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