Some pictures were posted of the FP45 and F45 on the Atlas Forum today. They are cast in black plastic and listed as early testing shells.
The shell does have the two headlight sets and marker lights so it must be an early prototype model.
Is it the FP45?? Can anyone identify which model is shown??
At first glance, it looks like the BB version,.
Thanks go to WC B4 CN on the Atlas Forum. More pictures are on there that just this one.
I’ve got my BB F45 right here, and there are definite differences in some of the side grilles, and the fans are taller and open, whereas the Athearns are covered with a circular grille. The exhaust stack will be a separate casting, and it looks like there may be separate roof sections for prototype variations. Given the amount of real estate between the rear fan and the back it looks like the FP45.
Nelson
Definantly an FP45, space for a steam generator in the back. Judging by the 2 headlight slots, maybe it’s an ATSF passenger version?
I was not sure if the BN versions of the F45 had dual headlights or not, but it did look like the FP45 from what I could see. The marker lights reveal the era as being as new and the dual headlights came on the SF FP45’s according to my Santa Fe pictures.
Thanks for the update. I don’t have the F45 and my FP45 is in storage so I could not compare it to this shell picture. I am sure that it will be very good when it comes out since it is in the Genesis line.
No problem. It’s obvious they’re completely retooling these. The two front side grilles aren’t even there because they’re going to be separately applied. They should look great. I always loved the big cowls. [:)]
The prototype FP45’s were delivered with low mounted headlights, and upper signal lights for both the ATSF and Milw orders. The ATSF engines has D/B’s, the Milw engines lacked them
The GN/BN F45’s had D/B’s and only one set of headlights, but they varied on placement with the orders(46 engines overall). Some also has winterization hatches. The ATSF F45’s were all lower headlight, IIRC.
The new Athearn shells look like a real good start…
Jim Bernier
Thanks for sharing the photos!
Photos #3 and #5 are the FP45.
Photo #4 is the F45 ( note the short length between the radiator section and the back porch )
They look great! It’s likely that there will be some more tweaking before final production.
What’s interesting with the FP45 is that it’s an early version since it features the Gyra-Lite housing between the number boards. This is what Santa Fe and Milwuakee Road had back in the 70s.
How far is Athearn willing to go though? BN and SF cowls featured noticeable exterior changes during the 80s. The SF “Super Fleet” 45s had no class or gyra-lites. There were A/C units on the roof, horns were relocated towards the radiator, U.S flag decals were installed during the Gulf War, etc.
It’s hard to tell but I’m assuming (and hoping) that the radiator and dynamic brake grills are “See Thru”. If so, I definetly want to buy two.
I am hoping they do the early era first with the class lights and both sets of headlights as the shells are now and do the later version also.
It would seem they will be up to the high level of Genesis detail and many of us will want them.
Even though they don’t fit my era (late 50s), I am really tempted to get a couple and just run a late El Capitan every now and then. I always wanted a quality FP-45 in the past, and still think they are a great looking locomotive. Now if someone would just do a U30CG…
Go for it Smitty!
I model SCL yet I’ve always been an FP45 fan. Though I like to run trains in a prototypical style, I bend here and there and run stuff that “looks good”.
In your case you can do like a friend of mine does. Though his layout was set in the 1970s, he could easily model any era with the same passenger train simply by locomotive and using/not using certain cars.
ie:
Whenever he wanted to run the 1960 Seaboard Airline Silver Meteor, his entire train consisted of SAL and Pennsy cars hauled by mint green locomotives . If he wanted to run the 1967 “Seaboard Coast Line” version, he simply added a few Atlantic Coast Line passenger cars and black SCL E units and “Wala!” there it was without breaking a sweat or savings account.
You get the idea…
Well, they look pretty good to me.[:)] I can’t wait to see the finished product![:D]
Guys can we have an informal survey here?
Just curious. Those of you that want to buy the new cowl units, can you list which road names and versions you would want specifically.
For example,
My 1st choice is the 1968 version FP45 with the small Santa Fe lettering, gyra-lights, and class lights.
Choice #2: 1990s “Super Fleet” Santa Fe FP45 with the large lettering, (no gyras, a/c on the roof, relocated horns, and the US Flag decals on the cab.
Great Northern as delivered with the headlight between the number boards ( See Avatar ) and Burlington Northern second run with nose mounted headlight.
Mark Gosdin
Oh my achin’ wallet.
Super Fleet in the 1991 era renumbered into the 90 series as retired.
It will be interesting to see which version comes out first.
We still have one running at the Orange County Museum in Paris CA.
Thanks to Trainorders for the article about the 98. It has run on some local excursions also.
I’m looking forward to Wisconsin & Southern and Wisconsin Central ones (well, multipules of each).
The web page below shows the 98 as it is today. It has been back dated with both sets of lights, but still has the large Santa Fe from the Super Fleet paint.
I want two FP45s as delivered to the Santa Fe (1968 version as Antonio noted above).
Why don’t you do what I did? I have a Southern Railway F45, in the black “Tuxedo” scheme. The premise behind it is that Southern had some SD45’s out on lease to the GN, one of them got wrecked, and they got an F45 in return. Mechanically, they’re essentially the same thing.
Brad
I’m glad that they’ll be available in “non-sound” versions. For me, MRC’s sound system doesn’t cut the mustard.