Santa Fe Goldbonnet Alco PA Sunset 3rd rail

I thought the magic number was around 20, but not 100% sure on that.

Myself and many others like the early or as delivered versions of his models. Quite simply because it's much easier to add details to a plastic shell for a later date, than it is to remove details to back date the engine.

Ever tried removing nose lift lugs or eye brow grabs, filling the holes and then matching the paint? ........no fun at all. Drilling holes to add grab irons? .... piece of cake.

OMI version in brass…..Ho scale. COuld repaint SF version- decals might be hard to duplicate….

I am not a typical O Scaler, but for what it is worth: I think the Warbonnet PA is one of the most beautiful locomotives ever.  I think the gold version is not attractive at all, and would not consider it.  That is just one data point, so now you are 50-50.

I wondered why you needed multiple posts, but did not think it violated any rule.

I worked for EDS years ago before they were taken over.    They had more rules and regulations than you would believe.    This forum sometimes reminds me of working there!

bob2 posted:

I am not a typical O Scaler, but for what it is worth: I think the Warbonnet PA is one of the most beautiful locomotives ever.  I think the gold version is not attractive at all, and would not consider it.  

Well for Santa Fe fans like myself, if they had one, I'd buy one. It's not about being attractive or not 

The minimum number of units would need to be 20 total in any combination of 2 and 3 rail to get this produced. 

I am happy with theALCo/ GE Orange units coming

into fruition for 3 railers!

I am sorry for this ignorant question. What is that appliance on the top of the loco which looks, for lack of a better description, like a small table? 

Antenna base, and the round thing is the antenna

Santa Fe added a ground plane to radio antennas on many diesel locomotives, to increase effectiveness of the antenna.  This was done with "firecracker", "disc", and Sinclair antennas.  Keeping the antenna from being directly mounted to the roof also reduced water leaks and made it much easier for the radio shop to replace an antenna.

No gold bonnet for me, and absolutely no nose m-u, Leslie chime air horn, radio antenna, or any extra post-1960 grab irons.  I'm with Laidoffsick - those who want those appliances can add them to their PA's after they receive them.  Personally, I model 1953, so I can handle the stack in either position, original or Vapor 4740 steam generator stack, and wipers mounted at either the top edge (1949 and later) or lower (1946-49) windshield edge.  Santa Fe was by far the first carrier to move its Alco windshield wipers to the top edge.  Some others did it later, and some never did.  PA2 and PA3 units were built with top-mounted wipers.

I saw the gold-bonnet engine spotted on the team track at Fullerton.  I was riding my bike home from St. Mary's school (making my customary inspection at the depot en route) and there was the 53L, muttering unevenly to herself, coupled to several of the 1938 Budd cars with their trucks sprayed with gold paint.  Of course, I turned in and went up for a closer inspection.  A Fullerton policeman tried to run me off, but Trainmaster Frank Rose quickly intervened and told the cop to let me go wherever I wanted.  God bless Frank Rose.  He was a good man and a mentor to me- my idea of a good Trainmaster and a good railroader.  He was not heavy on discipline, and he could take a long switch list and do the job as well or better than the Trainmen who worked for him. Sometimes Mrs. Rose met him at the depot and he took her to lunch.  He was killed in an auto accident later in the 1960's, near the entrance to the Rivera Yard.

prrhorseshoecurve posted:

I am happy with theALCo/ GE Orange units coming

into fruition for 3 railers!

Yes I like this scheme too! I made a 2 rail set from LIONEL dummy's .I thought one person placed an order for all of these to sell off themselves .

Nice! How did you get the decals?

I made them myself , from HO scale Overland set of locos that were online with dead straight on side shots , searched fonts , I have a few extra sets . I think enough to do one more A+B .