Canadian Pacific Proto Diesels

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
1

I just received a gift of a Proto 2000 FA1 and a FB1 in the CPR 1950’s maroon and grey livery.

I was very surprised to learn that Proto had even produced these engines in the CPR colours.

What really added to the surprise was to find out the engines are DCC ready with the 8 pin NMRA plug…

I spent this evening breaking in the engines and are they ever great running engines. Added Digitrax decoders to the pair and they run together with no problems with their respective speeds. There is no apparent problem with the gears, hopefully the gear problem was before these engines were made.

The pamphlet that came with the engines indicates that these are the 2nd release of these engines and of course that the manufacturer is Life Like, hence made before Walthers bought the Proto line.

There are additional detail parts included, such as steam generator exhausts should one want the engines to do passenger service.

Until now I thought I would only be running Intermountain EMD FP7’s on my layout.

I certainly will be watching to see if there are anymore of these sets available. Apparently these sets were also made in the CNR livery as well.

2

Life-Like did the FA-1/FB-1 set in four different CP paint schemes and they did the FA-1 in three different CN schemes (CN had no FB-1s). All the Life-Like Proto locos in Canadian paint schemes were imported by Hobbycraft Canada.

I have the FA-1/FB-1 set in the CP script scheme. Both locos have Digitrax decoders just like yours.

I have other Life-Like Proto 2000 locos in CP colours too, including SW9s, S-3s, GP7s, and an SW8. I also have a couple of Walthers Proto 1000 RS-2s in CP.

3

Proto’s absolutely fantastic for Canadian roads - I have an SD45 from them that’s not perfect, but it’s a damn sight better than the Kato ones with high-mounted headlights! Plus, it came with a winterization hatch.

And my FA-2s are fab, too.

I’ve also got a smattering of geeps, C-liner, and an RS-10 from them.

4

Thanks all for the information. I will certainly keep my eyes open for additional Proto Alco F units in the old CPR and CN colours.

I am still surprised that Walthers has not released their EMD F7’s in the CPR maroon and grey livery nor the CNR in their distinctive green, yellow and black colours. At least Watlhers did release the freight version.

I see that Intermountain will be releasing more of their EMD units in the old style colours in both CN and CPR colours this summer.

At least if I do not find any of the old Proto units then I will at least have the Intermountain units to increase my diesel roster.

5

CP didn’t own any SD45’s, that loco of yours is really a SD40M-2. I know it came in a box marked as a SD45, mine did too. CP converted a few SD45 they bought used and called them SD40M-2, I believe the M stands for modified. If you look really close you will see the SD40M-2 marking on your loco.

I’ve got the same set of FA units, one has regular Canadian Pacific writing and the other is in script form. I was told one was for freight use and the other for passenger use. Don’t know if it’s true or not.

6

All CP did was remove the 20 cyl out of the SD45 & replace it with a standard 16 cyl from a SD40.

I have the SD40M-2, the C-Liner, S2, RS10 in CP Livery as well as the RS11, 2 PA’s & the GP38-2 in D&H

7

Don’t forget that unlike CN, CP did not have any F3/7/9 A units, only FP7/9’s, and no F3’s of any kind, A or B.

Proto was very good to us Canadian modelers. In addition to CP units like the C Liners, I also have PGE, BCR and BC Hydro units. I for one was very appreciative of this.

8

Oh, believe me, I know…and for the record, here’s a shot of the nose of a real unit for comparison. I believe all the SD40M-2s except for 5490 and 5499 were rebuilt from SD45s. Ironic that that’s the number I have, eh?

[img]http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=156954[img]

On the topic of the MLW FA/FB, I believe that those A units had steam gens and the Bs didn’t. The GMD Fs were the same way - there were no B units with steam gens.

I was about to point this out…Walthe

9

CPR did NOT roster any straight EMD F units. All their F units were the stretched “FP” carbody. Either FP-7 or FP-9s :slight_smile:

I have a 4 unit lash up of CPR Proto Alco F1s. 4000/4400, and 4002/4402 in the early “arrow” scheme with black roofs.

They are awesome looking units, and after some minor kitbashing with Eric’s horns and winter hatches, replacing handrails on the door edges, etc, they are almost as good as brass, IMHO.

All 4 of mine have tsunamis installed,and sound great.

HOWEVER, I need to run all 4 as a lash up because at any one time, I have at least one dead unit. They cut out at any and all times, and they seem to take turns at cutting out on the club layout. They run PERFECT at home on my test track.

I’ve had them apart, cleaned brushes, wheels, wipers, you name it, but they drive me absolutely bonkers. I’ve actually pulled them out of service and replaced them with brass, just because at least the brass runs.

I have quite a few other Proto units, and they all seem pretty good: RS-10, RS-18, RS-2all in P1K, and a 4 unit lash of C-Liners that run alright.

I wont mention the absolutely nasty early production E8 that eats decoders for lunch.

Keep them wheels turning, they don’t make any money sitting in the freight yard…

10

Just being prototypical, most MLW’s tended to cut out in real life too [(-D]

11

Haha,

How true. But, to be exact, 4000/4400 were Us production, so you can blame us Yanks, at least a bit! LOL

Those things will drive me to drink. As soon as I can make time, they’re getting remotored.They look too good to sit on a siding