Modeling Ex New Haven / Penn Central FAs & FBs Part 3

 Greetings All,

Our New Haven / Penn Central FA project concludes today with the addition of an FB unit.

The New Haven RR contributed eight FB units to the Penn Central on January 01, 1969. Of the eight three 0458, 466 and 469 were out of service and never renumbered. On January 19, 1969 FB-1 0456 caught fire and was retired  prior to being renumbered PC #3390. 

That left four operating units that included FB1 #3392, FB2 #3393, FB2 #3395 and FB2 #3396. The 3393 was the last operating FB unit on the Penn Central and received a full Penn Central paint job. 

Empire Belt FB1 #3309, a Walthers Trainline product, gets tested for multiple unit compatibility with the Frateschi FA1 units.

The FA-FB-FA test run.

With the test run very successful an FB1 shell was repainted to become Penn Central #3393. I've used some modeling license here as the prototype 3393 was an FB-2. However there is a reason for this madness. Walthers released New Haven FB-1s in the Socony red and black scheme that I can renumber to Penn Central #3392 if I can find one at a decent price.

PC FB #3393 is pulled from the shop. You can smell the new paint!

The 3393 is spliced between the FA units.

The three unit set draws Alco-holics from near and far. 

The units couple up to the twenty car test train that includes two track cleaning cars.

The Penn Central FA-FB-FA consist on the move!

 

After a successful run the units head back to the engine terminal for servicing. 

The Alcos arrive at the fuel pad.

After getting fuel, sand and servicing the Alco FA-FB-FA consist is parked on the ready track ready for its next assignment to the delight of the visiting Alco-holics.

This was a fun project that I think turned out well. Reading up on the prototype information from several sources was very enjoyable. Rebuilding and tweaking the models reminded me of the rebuilds by Alco in 1959.😉

The below information is drawn from the PC Post volume 22, number 1 article "PC's Alco FA/FB Fleet by Robert Holzweiss.

https://www.pcrrhs.org/store/post-back-issues/22-1 Thank you Mr. Holzweiss for providing this well researched and informative article.

Ex New Haven Penn Central FA1 renumbering and dispositions;

 

New Haven #0401 rebuilt by Alco in 1959. It was overhauled and repainted by the New Haven in mid 1968. Penn Central gave it a full PC paint scheme and renumbered it to Penn Central #1330 on April 18, 1969. The unit was set aside on March 03, 1971 and retired on June 23, 1971. It was sold to GE in July 1972 for trade in credit on a PC U23B order. The unit was then modified by GE to become LIRR Power Pack Control Car #618. It was retired by the LIRR and purchased by the Railroad Museum of New England where it survives to this day.

New Haven #0418 rebuilt by Alco in 1959. It became Penn Central #1331. The unit retained it's NH Socony red and black paint scheme and NH heralds. It was set aside on March 16, 1971 and retired on June 23, 1971. The 1331 was sold to GE as trade in credit in July 1972. It was ultimately scrapped in early 1974.

  

New Haven #0426 rebuilt by Alco in 1959. It became Penn Central #1332. The unit was retired on February 05, 1969. It was sold to EMD as trade in credit for an order of GP40s and scrapped.

New Haven #0428 rebuilt by Alco in 1959. It became Penn Central #1333 on March 17, 1969 with a dip black paint job and small PC heralds only. The unit was set aside on March 03, 1971 and retired on June 23, 1971 with the 1330 and 1331. The 1333 was sold to GE in July 1972 for trade in credit on a PC U23B order. The unit was then modified by GE to become LIRR Power Pack Control Car #617. It was retired by the LIRR and purchased by the Danbury Railroad Museum where it awaits restoration. 

Ex New Haven Penn Central FB renumbering and dispositions;

New Haven #0456 (FB1) rebuilt by Alco in 1959. Assigned PC #3390 the units was not renumbered and set aside on April 01, 1969. It was sold to EMD for trade in credit on an order of GP40s.

New Haven #0458 (FB1)

New Haven #0462 (FB1) rebuilt by Alco in 1959. It became Penn Central #3392 on July 10, 1969 retaining its Socony red and black paint. The unit was set aside on December 14, 1970 and retired on April 26, 1971. It was sold to GE for trade in credit on an order of U33Bs.

