MKT and Frisco Texas Special AND Frisco Meteor Offered by Golden Gate Depot !!!!!

@laming posted:

Thanks Rob.

Searching Ron's using the terms:

"Terminal RR Issue 75"

"Meteor"

"Meteor Story"

etc...

...has not resulted in finding the book at Ron's. Suggestions?

Andre

Click the 3 dots Ron’s Books web page, upper right.
Get box - type in Meteor / hit return-enter.
Get 11 “results”.
My top result is the TRRA book.
Cheers

TrainBub

FYI.  
For awhile, Wabash and the Texas Special (MKT and Frisco) had a thru sleeper agreement. It doesn’t get much print coverage, but I hope to get Wabash cars added to the offering as “extras”.  The configuration is 12-4 - a bit different from the 14-4. Wabash cars (3 assigned) rode onto MKT and Frisco to Texas or MKT and Frisco (1 each) rode on Wabash to Chicago.

Reservation numbers will be important to get this Wabash car executed. 🤔

The Wabash car is Blue. Together with the B&O extra, the cars will add an interesting color contrast to a Texas Special consist. I doubt these cars have ever been offered before in O scale  - Always a nice “plus”. Email Scott you’d like to see the the Wabash cars added to the offering !!!

Cheers 😉

@laming posted:

Rob:

Where to find/purchase that book? Hardcover or soft?

I think I would like to have that book.

Thanks for any info.

Andre

P.S. I found a copy at $49.95 + $6.95 shipping. Sound like a fair deal?

I see one on eBay for $45, and that sounds reasonable.

Thanks guys.

Bought the one at Ron's Books for $38.75 and free shipping.

Andre

@TrainBub posted:

FYI.  
For awhile, Wabash and the Texas Special (MKT and Frisco) had a thru sleeper agreement. It doesn’t get much print coverage, but I hope to get Wabash cars added to the offering as “extras”.  The configuration is 12-4 - a bit different from the 14-4. Wabash cars (3 assigned) rode onto MKT and Frisco to Texas or MKT and Frisco (1 each) rode on Wabash to Chicago.

Reservation numbers will be important to get this Wabash car executed. 🤔

The Wabash car is Blue. Together with the B&O extra, the cars will add an interesting color contrast to a Texas Special consist. I doubt these cars have ever been offered before in O scale  - Always a nice “plus”. Email Scott you’d like to see the the Wabash cars added to the offering !!!

Cheers 😉

Wabash thru sleepers would be great. But how about the PRR thru sleepers. A few of us have been asking & we seem to be getting nowhere with them.

@Dj'sOgaugetrains posted:

Wabash thru sleepers would be great. But how about the PRR thru sleepers. A few of us have been asking & we seem to be getting nowhere with them.

Sorry this is slow. For comparison, I can say it took awhile to get the MP Eagle to its final offering - listing.  
We will get there. 👍🙂

So for now ……  🤔
“Extras” I’m wanting to add —>
*PRR through sleeper    
*Wabash through sleeper  
and Not Mentioned Before
*Frisco METEOR sleeper Cimmaron River BUT in Amtrak Era finish. This would be original paint but with painted smooth silver siding. To me, this would be cool as I think it would be a first private car we can add onto our Amtrak consists.  I frequently see the “Cimmy” passing thru Kirkwood Mo. - a St. Louis suburb.

My Photo.

For ALL of these, Please Send Scott an Email asking him to add these extras !!!!  AND by all means, when they get listed / offered, Place a Reservation. 😉

@TrainBub posted:

*Frisco METEOR sleeper Cimmaron River BUT in Amtrak Era finish. This would be original paint but with painted smooth silver siding. To me, this would be cool as I think it would be a first private car we can add onto our Amtrak consists.

If you got the MoPac 5 Bedroom Lounge car that can be a private car behind a Late 70's and 80's Amtrak consist.

