I posted this under the “Prototype” forum and got 2 good responses, but this forum obviuosly gets more traffic, so I thought I’d see if there were some more SCLers out there… If there is anybody out there modeling SCL in HO scale, where do you go to get locos? I assume, even if SCL was only '67 to 72, that there was still locos out there up to the 90’s, so that should relegate me to only a 5 yr period to model, right? Also, would it be correct to have SCL, L&N, Chessie, and CSX all on the same layout? Was there a point in time that that happened? Thanks again for all your help in getting me thru this research phase. My wife said tonight, “why don’t you just go out in the garage and start building the d@#n thing and quit spending so much time on the computer”…I’m beginning to agree with her!! Skip
Modeling the SCL has a good following. I model the SAL but come across SCL information on a regular basis - they interweave.
Have you visited this modelers group. they are very SCL focused.
ACL-SAL-SCLmodeler@yahoogroups.com
And there is the:
These folks are amazingly helpful and knowledgeable relating to many of the roads of the South.The Society caters for those with an interest in the SCL as well as the pre-merger roads. The Society magazine, “Lines South” is alone worth the dues .
Bruce
I’m modeling the ACL in 1953.
When it comes to ACL/SAL/SCL the SAL seems to get the most ‘attention’ by the manufacturers.
Hi Skip! Where are you? Florida? Georgia?
Glad to see a fellow Seaboard Coast Line modeler! I got my first cab ride on an SCL U-18B in Tampa, Florida during 1977, followed by more cab rides. SCL crews in Tampa were, genrally, railfan friendly. Good manners was all you needed. The SCL crews that ran the Amtrak trains were also very cool people. I’ve got loads of shots that I need to scan and upload to my photobucket.
Modeling HO, I have a pair of Proto 2000 SCL GP9s, a P2K SD45 #2021, a Lok-Sound equipped Athearn Genesis, SD45-2, an Atlas HO U36C, and a pair of Athearn Blue Box U33Bs. I just paint stripped a P2K L&N E7 shell and preparing to repaint it in the SCL black “BumbleBee” scheme. I’m modeling from 1966 (a year before the merger) thru 1974. This allows me to include ACL, SCL, and Amtrak. I’m heavy into the passenger trains.
During the 70s, a lot of L&N equpment showed up frequently on SCL rails. If I’m not mistaken, SCL already owned the L&N by that time period. Chessie equipment showed up in greater frequency during the 80s when merger proposals between Chessie System and SCL (Seaboard System by then) were no longer rumors.
My LHS is run by an SCL guru who stocks ACL, SAL, SCL cars and locomotives whenever he can. . If you want to talk in more detail, send me an email or PM [;)]
Hi all I am new here but I too model the S.C.L. in N scale. I am in South Carolina. It is great to see that there are others interested in the S.C.L.
Eddie
I don’t model the Seaboard COast Line, but I do model the Seaboard System, CSX (boith early and modern-day) and other railroads that were on the Eastern Seaboard. I am particularly fond of Conrail and the Seaboard System paint schemes
Skip,
If you want to model SCL painted units you can expand beyond '72. One of the beauties of the Family Lines System was the relatively slow pace they repainted existing units within the various railroads making up the system. I have a surprisingly large number of photos of SCL units in untouched black/yellow on the Georgia RR ranging from the mid '70’s to mid '80’s. Starting around '83-'84 the units left in the black/yellow scheme started having SBD markings placed in various locations.
During the later Family Lines years it was not unusual to see SCL and L&N units on the Georgia RR. It was very unusual to see a Clinchfield unit during the Family Lines years on the Georgia RR. After the Seaboard System was formed in '82/83 the Clinchfield units started roaming more.
Chessie units did not start appearing frequently down South until '86. I did a quick look thru some of my photos around Camak, GA and some of the shots showing Chessie units were dated during '86. This is not surprising since CSX was formed in '86.
To summarize, you can have pure black/yellow SCL, L&N, Clincfield, Georgia RR, and West Point Route units up to '83. During this time there were also Family LInes System units too with sublettering. Starting mid '83, SBD patches and painted out RR names started appearing on units for all these roads. During late '86 a few units for CSX came on the scene. They were blue/gray with a handful of the first units having CSX Transportation on the hoods but quickly the scheme was changed to the CSX only. Also, during '86 Chessie units started showing up frequently down south.
So yes, you would be accurat
I’m modeling 1980-1990ish CSX/NS. The CSX parts include old SCL rolling stock and I have a GP-38 “Family Lines” loco that I’ll use as a switcher.
Even though my primary interest is modeling the Southern Railway just before the merger with the Norfolk & Western I have also purchased a few SCL, Family Lines and CSX locomotives and a SCL Wrightrak steel caboose. I also have quite a few SCL freight cars.
I’ve finished metalizing two 85ft. HO Budd cars, a diner and coach, and am in the process of lettering them in the Seaboard Coast Line scheme. I’ll post a thread with photos when I finish (should be soon).
From what I’ve read on the web and speaking with modelers, I’m so glad to see that interest in the SCL has been growing over the past few years.
According to the info in the book “By Streamliner, NY to Florida” by Joseph M. Welsh, during the late 1960s when a good number of railroads were struggling financially the newly formed SCL was flexing its economic muscles to stay healthy. It did sell off and/or close down poorly performing lines, consolidate repair facilities, and order large batches of new locomotives. Although a number of passenger train’s were eliminated, SCL’s New York to Florida passenger service was rated more highly than the Santa Fe’s “Chief” series trains. The Champion was still running 18 cars long during the winter travel season right up until Amtrak.
Contact the gentleman at Happy Hobo Trains in Tampa, FL; he is a good resource for things ACL/SAL/SCL when it comes to the actual hobby.
Other posters have already covered the Historical Society.
Yes, that would be Kevin Ptylak. The number is 813-908-5072.
I just picked up the latest issue of MR to find a nice article by Jim Six on detailing an SCL split image GP30! I have a pic of one of these sitting in Florence yard. This is peaking my interest in finally doing a split image GP30. I have already painted one in the bumble bee scheme. Well off to a new project!
Eddie -“Pulling for You!,in N scale”
Here’s a good example why SCL is such a neat road to model when it comes to paint scheme variety and background scenery. The GP7 is in the “Split Image” scheme (former Seaboard Airline unit relettered into SCL.)
Credit: This 1970 photo was taken by railfan, Tom Sink, in North Carolina.
I’m still looking for photos of the old Lakeland Fla station. I want to model it someday. The building is still standing but Google Earth, etc can’t see the front right 2/3rds, there’s another structure in front and the station is set back from the street. Mostly need front entrance and freight section. It’s a cool modern style from the 50’s-60’s, NO ONE makes structure kits like that. I model CSX/BNSF/AMTRAK but will diarama fallen flag/predecesser scenes off the layout.