My Lionel "FL9's"

Nice!  I see you added the correct Hancock air whistles.  The FL9s seem to have lasted a long time here in Connecticut on the MetroNorth branch lines, but now they’re gone.  Also, for years I tried to ride behind the Maine Eastern FL9s on the Brunswick to Rockland route, but they’re gone now too.  At least you have some on your layout!

Thanks, I made them from scrap styrene.

Well done!

Peter

Man those bring back the memories! I live in White Plains, and those FL-9's were a daily sight to me. The yellow faded so fast to an off white. I am a big Penn Central fan so I totally appreciate what you have done.

Pete...fantastic job....I've been hoping Lionel would do the FL9....you beat them to it....great work....is it possible for you to send me detailed pics of the rear truck modification I would like to try it....thanks  Joe.....in Yonkers NY

Thanks Joe,

I will send some pics.  All I did was buy a three axle (unpowered) truck from a Lionel SD on eBay.  I did have to shave the side frames of the dummy frame.  It is not the correct truck for the FL9.  Neither is the front truck, I just left the original.  

I trimmed the frame to allow for the longer truck.

The three axle truck then fit into the frame just like the original.

@Bruce Clouette posted:

Nice!  I see you added the correct Hancock air whistles.  The FL9s seem to have lasted a long time here in Connecticut on the MetroNorth branch lines, but now they’re gone.  Also, for years I tried to ride behind the Maine Eastern FL9s on the Brunswick to Rockland route, but they’re gone now too.  At least you have some on your layout!

The Railroad Museum of New England in Thomaston, CT has a pair of them, at least one should still be operational. www.rmne.org

---PCJ,

(who volunteered there as car host, then brakeman for a few years)

Thanks Pete for the pics...I'll give it a try....joe

Pete....the front truck is correct for the first unit delivered...#2000,the Blomberg  truck was replaced by the Flexicoil because the third rail shoe could not be mounted on the Blomberg....so you are correct for a demonstrator.....cheers...joe

The 3rd Rail FL9 is on a list of locomotives that may see a future run and the missing paint schemes are certainly going to be part of the mix the next go around.  I too like the MTA Blue/Yellow scheme and would enjoy having one to go behind my PC black one.

Not to take anything away from your models.  They are fantastic.

GG1,

That would be great, I'd love to get a Sunset FL9 with all the proper bits.  

@pabuckee posted:

Thanks Joe,

I will send some pics.  All I did was buy a three axle (unpowered) truck from a Lionel SD on eBay.  I did have to shave the side frames of the dummy frame.  It is not the correct truck for the FL9.  Neither is the front truck, I just left the original.  

Pete,can you send more detailed photos of your fl9 project,I'am going to try it....thanks,joe

@GG1 4877 posted:

The 3rd Rail FL9 is on a list of locomotives that may see a future run and the missing paint schemes are certainly going to be part of the mix the next go around.  I too like the MTA Blue/Yellow scheme and would enjoy having one to go behind my PC black one.

Not to take anything away from your models.  They are fantastic.

Id be in for another set of NH FL9s

@biscuitag97 posted:

Id be in for another set of NH FL9s

Reach out to Scott and let him know.  The factory is always looking for projects to pick up for production as it takes time for the new projects to get through design and tooling.  Scott tries to space them in such a way to provide enough work to the factory to keep them busy, but also not overburdening the buyer on too many models to purchase at once.  It's a tough balancing act!

In the meantime, those "postwar" ones are pretty cool. 

I own several Sunset FL9s from the 2013 run. During 2023 Scott repaired one for me. At the time, I suggested rerunning the FL9s and told him I would buy two new ones if produced. I'm still in for two New Havens.

Meanwhile, a question for @pabuckee: It looks like you stretched your "Lionel" FL9. How did you do it?

MELGAR

@MELGAR posted:

I own several Sunset FL9s from the 2013 run. During 2023 Scott repaired one for me. At the time, I suggested rerunning the FL9s and told him I would buy two new ones if produced. I'm still in for two New Havens.

Meanwhile, a question for @pabuckee: It looks like you stretched your "Lionel" FL9. How did you do it?

MELGAR

Unfortunately, I missed the last run… I’d definitely be in for a NH if it was numbered for Metro North.