Nice ADD Ricky !!!!!!! I’ll be able to do  
that !!!  Can you add a FYI into the Eagle thread and take some credit for contributing this info. New info Always Appreciated !!!!! Thank You !!!

A friend recently sent me a stunning (IMO) B&W- colorized picture of the early Meteor E7s passing the old Webster Groves station in southwest St Louis county. I Really Like this image as I live only 10 minutes from here. The image is by Don Wirth - more of a Frisco steam guy. Here is his recent book.

In a round about way with some help from a friend, I Was Able to Get Permission from Mr. Wirth to use the early E7 image (circa 1947 or 8?) here in the forum. Early Meteor diesel photos are pretty scarce so that make this image pretty special. Look closely - you’ll see only Frisco Logos.  
What a Beauty !!!  
Enjoy !!!!!!

Used with photo owner Permission  NOTE FROM OGR PUBLISHER:  Greg contacted me prior to this posting concerning his permission to use the photo.

Cheers 😉

And if you do a Cimarron River, be sure the name is spelled correctly.   One M, two R---Cimarron.

The photo is Cimarron River and J. Pinckney Henderson, an MKT Texas Special coach from the 1950's, rebuilt into a private car.   The red paint on the two cars matched perfectly, although each was painted totally independently, as the cars are owned by different folks.  On a special train in Albuquerque, April 2015.

Tony

@tonymarchiando posted:

And if you do a Cimarron River, be sure the name is spelled correctly.   One M, two R---Cimarron.

The photo is Cimarron River and J. Pinckney Henderson, an MKT Texas Special coach from the 1950's, rebuilt into a private car.   The red paint on the two cars matched perfectly, although each was painted totally independently, as the cars are owned by different folks.  On a special train in Albuquerque, April 2015.

Tony

Busted on my earlier misspelling !!!!  Where was spell check ??? 😵‍💫🫣😮.
How embarrassing 😳.  Well … at least it wasn’t on a GGD car.
Anyway, nice photo Tony. Good to see you jump into this thread. Let Scott at Golden Gate know you’d like to see the “Cimmy” done, hopefully as your pic shows - an Amtrak era restoration sans fluting. I’ll make sure the spelling is correct !!! 😜
Cheers 😉

And for those of you that model Amtrak, here are a couple of my pix showing the modern Cimarron “in action”.  Note the diversity of the Amtrak cars.

2016 Houston Texas



2017 leaving Kirkwood Mo. heading towards St. Louis.
Cheers 😉

I would be interested in Wabash thru sleepers.

@TrainBub posted:

I’ve copied my comment from a Rob Leese thread to add some info here / here in top part

Just some more FYI for everyone.

The early E7s for the Meteor were painted the same as the Texas Specials (MKT and Frisco) except the nose and side Had Only Frisco signage. Pictures of the Frisco E7 are a bit difficult to find - especially in color. This paint version lasted only 2 or 3 years and when E8s were delivered in a different paint scheme, the 7s were redone to almost match. There are tell-tale bits that show their “E7ness”.
I believe 3rd Rails offering of a Meteor E7 is a first. If you like the Meteor and E7s, this one’s for you. 3rd Rail will eventually get to another run of E8s and will undoubtedly offer a Frisco E8. 7s before 8s. It can be your choice. Your other choice is to troll the secondary market. I never see 3rd Rail Tx Specials 7s offered. MTH has 2x offered E8s - about 15 years apart. Early was an ABA - not prototypical. Later        just as individual “A”s and with an unpowered option. These rarely show up. Lionel - I don’t know.
Here’s the 3rd Rail Tx Special. Pretend it has only Frisco markings and you have an early Meteor diesel.  I like 3rd Rail as I can easily remove the lobster claw coupler and replace with the enclosed closed fixed pilot.

The below pic shows 3rd Rail Frisco E7 on left before removal of coupler. Notice it has fixed pilot.
The E8s are MTH and shows a 3rd or 4th iteration paint scheme (not final).

The second Paint version has been done by Key Models - very scarce and very expensive (and perhaps only in 2rail ???).  This paint scheme is quite detailed.  Later paint schemes always became more   simple.

