Santa Fe Yellow Bonnet F3s

Lionel made one 8-9 years ago and there is a picture of it on the cover of the latest of "that other" model train mag.  One would think that MTH would have also covered that model, but I am not sure.

MTH made one as a "Dealer Appreciation Program" set. There are many pictures of that set floating around on this forum too. You can find them in this thread:

https://ogrforum.com/t...w-andamp-atsf?page=1

MTH and Williams have both done the yellow bonnets. I have the MTH DAP version, super nice ABA set.

Thanks for the info.

I've seen the MTH version.  But I'm looking for a different one (smaller).

One that looks like a Lionel F3 body.  Must have been the Lionel version RadioRon mentions.

Hmmm Williams.  Didn't think about them.  Thanks for the info Bill T.  Maybe that's what I saw as I think their F3s are Lionel clones.

I have the Williams version.  Actually, have the "regular" warbonnet, yellow warbonnet, blue warbonnet, and black warbonnet--all from Williams.

MTH also makes a "clone" of the Lionel postwar style F3 in their RailKing line including the same overall dimensions.  Be advised though that the Williams version, while also the same in appearance overall as the MTH RailKing and Lionel postwar-style Fs, uses a freight-style pilot that looks similar to the MTH Premier F3s that you see in the picture posted by Bill T above.  The MTH RailKing F3 pilots resemble the smooth, streamlined "passenger style" pilots that you see on the Lionel postwar-style F3.

The bluebonnets were ex-passenger units.

The pilot doesn't dictate whether the locomotive was a freight or passenger unit.

ALL Santa Fe F-units had the so-called "freight pilot," so did Santa Fe's E8's.  Conversely, all CB&Q F-units had the so-called "passenger pilot" (with the exception of the FT's.)

Rusty

I think this is exactly what I've been looking for.  I found the Williams yellowbonnets online and the black stripe seems a little thicker then the ones I've been looking for.

Any product number for the RailKing F3s?

I think this is it (from C.Sam's posting here):

Is anyone aware of a lionel 'Yellowbonnet'?  I don't recall one .

The yellow F3s on 'that other' cover are indeed  Mike's 'RailKing Scale' version from several years ago along with the same Aspen Leaf custom PAs in the photo above..

The RK F3s have PS2, sounds, and smoke. Great units that are nearly copies of Lionel postwar F3s. The RK fuel tanks are detailed well.

Here is a photo of the prototype (bottom image) from a Santa Fe book stating that there were only 2 F7 A units and a single B painted like this. 

You're correct in regards to Santa Fe/ C&Q, hence why I changed my post not long after I posted it, although from the rule of thumb approach railwide, those situations are more of an exception as F units as a whole were more often than not equipped with pilots depending upon the type of service they were expected to run at the time they were ordered & delivered.

I have to agree with Sam; I don't believe Lionel has done a "yellow bonnet". The only thing Lionel has done other than the straight red "Warbonnet" is the black fantasy scheme in last year's catalog.

I think I found them.  Although it looks like they only came with a set of passenger cars.

MTH 30-2762-1

I currently run a lionel 2343 and a Lionel 18117 (freight scheme with catwisker nose logo).  But a passenger yellowbonnet would be unique.  Although I'd probably only want one A unit.  And I'd have to make believe it's the early 1970s and Amtrak has just started.

I have an accurate F7 yellowbonnet model in HO scale #304L.

I use the term "passenger" yellowbonnet to not confuse with the more common freight yellowbonnet F units with their black trucks and blue pilots.  Passenger meaning the two A units and one B unit with silver trucks and pilots.

Here's a bit of "yellow bonnet" trivia for you:

Every prototype rednose F-unit started as a "yellow bonnet" - well, sort of.

I saw several of them painted in the San Bernardino backshop.  The first step was to mask off the entire warbonnet and apply primer.  Next, black was sprayed along the edge of the stripe, in the area of the "cigar band", and up the nose to the center windshield post.  The black nose emblem outline and lettering, the lower frame stripe, the engine number at the rear of the warbonnet, and the black stripe on the warbonnet were then masked and the entire warbonnet inside of the black stripes was painted yellow.  Next, the yellow striping and nose decoration were masked, and red was applied.  Last -- after the red was covered with a tarp -- came the aluminum paint on the louvered panels, end bulkhead, engine room side doors, fuel tank, trucks, pilot, steps, and the roof.  In the case of early F3's 16 through 21, this would have included a larger aluminum area, as they did not have stainless steel side panels.

The classic freight F-unit scheme also was painted black for the lettering on the nose emblem, then entirely yellow, masked, and then painted blue over the yellow (all lacquer).  Last was the black enamel on the pilot, fuel tank, and trucks.

Yes, Matt, that is the set my F3s came from but I believe that MTH issued another ABA set for separate sale later by a year or two. Not certain but possible!

If you right-click the photo in my post above, this author (Santa Fe's Diesel Fleet) says that only one ABA of yellowbonnets were produced and that Amtrak must have inherited them.

Interesting thing about Amtrak and the Yellowbonnet.

Amtrak needed motive power in the very early days.  Before deliveries of the SDP40F started.

Being out of the passenger business, Santa Fe had lots of now surplus passenger F units.  Amtrak already purchased most of Santa Fe's passenger cars, so it makes sense they were interested in leasing the surplus Fs.

