3RD RAIL FP7 Black Widows

It looks great. Love those Black Widows.

Beautiful locos.

 

Jeff C

Doug,

 

The black widows are magnificent. For the cab steps you could probably use the Lionel F7 back steps cut and fitted. I don't think it would be too hard. That is what I'm doing on my Fs.

 

Here is the final step mounted on the Alco. Yes, I filed it down also.

 

Ron

Doug...let me know which thread you are talking about and I will try to unlock it.  By the way, the locomotives look fantastic!

 

Alan

I like the look of those steps Ron. I'll get some from Lionel and send them to you for filing... it's only 12 of them  

Those are some pretty locos, but, did you realize that the MU hoses are installed backwards? Is that the way they came?

 

Note how the Main Reservoir hose (inside of the three) "shakes" with the right hand, while all other hoses "shake" with the left hand.

 

Nice pictures.  Malcolm did a wonderful job on your caboose!  He never ceases to amaze me.

 

Big Jim - Nice lesson.

Yes the MU hoses came that way. They are brass castings attached to the pilot, no way to turn them around without breaking them off.

http://youtu.be/h-mr9jPQlLU

KRAP, I didn't know 3rd Rail offered non-powered B's.  

 

How did I miss that?  I have wanted a Black Widow A-B-B-A for many years.  Looks like I blew it, Big Time. 

 

I don't see any non-powered B's on this sheet.  Are they being offered?

 

http://www.3rdrail.com/images/cat0310b.pdf

I don't think the F7's or FT's are available in non powered units, but the FP7's were.

After emailing Scott the unpowered units proved to be a drag, pun intended, but if you don't buy the engine offered, or cars.  You won't get them and 3rd rail so far ain't reissued JACK1!!! if you don't buy it when it's produced You lose. I think I sat on the fence one too many times, Now.. I have to pay a premium if I want something bad.. Just Sayin

aterry11 -

 

I just looked at your profile, you and I share the same birthday.

 

What are the odds?

 

365.25 to 1

 

 

My Friend, I can guarantee, We have both had a wild wild life!!!  It surely has been a long strange trip Why it feels just lie yesterday!!

True, and there aren't a whole lot of things that I would have changed.  

 

Except... maybe ordering those Black Widows.  

Very true today BTO has reduced dealer inventories drastically and finding older Atlas in particular is tough. Best bet is reserve with a reputable dealer or in Sunsets case you are reserving right at the source.

I screwed myself by forgetting to put in my order for the FT's.... still wanna jump off a cliff over that one.

You guys must be talking about the 3rd rail F7's?   Whole train budget for next year for an A-B-B-A set maybe have to scratchbuid a couple B's

MU Hoses: 

So the reply from our design team was...

Pictures of the F7s and FP7s show 4 MU Hoses.

 

 

Scott, Big Jim's comment was pointing out the glad hands, and which way they were facing, not the number of hoses.

Laidoff,

 

Where did you get the 2-rail pilots for the FP7's?  Did you have to extensively modify the front engine frame to install them?

 

They really look great.

 

Thanks!

 

RTR Mark

Called 3rd Rail and bought them directly from them

I screwed myself by forgetting to put in my order for the FT's.... still wanna jump off a cliff over that one.

 

yes and I screwed myself by not Purchasing the PRR Tuscan FP7's and the F7B unit too! Didn't make the same mistake with the ToT and the Timken 4 aces though!

And 4 hoses per side are correct for first generation units such as F-units, GP7, GP9, because they used a pair of hoses to m-u the sanders.  So the research was correct.

 

Second generation units normally omit the outer hose on each side, as the standard for m-u operation of sanders changed to electric, using the jumper cable between each pair of units.  However some roads still kept the outer hoses by special order to allow newer units to m-u with older ones.  Most railroads just changed the sand control on older units to electric and never had the sander control m-u hoses on their second generation units.  (Or, as in the case of Santa Fe, did not m-u first and second generation units.)