I see that the Broadway Limited ATSF Gold Bonnets are out. I think it is very interesting but I don't know much this loco? What B unit paint scheme would it have been paired with? Did it pull freight (if so, what type) or passenger cars (if passenger, what type)? Any input would be appreciated. Thanks.
This was part of a promotional train painted up for General Electric. In February of 1960, one PA along with a baggage car and three lounge cars were painted gold for GEs "Golden Values" promotion campaign in Southern California. The train ran between Los Angeles, Pasadena, San Bernardino, Fullerton and San Diego. Then the locomotive and the four cars were returned to their normal paint schemes.
"Gold Bonnet" ??? WOW !!! Never heard of this !!! Growing up near the Trans-con just outside Chicago, I thought I had seen ALL the bonnets. I guess not !!! Now I HAVE to see what this thing looked like !!! Thanks for info on something "new" !!!
Here is the pic from their website. Thanks for the input on the prototype. I like this paint scheme and it is too bad it never ran in regular service. It is hard to believe that Broadway Imports did this loco for a single number prototype that was only around for a very short amount of time and no prototype cars are available. Did prototype PA1s and PB1s primarily pull passenger cars or did they haul freight around as well?
The Alco PAs and PBs were designed for and primarily used in passenger service. Alco also marketed the FA/FB freight locomotives which had the same styling but were much shorter 4 axle engines. Some of them eventually wound up in passenger service.
My gold PA arrived last week, BLI have done a nice job, but I'd still like to have something prototypical for it to pull. I've searched to no avail for photos of the cars that were said to have been painted to accompany the locomotive on its GE Golden Values advertising campaign tour but have only come up with the same two photos of #53 at the L.A. engine terminal. Surely some Southern California railfan or AT&SF or GE company photographer back in 1960 took more photos than that.
Well, paint up a baggage car and a few lounge cars, take some photos, and everyone will think you found the answer. You will the be copied by everyone. Sent from my DROID4 using Tapatalk 2
Why not just paint up a Gold Bonnet PB unit too and make a new named train... the 'Golden Chief'. It's only just as slightly skewed 'bit of history' as having a single PA unit with only 4 other matching cars for a special temporary excursion train for GE big-wigs. Take a few ConCor Budd cars... paint them up in Gold and give them "Golden" prefixed names.... similar to the once fabled Golden Rocket the Rock Island 'never got off the ground' (pun intended).
I've thought of all those things, it just seemed odd to me that there appear to be no photos out there of the train.
