3rd Rail Rock Island EMC TA

Excuse the less than usual quality of these images. I took these back in 2007 of the über rare rare rare Railway Classics 1937 Rocket set. I was told this was the only set they imported with the Mars light. I have an interesting story about this train relating to my grandfather in 1937 in Mason City, Iowa. I will add that later. We sold this set for $6000 or more back in 2008 at Caboose Hobbies it is HO built by Ajin. 

Scott let's get them right. 

Railway Classics HO photos by me 2010

Doug Bauer really knocked it out of the ballpark with these fine models with Ajin

Its it's been awhile, pretty sure (c) Four Ways West on these copyrighted images. They are worth looking at .

Drawings care of Railroad Model Craftsman 

Yeah it happened 

Santiago and Erik -

Thanks for posting such great photos of this locomotive (and others), actual and models. Awesome stuff!

Eric 

Fantastic information as always Erik, thank you. I agree, above anything lets get them right. Sure there are a lot of aspects to cover, but it's not a 20 paint scheme project, let's make it special. 

Eric, you're welcome! There is so much one can say about this engine (and train), yes it is eye candy but it also helped shape history in many ways. Engineering, safety, design, etc. it's all there. 

I just placed my reservation with Norm.

It's official, I'm emotionally invested in this project. 

When a Rock Island collector/operator for 25 years, I always hoped someone would manufacture the 1937 TA Rock Island streamliner and articulated cars in O gauge. But it didn't happen in that timeframe.  Now 77, I have this one opportunity to own a TA set!

Mike

How wonderful, Mike! I'm happy for you. 

Here's some data gleaned from Lloyd Stagner's "Rock Island Motive Power, 1933-1955":

The TA's were built from Aug-Oct, 1937, had 1200 HP, weighed 226,000 Lbs, and were scrapped in 1958.

Here are the train assignments for the TA's as of July 1, 1948  (presume their 4 car trains accompanied the locomotives):

#601    Chicago Division     Trains 5-14       Chicago-Omaha

#602     Mo-Kansas Div       Trains 509-510    Kansas City-Dallas

#603-605   Arkansas Div      Trains 51-52       Memphis-Amarillo

#606        Chicago Div          Trains 5-14         Chicago-Omaha

Didn't "Model Railroader" do drawings and color renderings of the TA's and train?   Anyone recall the mo/year of that effort?      

This is a great project of a beautiful prototype. 

Ahh, found it !        See Model Railroader,  May 1980, for a colorized rendition of the TA and fold out, 3 page, drawings in HO scale, for "Rock Island's original Rocket streamliners".    Verrrry neat train !

Must be something in the air.  Kato is planning an N Scale version of the TA Rocket...

Rusty

Pre-ordered mine in 3 rail. Super-excited for this from 3rd Rail, who I know will deliver a quality product. 

Great job Mark!

Scott told me he will let me know if he needs some help in research. 

Guys place an order call your dealers! 

Mason City Iowa CRI&P Twin Star Rocket hits School Bus 10/37

details about this accident can be found here:

http://iagenweb.org/cerrogordo...7train_bus_wreck.htm

My grandfather volunteered on the rescue and clean up of this accident scene. The Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific (CRI&P) Twin Star Rocket was certainly known for its speed; then recently placed in service on the Minneapolis, Kansas City, Dallas line, most rural north Iowans were unaware that these "new" high speed 80-100 mph trains were literally rocketing down the tracks. Another know issue with these sort of accidents is most drivers of the time looked for a plume of smoke or steam, a distinction often found mostly with steam locomotives. Although accurate ALCO's PA diesel series were often called "honorary steam locomotives" for the excess diesel exhaust created by the turbos. The Twin Star Rocket was then a recently constructed lightweight stainless steel articulated 3-4 car design from Budd and used an EMC TA series diesel locomotive that was sans a "Mars Light" that gyrated to attract the attention of drivers that were trained to "watch out for locomotive". The "Mars Light" was a creation by the founder of the Mars Candy company! Shortly after this accident the CRI&P placed "Mars Lights" on most all of the TA's.

My grandfather Oliver was one of the first to arrive on the scene while working at his John Deere dealer in Mason City according to what he had told me, "picking up body parts of children". My grandfather was in the John Deere business in Mason City, IA and my family has many roots to the "River City". I am located in Colorado now and remember vividly my grandfather Oliver Lindgren telling his experience of the event. From what I have been told this accident was directly responsible for the nationwide school bus requirement to stop at all railroad grade crossings law. It was very traumatic to him as I recall, and left a strong impression on him that he carried the rest of his life. He past away in 2002 at the age of 97.

fascinating story Erik. unfortunately the link is not working.

Unlike F units, the TA had the Mars light on the bottom and the headlight on top. Correct me if I'm wrong. 

SANTIAGOP23 posted:

Unlike F units, the TA had the Mars light on the bottom and the headlight on top. Correct me if I'm wrong. 

Well, first the TA didn't have a nose door and the Mars light appears physically larger than the headlight.   Being the TA was built one year after a Mars light was first used on a locomotive (a C&NW 4-8-4 if I recall correctly,)  so I doubt the TA was designed with a Mars light in mind. 

It was probably less involved to to mount the cumbersome Mars light mechanism (and perform the associated bodywork) at the bottom near the frame and leave the headlight where it was.

Amtrak did something similar on some of their E8's, except it was a pair of alternating flashing lights rather than a Mars light:

Rusty

Wonder if Sunset 3rd Rail might be cajoled into doing  a Rocket from an earlier period then the "Peoria Rocket" ?  Might that represent name changes only on the cars ? Or would it ?  Wouldn't the Peoria Rocket TA be in the solid maroon paint, as opposed to the maroon and crimson scheme of the earlier period.......which would be gigantically more appealing to me. 

a different link about the crash....

http://disasteroushistory.blog...bus-train-crash.html

A 601 as delivered would be more appealing to me as well.

I suppose that is the main question: Will 3rd Rail make the original or the Mars light version (or maybe both)?

Maybe both?

Original unless sufficient people reserve sets requesting the Mars light.

rdunniii posted:

Original unless sufficient people reserve sets requesting the Mars light.

The engine.... Brass?

SANTIAGOP23 posted:

rdunniii posted:

Original unless sufficient people reserve sets requesting the Mars light.

The engine.... Brass?

Not plan A.

Mason City, IA school bus accident  with music students visiting Meredith Wilson. 1937

It's not a pretty story but part of our history  

Better link that the gen disasters link:

http://iagenweb.org/cerrogordo...7train_bus_wreck.htm

My train preference would be the Rocky Mountain Rocket in "as delivered" scheme, ala Erik's Railway Classics photos.

Side bar note:   it was a Rio Grande L105 Challenger hitting a school bus that caused the 'Grande to put the rising sun motif on the front sand box, and subsequent chevrons.

A little unclear on what Sunset 3rd is proposing ---- a 3 car articulated set and a 4 car non articulated set?   Can anyone decode the announcement?     And the locomotive......and cars? ......might  be made of acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS).  If so, I must be careful not to eat the train.

Mark, the cars will be aluminum, but they are debating wether to make the engine brass or plastic.

So, what is being proposed is 3 articulated cars and one non-articulated/conventional 2 truck observation car?

Based on Erics photos of the HO models they show 2 articulated cars and a stand alone observation car, the fourth car is not pictured, perhaps Eric can answer the question as to the fourth car .

This is the original consist