New Haven #465 (FB2) Built in 1951 it became Penn Central #1333 on April 02, 1969 and received a full PC paint job. The unit was set aside on March 03, 1971 and retired on June 23, 1971. This was the last FB in service on the PC. The 3393 was sold to GE in 1972 as trade in credit for an order of U23Bs.

New Haven #466 (FB2) Built in 1951 it suffered a serious mechanical failure in June 1968 and was used as a parts source to keep the remaining FBs running. The cannibalized unit was conveyed to Penn Central to be PC #3394  but not renumbered or restored to service.

* The model of New Haven #0401 became Penn Central #1331 to take advantage of the factory painted Socony red and black paint scheme. As noted above the prototype NH #0401 became PC #1330.

* The model of New Haven #0425 is repainted as Penn Central #1333 since its original number has no bearing on the new paint job.

Resources and Links:

A special thanks to Steve Hipes, editor of the PCRRHS Penn Central Post magazine, for his permission and to use the information from the magazine article.

Other resources include Penn Central Power by Robert Yanosey, Penn Central Bi-Annual by Robert H. Reid.

Frateschi Models

Thanks for reading and watching!!!!

See ya soon!!!

  

Modeling Ex New Haven / Penn Central FAs & FBs Part 2

 Greetings All,

On January 01, 1969 when the New Haven RR was merged into the Penn Central the NH added 316 diesels and electrics to the PC roster that included twelve FA1s and eight FBs though not all were in service. The FA1 story continues today.

Today our project will focus on the rebuilding of the "tested and runs well" Frateschi New Haven FA1 #0425 that came to the layout dead on arrival. Then we'll turn the page to the 1969 New Haven inclusion into the Penn Central.

A broken motor mount has been removed and replaced with double sided foam tape. When testing the unit it was dead on the rails. The cause turned out to be a microscopic wire strand from a solder connection had crossed the circuit board an was touching the part carrying the opposite polarity causing a short circuit.

The motor is now running and the gear towers are turning but not many of the wheels. The rubber or plastic wheel inserts are cracked. I've cleaned everything with an alcohol pad and used CA and an NMRA Gauge to reinstall and set the wheels.

The following day the 0425 is back together for testing. This is a beautiful paint scheme that has me rethinking the whole project. Who but a Penn Central nut could repaint such a nice looking unit!

After a few days the PC nut won out. The 0425 is painted and ready to become Penn Central #1333*. The 0401 is ready for renumbering to Penn Central #1331*.

The renumbering to #1331 is underway. This is the prototypical paint and number for this unit.

Penn Central #1333 is out of the shop with its minimalist prototype Penn Central paint scheme and window grates known as ghetto grills over the windshields.

The PC FA1s are on the fuel rack. The windshield grills on #1333 are made from window burglar bars from a Blair Line Pizza Land kit.

 

The new prototypically renumbered/ repainted Penn Central FA1s #1331 and #1333 head over to the yard.

The FA1s head out on a shakedown run.

The FA1 Shakedown Run

 

The FA1s return to Terminal Yard passing Metro Division Supt I.D. Shore. Mr. Shore, a former New Haven manager, likes the 1331.

He's not so pleased with the dip black 1333! But times have changed and the long bankrupt New Haven is part of the Penn Central now.  

As the number of working Alco FA units dwindles the Terminal Yard engine terminal becomes a railfan hotspot similar to Dover Street Yard in Boston whenever the 1331 and 1333 are in town. 

We'll close it here today and pick it up tomorrow adding an FB unit to the consist.

New Haven FA1 Prototype Info: 

New Haven #0418 rebuilt by Alco in 1959. It became Penn Central #1331. The unit retained it's NH Socony red and black paint scheme and NH heralds. It was set aside on March 16, 1971 and retired on June 23, 1971. The 1331 was sold to GE as trade in credit in July 1972 for a PC U23B order. It was ultimately scrapped in early 1974.

New Haven #0425 built in 1947 did not make the Penn Central roster.

  

New Haven #0428  rebuilt by Alco in 1959. It became Penn Central #1333 on March 17, 1969 with a dip black paint job and small PC heralds only. The unit was set aside on March 03, 1971 and retired on June 23, 1971 with the 1330 and 1331. The 1333 was sold to GE in July 1972 for trade in credit on a PC U23B order. The unit was then modified by GE to become LIRR Power Pack Control Car #617. It was retired by the LIRR and purchased by the Danbury Railroad Museum where it awaits restoration. 