The Frisco Meteor ran with 2 “A” units. They had no “B”s.
FYI - I’m in for an 3rd Rail E7 as I don’t have one !!!  
Cheers 😉

==========
And just to top off the diesel pix, here is HO pic of a Meteor diesel but Sans the Frisco emblem between the nose and ladder, in the silver area.

**********************************

NEW Comments  
I’m trying to stimulate a bit more interest in this offering.  This Texas Special / Meteor offering will be the Most Accurate, Prototypical Offering Ever Done In O Scale !!!  Each car type will have accurate interiors - nothing generic !!!  
The Meteor has Never been done - and is do-able because of almost identical consists (a few car differences).    

It is Possible that Every Car Could be done - if reservations support doing so.  The total number of different cars is Not Large.

Heres hoping the people that bought into the MP T&P Eagle offering will also consider this Tx. Special/ Meteor offering. The attention to ALL the Details will be as accurate as seen with the Eagle !!!

As Scott offers items in my collecting area, I always buy in as it is Always Superior. I Do Sell Off the items it will be replacing - the proceeds get applied to the new item. I’ve done this in MP, Frisco, and MKT areas - engines and passenger cars. (Just how I operate. 🤔)

Just trying to “stir the pot” !!!!!!

Cheers 😉

A few years ago, Lionel imported Frisco E8’s in the same as-delivered paint scheme as the Key model, but with the yellow Frisco lettering, which I believe is accurate for the time period shortly after they were delivered.

Again …. E7s will happen before we see the E8.
But to comment  ….
The Lionel E8 is kinda ok - I wouldn’t have as the nose isn’t quite done correctly. (My opinion - I’m Very Picky !!!) The white part is much to wide. It should a Very Thin accent against the gold. 🤔

Here is the Lionel (top) side by side with the Key.
The Key gold nose with subtile white trim paint is Much better but is off a bit too - a bit to high (to much red visible under the gold.)


Interestingly, the earliest delivered Frisco E8s did Not have the white trim at all and are quite stunning. To see this, google Frisco E8A Twenty Grand. You’ll see this and several paint iterations.  
Cheers 😉

Well, the more I dig, the more nose paint variations I find. 🫣😵‍💫😮🤪🤪🤪 I am finding variations with the white trim. I’ll just stay neutral on this for now ……🤔 Until the 8s are offered again. 😉

Well it been awhile without an update but …… SOON Look For a Couple of Additions to the Texas Special and Meteor offerings !!👍🫢😜😜.                                              

Scott will be adding PRR to the Texas Special Extras ….
and ….. an AMTRAK ERA Frisco Meteor car !!!! Cimarron River 14-4 sleeper.

This is a neat Extra that today runs on Amtrak trains - has for years. It is a restored survivor sans fluting on the sides.

Cheers !!! 😉

Will the "New Braunfels" be one the coaches offered? The real one is leased to the Austin Steam Train for excursion service.

@Texas Eagle 77 posted:

Will the "New Braunfels" be one the coaches offered? The real one is leased to the Austin Steam Train for excursion service.

Most of the coaches are to be done. New Braunfels Should be included For Sure. 👍
Cheers 😉

FYI folks. Scott has sent an email - 3rd Rail E7s will be going into production in May. (At this time not posted on 3rd Rail web page) Time to finalize your E7 choices or step up if you are a fence sitter. The MKT and Friscos diesels are identical except for numbers and Road Emblem placement for the Texas Special. The Frisco Meteor is more plain - it has only Frisco emblem on the nose and between nose and cab steps. This will be 1st Ever E7 production run / issue for the Meteor diesel. If you are Thinking Meteor passenger cars, you need this issue !!!  They ran in AA pairs.
Cheers 😉

I'm guessing the E7's leapfrogged the SD9's.

The E7s will run before SD7/9s.  There was a spot in the production schedule for a filler project and the E7s fill it more easily than the SD7/9s.  However SDs will still likely run this year.

