conagher-So many paint schemes, so little time. Cool link.
Well, this is not exactly the question you asked, as it is not my favorite road, but it is my favorite F7 paint scheme — the PRR tuscan red. Now, before the minyans pounce on me: yes, I am well aware there is no prototype for this — PRR F7s existed only in the green freight scheme. Their only F units done painted in the tuscan were a very few FP-7s, which is a different (4 feet longer) locomotive. So why is it my favorite? Nostalgia. It was my first locomotive model, received in an Athearn train set gift waaaaay back in the 50s.
My Old Milwaukees:
The front A-unit is a gear-drive Athearn, and probably dates from the 1950’s. (That is, my model dates from the 1950’s.) The dummy B-unit was bought a couple of years ago on eBay. The back A was an Athearn Hi-F rubber-band drive from the '60’s that I pulled the motor out of and turned into a dummy. I’ve also got another gear-drive A that I found at a show.
The powered A units, noisy and old as they are, are decoder-equipped, and I’ve put in LEDs as well. Long live the Milwaukee Road!
There were more really neat paint schemes for the F units than any of us could recall, I bet. No doubt the most recognizable scheme was Santa Fe war bonnet. I saw the AB set in Scramento RR museum a couple of years ago which brought back memories of family train rides that included the Santa Fe’s F7’s.
Some others worth noting include ATSF freight (original), GN (original), DRGW, Rock Island passenger, SP black widow, MILW as in Mr. Beasly’s pix, WP, NYC lightning, B&O (original), UP, Southern, ACL, …and the list is endless…
I’m partial to CB&Q’s freight scheme and recall watching them as I grew up. CB&Q had mostly FT’s and F3’s. Some F7’s, but they were mostly dieselized when F7’s were produced.
Thanks conagher…
I agree. I’m still waiting for someone to help me choose my favorite. Of the ones listed so far - The D&RGW & Black Widow are calling to me. The Santa Fe passenger has to be in the running as well, I never realized how nice that scheme was until it was gone. I would have never chosen it back in the 1970s when I lived close by and saw them daily. Then there is possibly the Rock Island black and red freight. Hmmm, was that ever on an F7 or was that only F3s?
I’ve never liked the GN orange and green. Orange and green together hurt my eyes. I like all the NP schemes but can’t quite get them into my “favorite” category. I was also surprised that a few of the ones I thought were candidates for the worst ever have shown up as someone’s favorites.
I’m a real big fan of my new Kato F7 A&B of the Warbonnet Santa Fe vintage to pull my new Super Chief cars.
Debating getting the second pair of them, not sure yet. That way I’d have a true A-B-B-A vs. just an A-B.
Even looks good in B&W…
