Im thinking about assembling a SCL passenger train. Walthers practiacally a whole train on sale, a baggage,RPO,dormatory,52 seat coach, 10-6 sleeper, lounge, tavern-obs, all in SCL. First question off the bat is can any cars run together fine on 22" curves, Im fairly certain they will beacuse I have a 10-5 sleeper in amtrack that runs fin on 22’s. My second question is, what locomotives did the SCL use to head their passenger trains. I couldnt seem to find many E/F units availble but I did find the atlas SDP35 in SCL , which like its original intent, i could easily use on both freight and passenger service. The SCL didnt use SD45-2’s on passenger trains did they [swg]
The SCL is not a popular subject for modeling, which explains the Walthers sale priceing. Since the SCL was the result of mergers between the Atlantic Coastline, and the Seaboard Airline railroads, and both used E6s, E7/8s, on their passenger trains, I’m guessing the new SCL probably used those same locos, probably repainted.
The Walther’s cars will run on 24" radius with minor mods to gain frame clearance, but having them runn reliably on 22" is pushing it. With long shank couplers and trimming the frame for wheel/ truck clearance you may get them to work OK.
Here in the southeasetern USA (Georgia, Florida) area there’s a good number of us that model the SCL, and its predecessors the Atlantic Coast Line and Seaboard Airline.
Please join us at: ACL-SAL-SCLmodeler@yahoogroups.com
Well known modelers such as Warren Calloway and Jim Sixx, have contributed a wealth of historical and photo information to the group. Good friendly group willing to help fellow modelers with questions.
I have enough cars to model a good representation of the Silver Star, Silver Meteor, and the Champions. My goal is to be able to run the 18 car version of SCL’s West Coast Champion. As mentioned, SCL ran E6s, E7s, and E8s. They also used EMD SDP35s.
As of note: SCL was one of the few railroads whose long distance passenger trains ( NY to FL, particularly) were still making a small profit, right up to the formation of Amtrak.
BTW: The SD45-2 was introduced after 1972 Amtrak had taken over SCL’s passenger service in 1971.
http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=125431&nseq=4
http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=75989&nseq=0
Here’s a typical SCL long distance train. Always a neat variety of equipment.
Some more info.
Unfortunately no HO manufacturer offers an E unit in the SCL scheme. A friend of mine, an SCL guru, explained that the “ancestry” ACL and SAL E units featured a wide variety of external modifications (lights, pilots, body louvers, partial to full skirt removals, etc). This leaves the manufacturers with the nagging question of “which version, style, or unit do we produce that will sell in good numbers and recoup our investment?”
I bought a black (BumbleBee scheme) P2K ACL E8 A&B set on Ebay for a bargain $90 (both powered). A number of prototype E units remained in their ancestry schemes for at least a year after the merger, so I intend to run this pair as is… ACL E8s that have not been repainted yet. You can take this route easily.
A number of SAL locomotives were changed into the “Split Scheme” image. They kept their SAL mint green colors (faded to white) but received SCL lettering. A 10 on the cool scale!
As for modeling other SCL e-units, you’ll have to likely do what I am doing:
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Purchase a few P2K E units in other road schemes.
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Strip the body with 91% alcohol, and airbrush it into the black SCL Bumble Bee scheme or mint green “Split Scheme”. Both schemes’ decals are available from Microscale.
Stock walthers budds and pullman standards will run reliably out of the box. I have two, and two more are coming. They work just fine.
I’ve got 8 or 9 Walthers passenger cars - HW & streamline. 3 run fine on 22" and will run OK on 19 1/2" - I’ve been working on the others with limited success to do the 22". I have cut the centersill, and ground away part of the trucks to gain enough swing to clear the radius. So far, they work at about a scale 5 mph - next mod may get me 10 smph!! (I know they look like [censored] on the small radius - that’s all a 4x8 will allow!!)[:(]
Antonio , I went to the ACL-SAL site , its password protected. Its not the same site as this is it ?
Sorry about that.
No, that’s the historical society however a number of the members are also on the Yahoo forum. I’m an internet klutz. I’ll find out how you can navigate to the proper page and post it here. [;)]
Try this:
ACL-SAL-SCLmodeler : ACL-SAL-SCLmodeler
The SCL during the Family Lines era is also on-topic as is … http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ACL-SALmodeler. Post message: ACL-SAL-SCLmodeler@yahoogroups.com **…**groups.yahoo.com/group/ACL-SAL-SCLmodeler - 23k - Cached
Hope to see you there!
Yes I see it is a different site . More proto info , that’s a good thing . Thanks . The Historical site I linked has a new feature , a modiling magazine. The first 2 issuses are on the site for free download . matthewg , there’s some good info on passenger cars in the first issue .
For the heavyweights, try making one wheelset blind on each truck. The middle one or the inside most one.
A “cool” aspect for modelers wanting to model Seaboard Coast Line’s long distance trains is that sleeping cars from:
Union Pacific Great Northern
Northern Pacific, Santa Fe,
Illinois Central RF&P, L & N
Penn Central (still in NYC and Pennsy schemes), and Chessie, ran on these trains.
Makes for very colorful passenger train running on a layout.