Hi, having finally come to a decision on what and where and when we will be modelling we have decided on the ATSF around 1973 to 76. I would like to know if some of the reasons for choosing the ATSF in this period are justified. As it’s a family decision we had to accomodate my wishes and my sons wishes , my wife just tagged along and gave financial approval.
He liked the Red warbonnet F units and passsenger cars and from what info I have found on the net in 73 these would have been Amtrak trains but ran in both Amtrak and ATSF liveries is this true?
I liked the Yellow freight warbonnet but the earliest photo I can find is dated 1974 did they run any earlier than this?
We both liked the EMD CF7 but this is available only in HO?
And last I would like some more detailed references for this period so a list of any books I should purchase or web sites I should visit would be appreciated.
Hello Shaun, Yes, Amtrak operation of passenger trains began in May of 1971. At first most Amtrak trains on AT&SF lines ran with Santa Fe Fs, as the Santa Fe had moved its relatively new EMD FP45s and GE U28CGs and U30CGs into freight service. Beginning in the summer of 1973 Amtrak SDP40F cowl units replaced the Fs, which were then gradually converted into CF7s. Many Santa Fe stainless lightweight passenger cars went into Amtrak service, and again by 1973 Amtrak’s repainting program was in full swing. The yellow warbonnet was actually first introduced in 1972, although some units with relatively fresh paint in the older scheme kept their 1960s styling into the late 1970s. The only model CF7s I know of are HO scale. A good place to start learning more about the Santa Fe is the Santa Fe Ry. Historical & Modeling Society Web site at atsfrr.net. Good luck with your Santa Fe layout, Andy
Andy many thanks again, I didn’t want to make any expensive mistakes right at stage 1 of the project. Hopefully as the project gets underway I will post some photos.
I took my first Amtrak and first Santa Fe ride in late spring, early June 1973. Matched Santa Fe F-7 red warbonnets from Houston to Brenham (ca. 100 miles). High-level coaches, conventional Santa Fe diner, lounge and sleepers in which we coach passengers were not allowed, mixed Amtrak and Santa Fe markings on the cars. On return trip in evening, we rode behind a yellowbonnet on the point, and car in front of the first step-down hi-level coach was a transition baggage-dorm. I went down and looked in the car a little.
(Also, I ordered a fish dinner in the diner that trip. After taking my order, they stopped over a river a few minutes, then resumed running and brought me my fresh fish dinner. True story. Maybe the stop over the river was for a signal… But I can always imagine they stopped to catch a fish for me.)
Late June 73, I rode to my first NMRA Lone Star Regional convention by taking bus from Corpus Christi to Houston, and Amtrak Texas Chief Houston to Fort Worth. They had former California Zephyr dome-observation-lounge “Silver Solarium” on the tail end. I asked if could ride the dome. Only if I had a sleeper ticket. So I brought a roomette and rode the dome. Again we were pulled by red warbonnet F7s.
Two weeks later, I saw bloody-nose Amtrak SDP40Fs on the point of the Texas Chief and no more rides behind the classic warbonnet.
Rode Amtrak on a big circle of eastern US in late summer 1973… Houston > New Orleans > Southern Crescent to Washington D.C. > Baltimore > Philadelphia > New Jersey > NYC > Broadway Limited to Chicago > and back to Houston on Texas Chief. No more warebonnet riding. I saw red warbonnets in freight service at Joliet on that trip.
So as far as I saw, summer 1973 was the big transition, and I got my first ride on something resembling the old classic Santa Fe just before it went bye-bye.
you might want to get the book cf7 from cleburne to everywhere, has articles on kitbashing a cf7, also stephen priest and his wife have books out on SF locomotives