Anybody know who makes the Hancock 4700? Had some made by BOB RZASA item #1044 Custom finishing ,Orange Mass.thanks....joe

Joe,

Glad to hear you are going to give it a try.  I posted pics of the truck modification. That was the only structural change I made.  

I did make the Hancock Air Whistle out of scrap styrene.  I think it was fairly easy after I figured out the exact size to make it.

The Conrail paint was easy as I found Conrail decals that fit perfectly.  The PC paint was more difficult because there were no decals made in the right color.  I used masking and painting to make the large PC logo.

I'll post more pics of the Air Whistle and the frame modification.  Good Luck!

What paint job will you do?  

Melgar:  No I didn't stretch the frame.  It is a short FL9.  I just cut out the skirting on the Lionel F to make room for the 3 axle truck.  

Pete

Thanks Pete for the info..FYI   the hancock 4700 is available from CUSTOM FINISHING MODELS...they bought out Bob Rzasa's business the stock # is 335.I'am thinking of the MTA blue/yellow scheme...thanks again for the reply...joe

some pics...

Joe,

Frame cutout looks great.  Truck fits perfect too.

Here's pics of the Hancock.  Hard to see detail in black.

The only other thing I added was brass handrails.

Pete

Joe,

That air whistle from CUSTOM FINISHING MODELS looks great!  Are you sure it's 1:48?  I can't see anything on their site about gauge.

Looking forward to your progress.

Pete

@pabuckee posted:

Joe,

That air whistle from CUSTOM FINISHING MODELS looks great!  Are you sure it's 1:48?  I can't see anything on their site about gauge.

Looking forward to your progress.

Pete

Pete,I think they are "O" scale, I got them from Bob Rzasa ,He sold out to custom finishing.I'am going to call them to make sure....cheers....joe

@joe krasko posted:

Pete,

I think they are "O" scale, I got them from Bob Rzasa.

Here is a closeup view of my model of New Haven FL9 2043 (Sunset Models 2013) that clearly shows the air horn. I presume Sunset scaled it accurately.

MELGAR

@MELGAR posted:

Here is a closeup view of my model of New Haven FL9 2043 (Sunset Models 2013) that clearly shows the air horn. I presume Sunset scaled it accurately.

MELGAR

Is that an air horn or is it an electronic (speaker) horn?

Ron

Pic taken at the "Streamliner" Event at NCTM Spencer, NC.

Ron

@PRRronbh posted:

Is that an air horn or is it an electronic (speaker) horn?

Ron

Ron

New Haven Power 1838 - 1968, by J. W. Swanberg, refers to the device mounted on the windshield post as a "tuneful Hancock whistle." If you're interested, I will post a video of the model's sound tomorrow.

MELGAR

Ron,it is a Hancock model 4700 air whistle,it was intended to sound like a steam whistle.they also made a model 4710 without the sound bell,it was found on the rear of the FL9.It was used by several other railroads but NH (I think) had the most..hope this helps....joe

Here are three recordings of the whistle on my Sunset/3rd-Rail model of New Haven Railroad FL9 #2043.

I used to hear the FL9 whistles when they were running on Metro-North in Connecticut. The model sounds accurate to me.

MELGAR

@MELGAR posted:

Ron

New Haven Power 1838 - 1968, by J. W. Swanberg, refers to the device mounted on the windshield post as a "tuneful Hancock whistle." If you're interested, I will post a video of the model's sound tomorrow.

MELGAR

Mel thank you for the insightful info.  I always thought it looked like an exterior speaker!

Plus the only one I have heard sounded like a speaker with a torn cone!

NS must have a unit with one of these Hancock Whistle's.  It comes into town at "Oh-Dark-Morning" at a crossing about 2-mile away.  It sounds like a Vet filling a horses teeth!

Ron

Here is what a real Hancock 4700 sounds like:

https://youtu.be/C9q5AtnD5LY?t=34

Much more like a steam whistle than the generic horns.

~Chris

If anyone is interested in seeing a pair of REAL ex-New Haven FL9's running,  come to Grapevine Texas and ride the Grapevine vintage Railroad.

Cape Cod Central has a few FL9’s , I was lucky enough to go on a lunch train last year.