* The model of New Haven #0401 became Penn Central #1331 to take advantage of the factory painted Socony red and black paint scheme. As noted above the prototype NH #0401 became PC #1330.

* The model of New Haven #0425 is repainted as Penn Central #1333 since its original number has no bearing on the new paint job or numbering.

Resources and Links:

The above information is drawn mostly from the PC Post volume 22, number 1 article "PC's Alco FA/FB Fleet by Robert Holzweiss.

https://www.pcrrhs.org/store/post-back-issues/22-1 The article gives an in depth look at the FA and GB units conveyed to the PC.

Other resources include Penn Central Power by Robert Yanosey, Penn Central Bi-Annual by Robert H. Reid.

Frateschi Models

Thanks for reading and watching!!!

See ya tomorrow!!!

Modeling Ex New Haven / Penn Central FAs & FBs Part 1

 Greetings All,

The inclusion of the New Haven RR into the Penn Central RR on January 01, 1969 brought four Alco FA1s and eight FBs to the PC roster although not all were operational. As a big fan of the NH and PC I wanted add some of these Penn Centralized New Haven units to my roster.

An in depth and timely article on the PC FA FB Fleet by Robert Holzweiss in the Penn Central Historical Railroad Historical Society PC Post magazine volume 22, issue #1 further set this project into motion. I drew heavily from Mr Holzweiss' excellent research and information for this project and blog entry.

Both FA locomotives in this project are Frateschi Models imported from Brazil by E-R Models. The 0401 was the first to arrive.

The New Haven RR purchased thirty FA1s (0400-0429) and fifteen FB1s (0450-0464) from Alco that were delivered in warm orange with silver stripes in 1947 as seen on the 0425. 

The NH units had steam lines so in an emergency they could operate in passenger service with boiler equipped units. They did not order the 24RL brake schedule that would allow them to mu with most other makes and models.

 

The New Haven returned to Alco for five FB-2s (465-469) in 1951 that were delivered in the hunter green and gold. 

The arrival of sixty new road switchers in 1956 allowed the New Haven to defer repairs on FAs with serious mechanical problems. As the NH's finances became dire and a power crisis deepened in 1958 the RR upgraded six FA1s and three FB-1s to 1,600 horsepower

They did not however revise the multiple unit connection so they could not mu with the 1956 units that included the FM H16-44s, GP9s, RS11s and the SW1200s.

 

In 1959 the New Haven sent four FA1s including the 0401 to Alco for rebuilding. They returned in 1960 with a 1600 HP Alco 251  engine, EMD style nose mu hoses and the simplified black and Socony red scheme as seen below. This is also known as the Alpert Scheme.

They could now mu with the 1956 road units but not the non modified FAs, FL9s or the U25Bs and C425s purchased in the 1960s.

The Frateschi model features a can motor with dual flywheels, a metal chassis, weights fore and aft in the shell, window glass and an engineer figure. A Kadee underset shank coupler was installed on the rear and a #5 on the front.

I added a total of eight 1/4 oz (two ounces) stick on weights to the sides of the shells to give the engines a little more heft. 

The 0401on a test run up the grade from the lower level of Empire City towards Bedford and ultimately Terminal Yard which will probably be the most used route for PCCM Train LI-2.

A top view of the 0401 in the cut. The engine is not overly detailed but it is rugged and that is what I'm looking for.

The 0401 on it's test run.

The 0401 comes into Terminal Yard with its ten car train. It is running well and up to the task. 

The 0401 is in the engine terminal for service and a check of the lube oil to reduce the chance of a crankshaft failure which was a chronic problem. 

Tomorrow we'll focus on literally rebuilding the 0425 so it can mu with the 0401 and turn the page to the Penn Central era.

Thanks for reading!!!

See ya tomorrow!!!

Resources and Links:

The above information is drawn mostly from the PC Post volume 22, number 1 article "PC's Alco FA/FB Fleet by Robert Holzweiss.

https://www.pcrrhs.org/store/post-back-issues/22-1 The article gives an in depth look at the FA and FB units conveyed to the PC. Thank you Mr Holzweiss for providing this well researched and informative article.

A special thanks to Steve Hipes, editor of the PCRRHS Penn Central Post magazine, for his permission to use the information from the article.

