I know Metro North has retired these… but I was thicking about modelling them. I know I’d have to kitba***he locomotives. Any starting points? Better yet, has anyone done this in HO Scale?
Gettin an absolute correct FL-9 you are probably going to have to go brass.
However you can get pretty close, by taking an FP-7. modifying the bolster to accept a three axal EMD truck off of an E Unit or SD-9. This will also require modifications to the drive line as well. Also given that the known FP-7 modls. you are most likely going to have a different gear ratio between the front two axal truck and the rear three axal truck. You will have to decide which truck you want to be powered.
Hope this gets you started.
James
Check MR’s Index of Magazines. Way back I recall one (or more) of the major magazines carrying an article or series of articles on kitbashing an FL9. Copies of the article(s) should be available from the NMRA library at minimal cost.
CNJ831
Thanks!
Might be better to join us pressing a mfgr to do these. There was a thread I started a while back “Its time for an FL-9!” on here - might want to search for it.
There is significant interest and many popular roadnames and paint schemes to do.
BTW, MN hasn’t retired these - they are in stand-by and the leased Amtrash GE’s that replaced them are dropping like flies - just this week, 2024 and 2014 were used on the Danbury shuttle.
The FL9 is even longer than a FP7. Using Highliner parts, you could splice several carbodies into the correct length. There is a firm(Branford) that was selling complete cast resin FL9’s - incuding painting. I cannot not find them on the web anymore - maybe someone know what their status is. They had several Easter/NH specific models available.
Jim Bernier
There have been only three different manufacturers of FL9’s that I know of: Overland, NJ/Custom Brass, and New Haven Terminal. Overland has done several runs over the years, Custom Brass did one run in the 1970’s, and New Haven Terminal (a.k.a. Branford (CT) Hobbies) has released both metal and resin shelled FL9’s. EDIT: New Haven Terminal has stopped producing a lot of items during the rebuilding of his shop (they added a floor). I still see him at Springfield (MA) every year, so he’s still in business. Call Branford Hobbies (they can be found on Yahoo!'s yellow pages), and ask them.
There has also been a couple “how to” articles. Model Railroader did one in the 1960’s, IIRC, which was really rather poor. Very crude by today’s standards. And I think RMC might have had one, but that I don’t know for sure.
But the best “how to” was published in the New Haven Railroad Historical & Technical Association’s magazine, “The Shoreliner” in 1984. They are out of stock at the NHRHTA, so you’d have to find one on e-bay if you’re lucky. The correct issue is Volume 15, Issue 3.
This issue uses Atlas FP7 shells and drive, plus a Atlas SD truck. The great thing about using Atlas parts is that both the 4 wheel and the 6 wheel truck uses the exact same bolster, and both can therefore be powered. Just make sure you get both trucks of the same vintage to make sure they are the same gear ratio. Atlas released both the 4 and 6 wheel trucks in two different gear ratios. If possible, get the finer toothed ones, as these run better, IMHO.
To update the model to more correct standards, you’d have to use the Intermountain FP7 shell, as the old Atlas shells do have dimensional problems. I suppose you could chop up a bunch of Highliner F-unit shells, but that’s not easy to do at all, since you have to add more space between the dynamic hatch and the first engine fan (the FP7 already had this).
Paul A. Cutler III
Weather Or No Go New
Might want to check Branford Hobbies-they run ad in back of MR every month. Think they were source of resin FL9’s. They usually have good size display at Big-E show. Currently there is brass FL9 in McGinnis scheme on eBay. Believe outfit with posting is in Wolcott, CT. The FL9 they’re listing is described as a good runner but paint job is not pefect. From photo posted it looks like a slight use of weathering would make paint flaws acceptable.
Per David_Telesha comment re FL9’s retirement. Not unlike “reports of my death are premature”(paraphrasing: Mark Twain?)
Jon
Jon
David, thanks for the e-mail you sent me regarding Branford Hobbies!
I’m at another location. Could you please post the telephone for Branford Hobbies here so that Jim and anyone else can contact them?
I wonder why Branford Hobbies won’t set up a simple website. Nothing fancy, but something displaying their: Business name, store hours, address, phone, fax, e-mail, directions from the nearest major interstate highway, and products sold
I don’t know the volume of business that they have, but a website would sure increase it considerably and benefit customers as well.
Hi Antonio,
I’m glad you got my e-mail!!
Jim, Branford Hobbies can be contacted at 1-203-488-9865.
I wi***hey had their own website but their info is listed in the link, below. There are two floors in the store - they do have a nice selection of train stuff - the entire lower level is trains.
Hey,
That’s actually pretty nice! Would be helpful if it were a “Stand Alone” website as well insead of being part of a group website.
They had a reasonably good website some years ago but ever since this store remodeling business started things seem to have gone downhill. The website dropped out of sight a year or two ago now and their quite interesting line of custom resin NH locomotives (including the FL9, DL-109, HH-660, et al.) seems to have dwindled or vanished completely. Last I heard, they might be spinning off their NH items completely!
CNJ831
I hope they hang in there.
I’m taking David’s advice on calling them.
I hope that I will still be able to get an EP5!
David Telesha mentions “It’s time for an FL-9”. I certainly agree!! If Bachmann can do an E-33 with close to the same appeal ( NH-PC-CR), then why not an FL-9 with even broader appeal ( Amtrak, MTA, Metro-North, CDOT, and now new tourist line owners). I have asked mfrs. in the past about an FL-9 which I think NH fans alone would make a huge success, but have received no response. Is there any hope??
Rob