Does anyone know for sure if the Great Northern F-3s in the new catalog will have the GN simplified paint scheme, that is, without the yellow striping? It appears to be so in the catalog, but the picture isn't very clear.
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Yes. This appears to be a wait and see set.
I have asked Ryan your question and as soon as I hear back I will post because I had the same question. I am assuming at the moment they will have the yellow pin stripe as the simplified version did not have the orange at the bottom of the loco either. I do know that the pilots will be green, not silver as depicted in the catalog and he promised me the orange will be correct.
Joe
The question I would like to know is about the Silver trucks and Gas tank. I have seen pictures in the many GN Books I own and this paint scheme does exist. And I am pretty sure silver trucks were only on the passenger engines, but I have seen conflicting pictures that show passenger engines with darker trucks (this could be road dirt). Is there a time frame on the silver trucks. I find a lot of 1958 - 61 pictures, but I think I have seen one from the mid 50's. Anyway I would like to know if this was only passenger trains and when did this practice start and stop Approximately.
Joe
Blue Streak posted:The question I would like to know is about the Silver trucks and Gas tank. ...
I always prefer silver trucks, because it really shows off the great detail -- whereas darker coloring just doesn't do the fine detail any justice. I realize some paint schemes just never had silver trucks. But since the GN and BNSF paint schemes look so cool with silver trucks, I hope Lionel goes with that this time around.
This is an area where I wish Lionel would be more accurate in terms of catalog illustrations vs. production models. With more items being BTO, importers owe enthusiasts an accurate description AND illustration of what we're committing to buy.
David
Ryan just responded and said yes they will have the yellow pin stripes. So I am pretty sure I will order these.
Joe
The silver (aluminum) trucks and underbodies were only applied to some GN passenger (only) E and F units. The website greatnorthernempire.net has an EMD roster which indicates units known to have it. (Lack of an entry for a given road number doesn't necessarily mean it didn't have it, however...) IIRC, the silver under frame painting began in mid 1950 with the delivery of F7's. This is about the same timeframe when E7's were removed from Empire Builder transcontinental service and the transcontinental pool of F3's and F7's was formed. As the units were shopped, some received the silver underframe paint. This (inconsistent) practice persisted to the mid 1950's. The units having it continued to wear it into the early 60's, until repainted in the simplified orange and green scheme.
Regarding silver trucks with dark fuel tanks and vice-versa, I suppose this occurred sometimes when a truck swap was necessary but the unit was not otherwise repainted.
The GN simplified paint scheme was more than the loss of the pin stripes, it was also the total elimination of the bottom orange band.
Rusty
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I much prefer the classic Empire Builder scheme, as shown below. Not with silver trucks. This was a publicity shot by the Great Northern, so it's the real deal (and with an F-3 on point), as they wanted to present it, presumably. Great news on the yellow striping - I'll order a set now as well. Also GREAT news about getting the Omaha Orange right. Thanks for listening, Ryan.
Blue Streak posted:Ryan just responded and said yes they will have the yellow pin stripes. So I am pretty sure I will order these.
Joe
That is great news... now the big question: Will Lionel make some 21 inch cars to match?
