This is for any prototype-faithful modeler that suddenly discovers something that results in a hard, fast, forehead slap. Anybody that's spent any time in this forum knows the pains I go to to research ATSF in the month and year I model, as I rode the line that month. My lead unit on my Amtrak 19 Chief is #310, I've got photos of the unit on the point in the month and year I rode on the train. I've modified my Kato unit to be as 'dead nuts' to that particular unit as I am capable of. Full repaint, weathering, decals, grabs, steps, the works. But up until now.... I've never seen the fireman's side.... OMG. This requires a Trainorders login to view: http://www.trainorders.com/discussi...000/ATSF_310_w_t_Chicago_IL_6_19_72_gh_s3.jpg Look down the left side... what do you see???? That's right kiddies, the unit has a foobie replacement side panel, a reversed right side stainless panel put on the left so that it has TWO WARBONNET CURVES on the warbonnet, only on the left-hand side, and it looks like complete crap! I've been looking at F-unit photos for 20 years and never seen this particular disaster. Wow, there are days it just does not pay to be a prototype modeler. I think it's time to change the unit number. There's no way I'm doing this to a model! It's OK to laugh. Really. That's why I put this up.
You just couldn't leave well enough alone could you Randy? You realize that by doggedly perusing this nonsense you have ruined your nostalgic memories of the experience. Kidding aside, wish we could see the photo.
OK, well we can all set out on this journey together.... see if you can find a shot of the left side of ATSF F7A 310 (because of the absence of C I'm assuming L) in the early 70's.... and see if that bozo side panel arrangement shows up anyplace else.... EDIT: here, try this: http://gustafson.home.westpa.net/ATSF310LHcrop.jpg I mean, seriously... REALLY? That's within a couple of days of when I was on the train. I can't find any other pictures of that mess. Maybe I can convince myself it only happened on one awful trip west! I've never found the exact unit numbers of the ones on my train, I just picked 310 out of the Amtrak fleet listing as I know it was in that pool that month. I picked the ugly sister! I"ve found shots of 310 in 1973 and that panel wasn't there. This is almost as screwed-up as that one boxcar that was half-brown and half-red that MT did.
I have shots of the four F-units on the front of the train as they curved around in front of us, from the ex-Burlington dome. They all looked 'normal'. There never was any opportunity to find out the actual unit numbers. I saw 302 at LAUPT and photographed that, so that's one of mine. That shot was taken within three weeks of when I was on the Chief. So 'now' I know one thing... which ever unit was on the point of the Chief that particular trip it sure wasn't 310! I've seen screwed-up/swapped hood doors on road switchers before that scrambled heralds and lettering, but I can't say as I've ever seen side panels swapped around on F-units that resulted in anything quite like that. No, I have no intention of modeling it! It's number-board time here....
Randy, just curious. What was the date & time of the trip? And any chance units were switched out at some point along the way (Albuquerque, La Junta, etc)? I can't imagine that there aren't records somewhere listing the consist. Does Amtrak have a records office you could contact?
Remember even the Santa Fe did not give Amtrak the best equipment. They did use it to dump a lot of misfits. Otherwise the FP45s would have been the deal. Although Santa Fe allowed Amtrak to use the name of the trains and made sure the service was up to their standard Amtrak did lose those rights and benefits of Santa Fe stewardship because of quality loss. The messed up panel would not have been the straw that lost the support but I'm sure it was a thorn in the side. It does make a neat model that would not be that difficult to duplicate. The panel would not match the surrounding area no matter what. Apparently the mechanics used the closest part they had to replace some damage.