Other resources include Penn Central Power by Robert Yanosey, Penn Central Bi-Annual by Robert H. Reid.

Frateschi Models

Walthers Penn Central Gondola #525702 Review & Repair

Greetings All,

On a July 2021 visit to my Local Hobby Shop I spotted a Walthers Trainline Penn Central gondola #525702 on sale. I knew if I left the store without it I would only comeback for it the next day so I bought it then and there.

According to the book Penn Central Color Guide to Freight and Passenger Equipment by James Kinkaid Penn Central gondola #525702 was part of the ex PRR G36M class of gondolas numbered #525561-525749. The G36M class involved numerous subclasses. I was not able to confirm any other information on the 525702.

Here is the model ready for unboxing. Looking at the right side that drooping coupler will need repair before placing the car in service.

Here is the car on the layout right out of the box.

The "W" in the circle in the center of the car indicates the car has a wooden floor. GB is the AAR classification for gondola and the P-62 12-74 indicates the car was painted at the PC Holidaysburg Shops in December 1974.

The gondola gets the coupler heights tested and fails. The coupler box is oversized and allows a tremendous amount of vertical play that I call coupler slop.

Here is an open coupler box, The area at the rear of the box behind the bolster is recessed. So when you tighten the coupler lid screw it forces the coupler into the recess and makes the front end sag and allows the coupler to freely move up and down.

The fix for this was to place the Kadee phosphor spring first, then a Kadee #5 coupler and then a Kadee #206 red fiber washer on top of that to fill the coupler box. Below we see the Kadee coupler is at the right height.

An ACI label has been added and the trucks and wheel faces have been painted flat black.

The 525702 makes a test run on the layout. The car passes and is  ready for interchange service.

The 525702 is loaded with a pair of Chooch Wire Reels that add some weight to the car. The car is ready for pick up and forwarding to the LIRR for delivery to the Long Island Lighting Co. 

Below the 525702 has returned to Terminal Yard with a load of scrap steel and is now lightly weathered from being in revenue service. 

This is very nice looking model and aside from the coupler issues mentioned above I'm happy to have it in my fleet. The trucks are very free rolling and the car, numbered into a prototypical class with many sub classes, may actually be prototypical. 

Here is a photo of PC G36M gondola #525525 holding the Juniata River RR Bridge in place during Hurricane Agnes in 1962

Thanks for reading!!!

See ya soon!!!

More Coal Hoppers for the Virtual Ops!!!

 Greetings All,

This week we take a look at a recent coal hopper project that was needed to meet the demands of new virtual ops customers served via  interchange at Rock Ridge Yard on Sir Neal's Atlantic Pacific RR. 

As in past projects Sir Neal has sent the freight cars along with decals, metal wheels and Kadee couplers to put the cars into service upon their release from the Patti O Paint Shop.

Here are the project hoppers. Manufacturers include Athearn, Bachmann and some brand(s) unknown to me. Here are ten of the eleven cars of this project.

The eleven hoppers are painted, lettered and in what I call the Solvaset phase. This is needed to get he decals to snuggle down.  
The lettering is complete and the cars are now rolling out of the shop with Kadee couplers and metal wheels. 

A Hoschton Railroad hopper is the eleventh car of the project. The HRC was the freelanced railroad of our late good friend Engineer Ed who loved the virtual ops and coal trains. 

We continue the AP 9400 series of two bay hoppers.

Rib side hoppers #9479 and #9482 get simplified lettering.

Empire Belt four bay hoppers #416027 and #416094 will be going to the APRR for PCCM usage as I have two similarly painted and numbered cars already in my fleet.

HR #657440 is also heading out to the APRR as I have a similar car on my roster. Engineer Ed had the decals made in 2019 for PCCM usage. Sir Neal hosted Ed on a visit to the APRR so it is only fitting he get the final car from the decal sheet.

1:87 Sir Neal kept a close eye on the engine hostler a he coupled up AP GP38-2 #358 to the new hoppers for their first revenue run. The 358 is now in the sixth year of it's lease to the NYCTL! 

A project recap with the new coal hoppers

 making their first revenue run

The hoppers now await loading. Look how fast they rusted! It's true "Rust Never Sleeps!" Both of us will have these ten cars including the Erie and Erie Lackawanna cars also sent by Sir Neal for inclusion in the virtual ops.

Thanks for reading and watching !!!

See ya soon!!!