Greatest Motive Power?

[JCater]

In your opinions, what was the greatest motive power that the SAnta Fe had? Any era, any division. It does'nt necessarily mean horse power, just your feeling of what the greatest.
John

[BN9900]

I would have to say the F's that hauled the Chiefs!!

[JCater]

I have to say that that would be my choice too!!
John

[E-8]

Originally posted by JCater:
greatest motive power that the SAnta Fe had? Any eraAnything they acquired from the Frisco.

Charlie

[ 30 January 2002, 21:06: Message edited by: E-8 ]

[fitz]

The 2900's. No doubt. This one from the collection of Harold K. Vollrath. smile.gif
http://www.pioneer.net/~fitzrr/2921hv.jpg

[JCater]

I love that photo...it always says "real Santa Fe" to me!!
John

[friscobob]

For steam, I'd say the 2900s.

For passenger diesel, it's a toss-up between the EA and F3s.

For freight diesel, a tie between the F45s and
SD45s (and SD45-2s).

[Alan]

For steam, I would definitely agree with the choice above. For diesels the FP45 (passenger) and F45 (freight).

[cthippo]

I'm going to have to go with their B units, SD40-2B, SD45-2B and GP60B. THey were both unique and just plain cool examples of motive power.

[JCater]

This is truely the great thing about the Santa Fe, and those that follow her...there is something for everyone! I guess I am also particular to any of the 2-8-0 consolidations, but those are not specific to the Santa Fe...I just think they look cool!
John

[fitz]

Alan, if my Snappy arrives soon (and works) I may have a present for you. A shot of the 3751 (I know, not a 2900, but an ATSF 4-8-4) and two FP-45's on 3751's maiden voyage in 1991. No's 95 and 98 I believe, but memory may not serve me correctly. smile.gif

[JCater]

Sounds good Fitz...even if it is some combination of those, lets see em!!
John

[Alan]

Fitz, I look forward to them smile.gif

[Martyn Read]

The Santa Fe just had too much cool stuff :D

Things I like in particular, FP45, U28CG, lots of cool F units, Topeka cab geeps, GP20/30/35/SD45 still running in the 90's, B40-8W, GP60M/B, CF7's (someone's gotta love em :D ) F45's...

But my fave looking Santa Fe loco of all time is the SD24 as delivered in the late zebra stripe scheme which had the modern massive cooper black lettering in silver.....just too cool.
Runner up would be the RSD15 in the same scheme.

[JCater]

Martyn,
That is one of the reasons I model the early 1950s Santa Fe, so I can see Zebra Stripes everywhere :D :D !!
John

[Alan]

IIRC Santa Fe also had some very nice looking 4-6-4's. Anyone got a picture?

[fitz]

Alan, ask and you shall receive. Here is the ATSF Hudson 3462, again from the collection of Harold K. Vollrath. The Snappy has arrived. I have not yet installed nor checked it out. Got on just past 0000hrs Zulu today, so must go in search of messages. bummer. :( http://www.pioneer.net/~fitzrr/3462.jpg

[superheater]

I would say Santa fe's PA units

Superheater

[fitz]

Alan and John, wow, this Snappy is making me out to be a liar. In a runpast, all three locos are there, but not in a freeze frame. I have just started playing with it and hopefully will improve, especially if I get around to reading the manual. One of the FP45's was 97. smile.gif
http://www.pioneer.net/~fitzrr/97-1.JPG

[Alan]

What is a "snappy"?

[CR Signaman]

Next to the 2900's the PA1's were the neatest.
I saw both in their "Hayday" in the early 50's on the Pecos & Plains Divisions of the SF

[Alan]

Hello CR Signalman, and welcome to Trainboard smile.gif

You lucky thing, seeing those machines in action! I like the looks of the PA's too smile.gif

[JCater]

CR Signalman,
Welcome to Trainboard. Lots of very interesting stuff here, and lots of great people. Boy I would like to have seen those in their prime!!

[Alan]

Fitz, I forgot to say thank you for the prompt supply of a pic of the beautiful 4-6-4 smile.gif

And I still want to know what a "snappy" is :rolleyes:

[fitz]

Alan, a Snappy is a parallel port device which allows you to capture "freeze frames" from video sources, such as your videotapes of runbys, or grandchildren. It is a bit outdated with the advances in digital cameras, but I always wanted one since I take so much video. Now that I have it, I am going to go crazy "freezing" events that up until now I have only on video. The resolution is only as good as the original source, so as you can see from the shot of 97, it doesn't stand up to new digital cameras. :D

[Alan]

hmmmm, I have miles of video, so maybe I should get one. Are they costly? Do they connect to the tv when you are showing video?