Would be cool to get some of these new heavyweights done in Katy Red and silver to match the Texas Special.

@Texas Eagle 77 posted:

Would be cool to get some of these new heavyweights done in Katy Red and silver to match the Texas Special.

Let Scott know !!! 👍👍👍👍    
They would be great adds !!! 😉

I hope everyone got their reservations in for the Tx. Special and Meteor E7s. If you haven’t been checking the 3rd Rail webpage, the diesels Are Now In Production. The Tx Special models are a second run (run one was a special run for JDs Trains) but this will be a run one for the Early Meteor diesel. That will be quite cool.

If you missed the reservations closing, I suggest submitting a “standby” reservation. Early in line gets the earliest opportunity to purchase a desired diesel if a canceled order pops up.

Cheers 😉

For the Frisco fans …… a FYI …. As of now, the Alco FA model is to be Next In Line for production at 3rd Rail and The Frisco Will Be Produced !!! I know MTH never did a Frisco FA and I can’t remember if Lionel ever it doing either. 🤔🤔🤔    
This Might Be A First in O Scale. 🫣🙂😜  

Cheers 😉

@TrainBub posted:

For the Frisco fans …… a FYI …. As of now, the Alco FA model is to be Next In Line for production at 3rd Rail and The Frisco Will Be Produced !!! I know MTH never did and I can’t remember if Lionel ever it doing either. 🤔🤔🤔    
This Might Be A First in O Scale. 🫣🙂😜  

Cheers 😉

With plenty of FA2’s out there, I do not recall seeing an accurate FA1. Weaver did what I call an “FA-inbetween” with a chain drive.
See this thread for more FA info which contains even more useful links:

https://ogrforum.com/topic/fa2-reviews

@Rob Leese posted:

With plenty of FA2’s out there, I do not recall seeing an accurate FA1. Weaver did what I call an “FA-inbetween” with a chain drive.
See this thread for more FA info which contains even more useful links:

https://ogrforum.com/topic/fa2-reviews

Thanks Rob.

If any Frisco fans might be interested, 3rd Rail is offering a 2nd run of the SD40-2. The Frisco red/white model was offered in run 1 but was canceled for lack of reservations. 😤☹️  
If anyone is now interested, Please email Scott and let him know.  Perhaps those that have reserved the 3rd Rail Frisco FA offering can join here. The recently delivered SD40-2 models are  
Beautiful !!!!!  It’s all about #s - getting his attention. I’ve let Scott know that I’ll take 2.
Cheers

Heavyweight info is much more difficult (for me anyway) to find - especially with (in focus) pictures.
Can anyone comment on Frisco “modernized” coaches. All I see for a “modernized” version is the rounded “turtle” roof that hides AC equipment. It’s looking like the heavyweight window configuration (16/20 windows per side) was never addressed / upgraded.
These modernized cars retained their original #.
Comments appreciated- with links to pix even better.   🤞🤞🤞
Thanks !!!!! 😉

FYI and a Heads-Up !!!

Scott Will Be Adding  
Frisco to the Heavyweight 8-1-2 offering for reservations. There are 2 cars to be done that are prototypical for the METEOR. The car names are  
Robert F. Hoke and P. G. T Beauregard. The cars are red / silver with smooth sides (no shadow lines).  The cars are evidenced in text and photos (1) and listed in consists (2). [There are Only two cars (3)] These 2 cars will offer a bit more diversity to the Meteor consist.  

(1) “Meteor” TRRA of St. Louis H. and T. Society / Summer 2015 - Issue 75, page 108.  
(2) same ref., page 115  
(3) same ref., page 183

FYI and Heads-Up …. Again

Scott Will Be Adding  
MKT to the Heavyweight 8-1-2 Offering for reservations. There is one car that will be done for the Texas Special. The car name is McInnis. The car is red and silver with smooth sides (no shadow lines).
The key picture with text for the car can be found in    
“The Texas Special” Terminal Railroad Association of DT. Louis H. and T. Society Summer 2009 - Issue 69, page 141.
The car has “The Texas Special” on the letter board, A small Pullman by the doors, and name centered on side below the windows.

