Guys, Which diesels would be appropriate for ATSF and UP heavyweight passenger trains? I'm having a hard time tracking down specifics? Thanks! Chris
The Santa Fe used Warbonnet Fs, Es and PAs to pull their heavyweight trains. They also had some Zebra striped "torpedo tube" GPs with steam generators that were used in passenger service. I believe UP used mostly Es and PAs.
Everything Mr. Straw said, and everything else too (not that there was much else--three Erie-Builts, a DL-107, a DL-108, and 'Amos 'n Andy' were all the non E, F, PA-1 and PB-1 units they had before 1965). Their GP-7/9 and RSD-4/5 passenger equipped road switchers (and an RS-3) were seldom used for any passenger assignments but certain specific branch line connecting trains. They would pick up a spare baggage and substitute for a sick doodlebug, but that was about it. It wasn't just passenger power that wore the Warbonnet. By 1954, most of their reserve power was dual service 325-Class F-7s and spare PA-1s. Didn't leave much for the roof-tanked 'torpedo' geeps to do. With the Santa Fe, the problem isn't selecting a locomotive to haul a heavyweight train. All did; mostly they assigned their many F units to main line trains through the mountains without regard to class, and the others they tried to keep on flat routes (ALCOs served everywhere). The problem is finding an all-heavyweight train. By the end of the 1950s, most of their non-streamliners (but not mail trains) carried a few streamlined cars for connecting trains. These tended to be mixed in with the heavyweights almost at random. The Grand Canyon even used a bunch of streamlined cars, because some of the short hauls that connected with it were streamlined! Oh, and you were having trouble finding specifics. Not any more... http://santafe.gmbus.com/ Are you modeling Cajon Pass? The City of Denver met the Centennial State in Denver, and the UP ran into Kansas City. But mostly those two met on the Santa Fe track into LA, over which the UP had and has trackage rights.
I model trains #5 and #6, The Ranger, at the time it was dieselized. With the exception of an occasional light weight sleeper, I can get away with all heavyweight cars. The Texas Chief got all the lightweight on that run.
The Ranger was a wonderful train. The 3450 Class Hudsons hauled it through WWII. Very appealing. Didn't spend very much time hobnobbing with Yellow Peril trains, though...
If you really like heavyweights and classic diesels, don't forget about the Fast Mail, as it was full of heavyweight baggage cars with a Rivarossi-style rider combine on the end - that's the proper car in the proper application. It was also the last great show of the PA's as late as '69 I think. The 2600-class combines never received air conditioning or silver paint, either. Here's a nice 1964-era page on Cajon featuring color shots of consists including heavyweight cars, Fast Mail, and Grand Canyon as well as UP: http://coastdaylight.com/cp/cajon_64.html
Some Del-Mar Race extra trains were also using mostly heavyweights on the line between LA and San Diego. Motive power was F7's and PA's. Furthermore, local passenger trains on the Surfline were using heavyweights with GP7/9 (with steam generators if i am not mistaken) as motive power.