[JCater]

Wow! I'm still chissling pictures on stone tablets!! Seriously, I would love a digital camera, but boy they cost $$$. Anyhow, keep sending those "snappys"
John

[fitz]

Alan, the device is about 6" X 3" X1" and plugs into your parallel port. A single video (RCA 45?) jack is where you plug in the source of video, which can be from TV, a VCR, a camcorder. It is not necessary to have a TV connected, as you view the source on your computer screen. I can't remember what they originally sold for, but I think it was $99.95 US. I bought mine on ebay for $30, which is high. One board member said he got one for $5 on ebay. The company (Play, inc.) no longer supports the device, but I am thrilled with what it can do. Having said all of that, I noticed on the package that mine said "NTSC" which would lead one to believe that there is a PAL version as well. Why not another example? Since this is a Santa Fe forum, here's the 3751. :D
http://www.pioneer.net/~fitzrr/3751RF1.JPG

[JCater]

Originally posted by BN9900:
I would have to say the F's that hauled the Chiefs!!Of the F units, which were the best? I am partial to the F7s, but both the F3 and F9 versions had some good stuff!!
John

[Alan]

Thanks Fitz, looks like I could have a lot of fun with a "snappy" :D

[Dwightman]

For steam, I can't believe nobody has suggested the Madam Queen or any of the other 2-10-4's. As for the passenger F's, except for the original 6 sets of F3's, they all ended up looking the same. By the way, there were no passenger F9's. Anyway, my choice is for the A-B-B sets of F7's delivered for use on the Texas Chief. Ok, so I'm a little biased. ;)

Dwight

[JCater]

You know, I have often wondered why there were no F9s used for passenger service? And yes, the big steam engines were very cool too!
John

[Dwightman]

Originally posted by JCater:
You know, I have often wondered why there were no F9s used for passenger service?That's because the Santa Fe put a higher priority on dieselizing it's passenger trains. By the time the F9's came out, they didn't need any more passenger locomotives. That's also the reason why there were only 2 sets of freight F3's (200L,A,B,C and 201L,A,B,C)

Dwight

[JCater]

As always, Dwight, yer knowledge amazes me :D ! Thanks for the information!!
John

[fitz]

Alan, I have been through another entire videotape of the 1991 3751 trip, and have to admit I'm disappointed in what I can find. I know I visualized this shot of the 3751 and the two FP-45's, but they were in a STRING of shots, not a single one. Also recorded this on slow speed so the quality from Snappy is poor. Anyway, you will get the idea and what I had hoped to produce--it just isn't there. :( http://www.pioneer.net/~fitzrr/hinkley.JPG

[JCater]

Fitz,
I don't care what the quality is...if I can see thick black coal smoke I know she's steam and that's just fine :D :D ! Where did you take the shot?
John

[Alan]

Looks just fine to me Fitz!

[fitz]

Thanks for complimenting a poor shot. John, 3751 burns oil but can sure turn out the dark smoke when the fireman wants to. The shot is actually "frozen" from a video which was taken from Highway 58 outside of Barstow, just before Hinkley, westbound. :cool:

[JCater]

Coal er oil...she's steam and thats all that really matters :D ;) :D !! Thanks for posting that shot!
John

[gordon]

i agree with fitz the 2900 were some of the best , but don't forget the 3751 class and the 5000's , some of the finest steam loco's every produced

[JCater]

Greetings Gordon!
Welcome to Trainboard, and the Santa Fe Forum!! Hope you enjoy!! And I agree with the 5000 series. My problem is (I guess) that I like em all. I am more partial to steam, but that goes for all railroads. But then again...I would'nt mind seein' zebra striped diesels running all over the place too!!
John

[fitz]

Yes, welcome Gordon! The only picture I can find in my stuff of a 5000 is this one, 5017, taken by my friend Jim Upton at the NRM in Green Bay, WI, August 2000.
5000's and 2900's look similar, gigantic. Huge boilers. ATSF had some awesome steam.
Got the latest publication from the San Bernardino guys operating the 3751, and it has a great photo on the cover of 3759 and 2929 doubleheading at Sullivan's Curve in Cajon Pass. Neat article by Chard Walker about how that photo helped get Sullivan's Curve named after Herb Sullivan. :D
http://www.pioneer.net/~fitzrr/5017.jpg

[JCater]

Yes Sir!! That's a beauty...sleek, black, ready to rip the heart out of the miles that lay before it. man THOSE were the engines!! Thanks for the great shot!!
John

[Alan]

Beautiful! I would love to have seen that hard at work in it's heyday smile.gif Santa Fe may be mostly remembered for the warbonnet diesels these days, but they sure had some wonderful steam locomotives!