I've read that the yellowbonnet (passenger scheme) was developed for the Amtrak lease locos.  But I've also read that Amtrak did not like the color.  So they stayed with the red warbonnet scheme for future lease F units.

That's why the yellow bonnet passenger locos were very rare.  Only A units; #304L, #315L, and B unit #319B.

In the early Amtrak period, before the SDP40F's, various bonnets were leased to haul the TX CHIEF and the SUPER CHIEF.

I would love to see Lionel come out with a Legacy yellow warbonnet set.

Alfred,  I believe you are thinking of the Blue/yellow 'Freight' F3s that Lionel did back then.  The term 'Bluebonnett, Yellowbonnet, and Warbonnett' (red) usually refer to the nose color applied to the generally silver bodies that we are all familiar with as Santa Fe's 'trademark' passenger diesels of several types. They have also been used for freight service over the years.

Here is a similar blue and yellow freight scheme (with added red trim) that you may be refering to on our PW 3243s hat were custom painted.

Was a big fan of your magazine back in college days!

That early freight unit paint scheme are usually referred by Santa Fe Fans as the "cat whisker" scheme.

The later freight unit paint scheme (below) is referred to as the "cigar band" scheme:

Now, some freight units did receive a yellow warbonnet as illustrated by F9 285C:

My information is non-existent on how may freight units received this paint, but I suspect most went on to become CF-7's before they could be repainted.

Athearn (HO) is the only company I know of that commercially reproduced this paint scheme.

Rusty

Lionel has never done a yellowbonnet Santa Fe F3.

MTH and Williams both have Yellow Bonnet F3s

http://www.atsfrr.com/resources/BackRalph/Yellow.pdf

Here's an article about the Texas Chief Yellow War Bonnet.

3rd Rail is currently taking orders for yellow Warbonnets. They will be the best produced to date in O-Gauge. If anyone has an interest, they should order quickly before the run has been completed.

I have the ready to run yellowbonnet set from 2007 volume 1 catalog.  Did MTH make a dummy "B" unit or dummy "A" unit for this set?

Educational thread.....back in my HO days, from Athearn and in MR, I was only aware

of red and silver ("passenger") ATSF F units, and blue and yellow ("freight") F's, and

had, until now, never heard of yellow ones.  I also read above that the red and silver

ones did do freight duty, which then makes me wonder if the blue and yellow ones were ever pressed into passenger service?  (I have always favored the blue and yellow

scheme over the red and silver, and don't think that is related to my bias for steam

freight locos)

As a reminder, 3rd Rail is scheduled to produce the F7's in a yellow Warbonnet due this coming April. There was an end of the year deadline to order, but I bet if you were on the fence and now want them, Scott would take your order next week.

Can't wait, an ABBA combo in front of a beautiful SF set of passenger cars should be a real stunner.

I got a set of the MTH ABA Yellowbonnets for Christmas.

The lead A unit is powered with sound and has smoke.  The B and other A unit are slaves that connect via wire to the lead A unit.  I'm not sure what the B and A unit do other then add speakers.  I'll have to check...and I'll have to get a photo of the Yellowbonets on my layout.

Here is an AB on the layout.  The other A is still in the box.

I got the RailKing ABA set (just the locos no passenger cars).  Here is the MTH link:

30-2762-1

In the photos they are pulling a set of Lionel 6-15312 passenger cars.

Here is a link to a large photo of the yellowbonnets on my layout:

Yellowbonnet Large Photo Link

It is unlikely as the freight F units did not have steam generators.  They also did not have steam run through capability.

However there were a small number of steam generator cars made from old steam loco tenders for use with freight FTs during the war years.  They were painted in the freight blue/yellow scheme and even had portholes added to look like a Santa Fe freight FT.  So there must be photos of freight FTs with the steam generator cars pulling passenger trains.  Likely troop trains.

In the later days of Santa Fe passenger service (early 1970s) a few F45s, in the blue/yellow freight scheme, were mixed in with FP45s pulling the Super Chief/El Capitan.  I am not sure if the Santa Fe F45s had steam run through capabilities.  But by then Santa Fe was also using steam generator cars (converted from baggage cars) on the rear of their trains.

Matt, this will be a wonderful looking passenger train on your layout.

My intensions with the 3rd Rail F7 ABBA combo is to pull my thirteen car 21" Sante Fe Hi-Level set. There is a lot of weight in these cars, so having four powered units will make it a good fit. Besides, yellow is my favorite color and this will be one cool, long, and great looking passenger train. At least in my eyes. 

Glad you were able to finally track down a set of these Matt.  All your sound is in the lead A unit only. Some have been able to run wires and add speakers to the other units with success. Must be careful to observe the impedance loads to protect the sound board's amplifier however.

The Premiere (DAP) version is a full 1:48 scale proportioned model that has a different pilot and both A units are powered and have smoke. Both are beautiful sets!

I'm certainly looking forward to seeing the 3rd Rail set.  One wonders why Lionel has never done that scheme as popular as it seems to be to us 'fringe modelers' 

Thanks all.

Yeah I had to go with the smaller non scale versions as you can see my O scale layout is pretty small.  I'm using Ross O-31 curves so I can't really run much true scale equipment.  But to me the smaller equipment looks best with Plasticville.  And we have a lot of Plasticville (some old, some new).

I have 2 sets of yellow bonnets the rk version and the Williams version I also have 11 rk yellow santa fe passenger cars took forever to find them all. but not as hard as finding all the single strip red santa fe cars that wasn't fun.