Lionel's new ATSF E6's and F3's - real?

Here's #12 E6...

...sort of.  It appears to be a composite of artwork and photograph.

Nonetheless, #12 was, indeed, part of the 11-class build, featuring engines 11, 12-15.  Actually, engine #11 was an E3, and 12-15 were of the E6 build....all of which were included in Santa Fe's 11-class designation.

There is a b/w photo of #12 on page 435 of Worley's Iron Horses of the Santa Fe Trail, a definitive summary of that road's engines....to a point in time.

F3 #22 was part of the 16-class (#16-36). Can't find a photo thereof really quickly, but it's on the builder's listing in Worley's book.

BTW....back to the E6's........if Lionel should build an E6 B-unit, be aware that engine #14 was delivered sans B-unit.  Never had one.  I believe it was the only engine in the 11-class to be delivered solo.  I learned that after investing in a factory-painted HO AB set from a well-know importer....wondering why it lingered long after other numbers of that model were long gone.  Well.....duh....now I know!  Nice set, anyway, though.

KD

Speaking of E6 B-units, if you really want A-B-... consist, and you're willing to settle for TMCC over LEGACY, 3rd Rail is taking reservations for their E6 run.  Offering both A & B in Santa Fe, both units powered. They're pretty good with road-specific details, too, from what I understand. I only have the GM Train of Tomorrow and a N&W K-2a from them, and a NYC PA/PB pair on order.  I love LEGACY, but 3rd Rail is starting to grow on me, too. 

Just realized...they're also taking F3 reservations, too.  

"Did ATSF ever have in their roster an E6 No. 12, or an F3 No. 22? 

It makes absolutely no difference to me what the numbers are or whether they ever existed, but wouldn’t it be very easy to choose numbers that were indeed used by the railroad?"

All this info is easily searchable on the Internet. There is a Santa Fe Historical Society (and may others). There are rosters of locomotives for almost any RR you care to name - just search "roster ATSF locomotives", or variations on that theme.

Santa Fe's F3's were the 16 Class: 16LABC-36LABC.  The first batch was 16LABC-21LABC.  These units did not have stainless steel side panels and the had the "long" warbonnet that extended to about mid unit.  They retained these features even after major shoppings and upgrades to F7's until the end.

The 16C and 21L:

Beginning with the 22LABC, the warbonnet was made shorter and stainless steel side panes were used.  Here's a photo of the 22C after upgrade to an F7:

The 22LABC would have looked like the 26LABC pictured in an above post straight out of the box from EMD.

Rusty

Thank you for your replies - much appreciated!

I have settled on the F3's, but not yet on whether ABA or ABBA (powered, powered, SuperBass, non-powered). I am not familiar with the SuperBass B-unit, and whether it will really add much to the sure-to-be great ABA.

Thx!

Alex

I know that my MTH F3's horn sound is probably true to life (within reason), but when compared to more modern diesel engines, the F3 sounds puny. I suspect that the answer to my next questions is 'yes', but let me ask anyway. Would the horn sound of the new Lionel F3 be similar to my MTH F3's? Would Lionel's new E6 horn sound be similar to the F3 as well?

Thx!

Alex