932-5714(Walthers model description with inset photo of Old Forester prototype) |
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Post by jimnorton on Sept 22, 2012 10:17:30 GMT -8
Curt:
Thanks for the information. Its always a shame when the model is so far off from the prototype. If these cars were constructed in 1966 it makes me wonder what I saw in Nashville in the eraly 2000s. By then, the cars would have had 35 years of service on them. Maybe its possible to have one remain in original paint that long?
Most importantly, thanks for the photos and car information!
Jim Norton
Huntsville, AL
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Post by fr8kar on Sept 22, 2012 10:43:50 GMT -8
Jim, on the BNSF there is a group of ex-Milwaukee Road 4427s that operate on the inbound and outbound Venus locals (711 and 712) between Gerdau Steel in Midlothian, TX and Alliance, TX. I'm not sure where they go after that. Anyway, other than the patch (ITLX I think?) they are still in their original paint dated 1966. I'm not sure what they are loaded with but I assume it has to do with steel manufacturing. The first time I saw them I just figured they were with the condemned cars that go down there to be cut up. I was kinda surprised when they came back.
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