I have a delema - I want to add an FEC passenger consist to my collection. After review all available FEC Diesels I have concluded the only one I like is the Williams GP-9 and the only aluminum cars I like are the Williams aluminum 60’ cars and the MTH 0-27 and 60’ ABS passenger cars. MTH has a BL-1 but its not my favorite design. I gues what I am asking is - Did Geeps ever run a shortline passenger consist? I want something small enough to run around my small Christmas Layout. Any ideas???
Yup, have no fear! The GP-9 was used very much in passenger service. In fact, it was the N&W GP-9 Redbirds that replaced the N&W’s J class 4-8-4 on the Powhatan Arrow.
Sounds like a good choice to me.
SP used jeeps fitted out with steam generators to pull its “Del Monte” passenger trains between Monterey, CA and San Francisco well into the 60’s.
Even today, when there is a motive power breakdown you’ll see whatever is available hauling the consist. I’ve seen photos of Amtrak being towed by a Geep.
Here in the east Geeps were often used to pull commuter trains that were made up of 2nd hand Streamline Cars.
The LIRR had a named commuter train the “Silver Streak” that ran from Long Island City to Port Jefferson made up of ex FEC cars with a LIRR GP-20, and after the LIRR retired most of it’s heavyweight cars, it’s named trains to Montauk
(Cannonball, Weekender and the like) were of similar consists, plus the addition of Palor Cars.
Ken
“What, me worry?” That’s why Alfred E. Newman was into 3-Rail. Joe
FEC, I’m sure you know on your pike you can run whatever you want 
I’ve seen pictures of steam-heat-equipped GP9s pulling consists of varying roads out of various Chicago stations. I think you’d be in great shape with that Williams set.
Up here in the north, a long, long time ago we had what was called a “Tempo Train” that was pulled by a MLW (Alco Canada) RS-18. It usually consisted of four or five specially built coaches and ran fast. It is very close to a Geep. The pink paint used to style this train and the light-weight cars make this type of consist great for a model railroad in any scale.
It looked almost a toy train when it was washed and gleaming because of the colors used.
I was working at CN at the time and these trains were special.
As CNW1995 says “It is your layout and you can run whatever you want.”
If you hunt far enough and long enough you can probably find a prototype for anything.
Above all have fun!
Up here in the north, a long, long time ago we had what was called a “Tempo Train” that was pulled by a MLW (Alco Canada) RS-18. It usually consisted of four or five specially built coaches and ran fast. It is very close to a Geep. The pink paint used to style this train and the light-weight cars make this type of consist great for a model railroad in any scale.
It looked almost a toy train when it was washed and gleaming because of the colors used.
I was working at CN at the time and these trains were special.
As CNW1995 says “It is your layout and you can run whatever you want.”
If you hunt far enough and long enough you can probably find a prototype for anything.
Above all have fun!
I have seen a picture of a Geep at the point of the “Georgian”. This was an L&N train that ran from Nashville Tn to Atlanta Ga. In the picture I’m thinking of the train was stopped at Cowan Tn, facing northbound ( I think ). I never saw it happen myself but I know it did. I myself still prefer a “covered wagon” at the point of a passenger train .
That’s just my preferance.
George
Great Northern used Geeps on the Cascadian between Seattle and Spokane for many years and the train was a streamliner for most of those years.