Did The "Q" paint more than SD45s and U boats in the green pre merger or "experimental" scheme? I want to model Inside Gateway trains and would like to include one of these very cool units in a BN train.
Didn't they also paint an E unit? Been too long. Hard to believe that was almost 40 years ago! Boxcab E50
http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=291751 It appears they painted a boxcar in Cascade green. EDIT: Since I happened on that photo, someone commented that it's a BN car, though it only says "BURLINGTON".
I believe that is a BN box car. However, it seems to me there were some Burlington green box cars. But the lettering was in a CB&Q style of Burlington script. NP certainly was painting some of their freight stuff in the coming merger colors. Box cars, hoppers, flat cars, cabooses. Boxcab E50
I think I've seen photos of the green Burlington box car. If I remember correctly, I might be in one of my WP books. I thought it had CB&Q beside the number, but I can't remember. Yes, it's hard to believe that it's been so many years since the BN merger, and now it's BNSF. I never gave it a thought that I would have a son going into the Air Force back then!
John, In looking in one of my CB&Q color pictorials it would appear that besides the SD45s and U23Cs the only other loco painted into the green was GP40 #629.
Ah, see, a GP40 I could do. Unless I can hunt down a SD45 or the appropriate U Boat to paint, I'll take the GP40 since Atlas seems to offer those quite often. The next question is: is the green the same or close to Cascade Green? Oh, and does someone make the decals?
If you're asking me, no, but I bet I could pick one up from Chuck. I didn't know these units existed until I saw a SD45 in a couple of WP books I have, and some photos online. I guess it would be a good idea to get some books on the roads that the WP connected with, just for future reference.
I was searching online and found at leat one photo of a green Burlington boxcar with CB&Q reporting marks: http://www.railcarphotos.com/PhotoDetails.php?PhotoID=37575
If you are modeling the early 1970's, that might be handy. BN was quite a rainbow those first few years. Boxcab E50
I planning on modeling the WP just before the cancellation of the Zephyr. One of the reasons I love that time period (besides the Cali Zephyr, of course) is the BN trains that came down the Inside Gateway just after the merger. As you said, the power on those train was QUITE a rainbow. Some trains woud be all Chinese red Geeps, the other would have a loco of every flavor. Right now, I have a Q GP40 in Chinese red and a GN GP35. It's a start!
I sure remember those colorful days up here. Back then it was not with any fondness, as I was losing the RR I grew up next to- The NP. But now I do feel nostalgic. Have you seen the 2009 Great Model Railroads? If not, there's a layout (HO) article which might be of some interest for you. Boxcab E50
The Cal Zee came off 22 March 1970 just twenty days after the BN merger so your time window is short. No doubt units from all the merger roads would have been used. Now to find a SP&S Alco C-636.
If someone were to ever do one of these in N scale, a good quality of detail and solid runner, I would bet they'd sell a big batch in the Pacific NW! Boxcab E50
Well if Mr. Paul ("there isn't enough market for one to justify the design/production cost") Graf at Atlas weren't so stubborn about NOT producing a C636. This was one of the first questions asked shortly after Atlas announced their, then, new C628/630's. And he's been asked many times since... always the same answer. Biggest bugaboo about a C636? The Hi-Ad truck design. He also won't produce any C630's with Hi-Ad trucks... and there were some that had them. No one in n-scale has produced a C636 since the old Con-Cor models... and those were terribly out of scale. Still, back then, something was better than nothing, and the units performed fairly well. So if anyone can figure out how to 'convince' Mr. Graf (short of physical persuasion) a C636 would indeed sell... then it will be a long, Long, LONG time before one comes along. Hmmmm... then again... Wonder if Athearn....?????? :tb-tongue::tb-cool:
