ATSF Greatest Motive Power?

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

 

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, 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 It is a bit outdated with the advances in digital cameras, but I always wanted one since I take so much video.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.

 

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

 

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.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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.

 

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 ! Where did you take the shot?
John

 

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.

 

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

 

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