This car will be identical to the above 2 Frisco Meteor 8-1-2s except for decals.  

Hopefully these 3 different cars will help us get needed reservation #s to see these cars executed.

Cheers 😉

@TrainBub posted:

FYI and a Heads-Up !!!

Scott Will Be Adding  
Frisco to the Heavyweight 8-1-2 offering for reservations. There are 2 cars to be done that are prototypical for the METEOR. The car names are  
Robert F. Hoke and P. G. T Beauregard. The cars are red / silver with smooth sides (no shadow lines).  The cars are evidenced in text and photos (1) and listed in consists (2). [There are Only two cars (3)] These 2 cars will offer a bit more diversity to the Meteor consist.  

(1) “Meteor” TRRA of St. Louis H. and T. Society / Summer 2015 - Issue 75, page 108.  
(2) same ref., page 115  
(3) same ref., page 183

R.F. Hoke has a b&w photo on page 108 in the book you referenced. The name on the car side is hard to read without magnification.

The color photo below it is Beauregard.

@Rob Leese posted:

R.F. Hoke has a b&w photo on page 108 in the book you referenced. The name on the car side is hard to read without magnification.

The color photo below it is Beauregard.

Yep. These are the 2 key photos to see the cars without the shadowline paint.

@TrainBub posted:

FYI and a Heads-Up !!!

Scott Will Be Adding  
Frisco to the Heavyweight 8-1-2 offering for reservations. There are 2 cars to be done that are prototypical for the METEOR. The car names are  
Robert F. Hoke and P. G. T Beauregard. The cars are red / silver with smooth sides (no shadow lines).  The cars are evidenced in text and photos (1) and listed in consists (2). [There are Only two cars (3)] These 2 cars will offer a bit more diversity to the Meteor consist.  

(1) “Meteor” TRRA of St. Louis H. and T. Society / Summer 2015 - Issue 75, page 108.  
(2) same ref., page 115  
(3) same ref., page 183

As of August 27, I have not seen these added to the GGD reservation page.  Even though I have already created a complete Meteor, if they appear I will jump on this opportunity.

The Tx. Special MKT and Frisco E7s and Meteor E7s are on the delivery near horizon. I’m thinking at our doors early December if all goes according to plan. The Frisco Meteor E7s will be So Cool as they’ve Never been done before !!!

I’m hoping these beauties spur some added passenger car reservations to move the offering up the pecking order. Reservation numbers are important.  The Q is long and the higher up in the Q gets more attention.  When More reservations happen , this offering can move up in the Q.

Heavyweight reservations are slow so far. Step up for the offered coaches AND Email Scott to Please ADD the Frisco /MKT heavyweight Sleepers !!!!!!!  It’s one thing getting them added to the offering but it’s important to then follow with a reservation.    

This offering will be prototypically correct for Every car - outside And inside. Nothing cookie cutter generic.  

Cheers 😉

I believe E7s are Scheduled for Early December delivery. If a bit late, shipping Might be delayed till after New Year to avoid December Christmas Delivery Congestion. I hope not but it Seems like delivery is Always a bit later than anticipated. ☹️🫢  
When they Are delivered, Please post some pix for Everyone to see !!!

Cheers 😉

I hope the E7s are delayed because my wallet will need a breather after the B & O Cap Limited!

@BlueFeather posted:

I hope the E7s are delayed because my wallet will need a breather after the B & O Cap Limited!

I’m a bit “lucky”. I’ve only a 16-4 reserved from the Cap to use in my do it yourself Nat. Ltd.   I’d be in “deep trouble” if Scott had offered a full Nat. Ltd offering !!!!!!   Bad enough from a $ point of view - I’ve 5 E7s coming 🫢😳🫣      🤪🤪🤪