:at-wits-end::at-wits-end::at-wits-end::at-wits-end: Railfan officials confirmed today a case of Alco PA/PB-itis today in a Portland, Oregon, area man. The man, known both as Adam and as SteamDonkey74, after reading an article on super-detailing PA's and PB's for Southern Pacific prototypes, ordered an undecorated PA/PB set on sale at Walthers and also located an unpowered LL PB in Daylight colors into which he plans on inserting a sound decoder. Nonetheless, he cannot stop. He is in search of photos of prototype locos, especially Daylight PA/PB's, with bonus points given for Alco PB #5912 and for information on those which would have frequented trips into Oregon. Book suggestions are welcome, and needed. Please, find it in your heart to help this modeler and railfan make it through a severe case of Alco PA/PB-itis.
Smitten You too! Here's some of the research I came up. Pretty much what I could find on line. I might add, you may want to look at the unusual consists captured here. I'm looking for powered B units for both the SP Daylight and Santa Fe War Bonnet. Have fun!
If my site was repaired, I had a few. Also have you checked Richard Percy's stuff. Try it at http://espee.railfan.net. He should have quite a bit and also probably some modeling stuff.
I could sware I've seen this in the San Francisco and the Oakland area as well. I have a video tape that Pentrex put out, SP Vintage Years, and I believe they captured a PA A unit on the back of some F7P A&B Units. The picture is quick and it's as if the photographer realized what he'd captured and must of thought, I can't film that and cut it short. SP didn't seem to mind mixing and matching their locomotives. UP didn't seem to mind mixing and matching the E's, Erie Builts and PA's. Santa Fe from everything I can remember and research... seemed to keep the PA's out of the mix. The exception was when the last of them were relegated to the San Diegans. At that time the units had been shopped and they replaced the Alco prime mover, with an EMD one. Perhaps the only time they ever ran mixed and matched with F types. Did you notice in some of the pictures how SP seemed to place a big block over the front headlight. I won't be recreating that model. Have fun!
I noticed that, too. I think I will pretend that my consist is from two months before that big rectangular block around the headlight was added. I am debating the drip lines. I like the drip lines, but I am realizing that they likely would have quickly disappeared. Maybe I will detail the only two that DON'T have these removed. Anyone have a favorite book on Alco PA's/PB's in Espee service? THANK YOU for all your suggestions, photos, and well-wishes. I have poked around Espee Railfan a bit. Most of their pictures are of later paint schemes, but the Alcos are still pretty well represented. Where I have the most trouble are the B units. It seems that people taking the classic 3/4 shot of the train approaching often miss the B unit or only get a very oblique (and sometimes out of the depth-of-field) view. I am still keenly interested in any more information that people have on Espee Alco PA's/PB's. Adam
Espee's Daylight Alcos There is the book "Diesels of the Espee ALCO PA's" by Roger Cortani that came out in 1975 that is a treasure of information on Espee's Daylight Alcos. Kind of a "All you wanted to know about SP PA"S but Were Afraid to Ask" Forgot to add in this post earlier. The SP E7b's were not mixed with Alco PA units in northern California or Oregon. The E's couldnt keep up on the mountain lines. Originally the Cascade and Shasta Daylight were pulled by E-7's which were quickly replaced by Alco PA-PB-PA sets
Sorry Stourbridge, but no PA-3s or PB-3s were ever built. See http://espee.railfan.net/sppa.html for comment, also in Steinbrenner and Wiki are references to what were once called PA-3s. PA-3 was to have had the 244H engine, sometimes called the ALCO 250 and would have been rated at 2400 horsepower.
As I understand it, no PA-3/PB-3's were built, but some railfans use that as a designation for certain upgraded PA's. I see conflicting terminology all the time, but I usually stick with the standard on espee railfan just because it seems to be quickly becoming the Espee Foamer Standard.
My copy of Diesels of the Espee - Vol. 1: Alco PA's just showed up, fresh from that auction site. It answers nearly all of my questions. It looks like 6006 at least went to Portland often, at a quick glance. I am sure I will find more info as I dig a little deeper. Of the two "headlights" it appears that the upper is a Mars light. Would someone know whether I am correct? It's too bad there aren't really any Alco PA's running around anymore. I need Doyle to finish getting his restored over at Brooklyn Yard. NKP 190
This one: [ame="http://www.amazon.com/Southern-Pacific-Historic-Diesels-Locomotives/dp/0930742249/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1241464936&sr=8-1"]Amazon.com: Southern Pacific Historic Diesels Volume 9: Alco PA/ PB Passenger Locomotives: Joseph A. Strapac: Books[/ame] Consider it the Bible on the subject.:tb-biggrin: Joe Strapac is a walking encyclopedia of SP history; this, and the other volumes in the series, are must-haves in the library of the Espee diesel fan and/or modeler. Tons of photos and data. It's shown as sold-out on the Amazon link provided, but a quick search of google, auction sites, or a well-stocked hobby shop should turn up a copy. I'm not sure if he'll be reprinting volume 9 anytime soon, so if you can find a copy at a reasonable price, I'd snag it.:thumbs_up:
Thanks for that! I appreciate your review and evalution. It makes me more confident that I am not throwing money away. Someone set me on that one about a week ago and I found a relatively inexpensive copy at a British outlet of all places - it was way cheaper to buy it at their shop and have it shipped overseas than to try and buy it from one of the resellers domestically. I think with this and the Cortani book I will be unstoppable when it comes to SP Alco PA's and PB's!
As far as I have been able to determine, the PA3 designation was for the units without the driprail, fairing, escution/whatever you want to call it that went from brhind the side door diagonally down the screens on the sides. That was the only difference, and is not an official model designation. Of course, the official model designation was something like "2000 hp Passenger Unit". I like the railfan designation better...
Alco PA's in Portland Here is a old slide from the Espee collection. I took the photo in June of 1963. Most of the area next to Union Station is now condos and apartments. The Alco's were in off the Cascade.
