Making do on the A.T.& S.F...

It looks good, even without the res stripe!  An A-B-A combination is a very handsome and powerful set.  I'm not sure I'd go to the trouble of painting it - yeah, I guess I would - -  but still, just as is, I love it. 

Sam - Try to find Lionel 6-14587 Santa Fe Alco PB.  They were $150 new and many times they go for much less used.  It is a perfect match for your set.  The original set was #51 A-B-A.  When Lionel did the set you have, to be correct, the A units should have had matching numbers on the lighted side panels.  What most people don't know is that the set was designed for people that wanted two PA sets and then you would have had #51 & #52. 

I know you have the patience, so look for someone selling the TMCC version B unit separately.  The earlier PB from 2000 doesn't match, so make sure it is 6-14587.

http://www.lionel.com/Products/Finder/ProductDetail.cfm?ProductNumber=6-14587&expandBranch=0&Keywords=alco%20pb&CategoryID=0&RailLineID=&CatalogId=

BTW- That's a simplified explanation.  Santa Fe did some odd things with #51 by replacing the Alco diesel motors with EMD diesels and the engines had humps on them, and they renumbered the trailing diesels.  It is all more than I would like to type.

Here is a picture of 51 after it was re-motored.  You can see the hump.

Those PB units are NOT too hard to find. I picked mine up on Ebay for $125 awhile back.

The hard one is a B unit for the E6 AA set. Have to custom paint a E7 B unit I guess.

Thank for the info on the earlier B unit - will be on the lookout for one for sure.

here's another shot of the D&H in front of Burger Chef...

Marker's post and photo are very interesting.  That's a pretty decrepit-looking SF unit.  Looks like it should be run through the paint shop, too.

here's another shot of the D&H in front of Burger Chef...

Looks good, I could use a hamburger about now! 

Ah yes, "Christine" as some Santa Fe mechanics called it. Is that photo in/near San Diego? Those engines ran on the San Diegan for quite a while.

Marker,

I'd like to see pix of your E6 with the fixed pilot. You can email them to me if you have some, I don't wanna hi-jack this thread. I'll have too look for an MTH E6B unit.

Did you body mount the Kadee couplers or truck mount them?

Marker, I hope you know I was referring to the remotored locos and not your beauties!    Love the E-units.

Laidoffsick, your right, I will pull the posts and send you a photo.

TrainsRMe- I misinterpreted, sorry.

Howard - You are most welcome to 'hijackk this thread with anything Santa Fe!

Would love to see some good photos of the E6s.

Thanks Sam.  As I remember, we have had some good correspondence on E's.

You still working on the Southern units?  That picture you sent me was very cool.

Southern units?

Am not sure which ones you refer too here?

Looking for another set of Warbonnet E6s however....

Stick to you guns, C.sam. Warbonnet or nothing else . . .

Didn't we discuss how do do a Southern E6B? I sent you this picture showing the Lionel E7 and MTH Santa Fe E6B shells.

One of us has "oldtimers"

What replaced them in the early-mid 1960's. Did they go back to the F-units? I can't remember what pulled the trains I rode on the San Diego trip in 1966.

Sam, I always enjoy seeing pictures of the Santa Fe warbonnet, no matter what engine configuration they are. I particularly like the PAs and am patiently waiting for someone to make a set of Hi-levels to go with them.

Ha!  Must be ME Howard...

Yes, now I do remember us talking about them. I had a Lionel UP powered E7 B unit that I wanted to push a dummy Williams E7 A but the Lionel rode too high on its trucks - looked odd.

I traded the UP B and later acquired a Lionel Burlington non-powered A that would have been a good match!

Here is the Burlington repainted into SR No 2800 'under power'

Could still use a matching B unit although Southern ran this one often as a single A with few cars

Sam - That really came out nice!