[Dwightman]

Here's the website for the home of Number 5000, the Madam Queen:

http://www.tprhs.org/

Info on the Santa Fe's other "Texas" type locos (3829, 5001 class and 5011 class) can be found at http://www.steamlocomotive.com/texas/atsf.html

Dwight

[gordon]

thanks for the welcome , jcater , and jim , i was just told about this site , wow what a great place , people chatting about santa fe , steam , zebra stripes and n scale !!!! i must of died and gone to heaven !! just to let you know jim i have the " new" train room built and hope to have both levels of a 1954 santa fe layout running by the 2003 june n scale convention to be held here in houston,tx. :D hope to see you there!!!

[fitz]

Gordon, sure glad to hear the way you feel about this place. We all try to make it the best there is, and hope you get everything you expect from it.
Dwight, thanks for the link to "Madam Queen." I honestly did not know about her.
Alan, you know my heart lies with New York Central steam, but Santa Fe runs a close second. The ATSF did not have to limit the size of their locomotives like the Central did, with tunnel clearances and the like, and so could build those big boilered monsters. Also unlike the NYC, ATSF PRESERVED so many. I have only seen a few, the 2912 in Pueblo, CO, the 2921 in Modesto, CA, the 3759 in Kingman, AZ, the 3751 of course, and the 3450 in Pomona, CA. So many more to go in search of! Photo of 3450. :D
http://www.pioneer.net/~fitzrr/3450sem.jpg

[JCater]

Oh yeah...this is what I like to see...lots of ATSF steam :D :D :D !!! But how about those diesels? Many have been mentioned in regard to the original post of greatest motive power...anybody have some pics of zebra stripes to share, or famous F units??
John

[Dwightman]

Originally posted by fitz:
Also unlike the NYC, ATSF PRESERVED so many. I have only seen a few, the 2912 in Pueblo, CO, the 2921 in Modesto, CA, the 3759 in Kingman, AZ, the 3751 of course, and the 3450 in Pomona, CA. So many more to go in search of!What makes this even more amazing is the fact that the Santa Fe dieselized so early. Management declared the system fully dieselized in 1953, though the large produce crop in 1955 caused a bit of a steam revival in NM, TX, CO, OK and KS.

John, I'll work on finding some diesel pics for ya. smile.gif

Dwight

[JCater]

Thanks Dwight!! There is another well preserved 10 wheeler in La Junta, Colorado. Recently saw the engine in Pueblo. It seems to me I saw one somewhere in Nebraska too, but I can't remember where...
John

[Alan]

Somebody like these?
Zebra Stripes (http://www.sdrm.org/roster/diesel/d-2098/photo-1.jpg)

Not too keen on them myself, I prefer the blue and yellow warbonnets smile.gif

[Dwightman]

Now that's the stuff. Here are a couple other pics.

Warbonnet (http://abpr.railfan.net/cgi-bin/thumb/abprphoto.cgi?//february99/02-18-99/atxsf302atcajonsummitca1966charlesditlefsen.jpg)
Zebra stripes (http://abpr.railfan.net/cgi-bin/thumb/abprphoto.cgi?//december98/12-09-98/atxsf2828billweibel.jpg)

Dwight

[gordon]

hey dwightman ! i saw that your from pearland , tx and you like santa fe!! i am up in crosby, tx just north of baytown. i didn't know if your just a railfan or also a modeler? HO ? or N ? i am building a large N scale layout and we have another sf model who operates here in houston , if you would like send me an e mail gtbliss@aol.com smile.gif

[JCater]

Now that is beauty!! From Bonnet to Zebra and back again...if it sez Santa Fe its all right by me! You guys are the greatest :D :D :D !!
John

[chessie]

Originally posted by cthippo:
I'm going to have to go with their B units, SD40-2B, SD45-2B and GP60B. THey were both unique and just plain cool examples of motive power.I never really followed the Santa Fe that closely, but I agree with the above choices. ;)

Harold