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!!!