There be Alco PA's!

Nice line up Sam. Always liked the Alco profile.

Thanks Dave.

 

Wanted to ask if any of you have the Lionel Black Rio Grande pictured here? I have had these MTH Rio Grande Premiere FT models from 2000 with PS2 and have only seen one other set over the years. I had not ever seen these Lionel's in matching paint until a few weeks ago. They sat on that auction site through two cycles with no bidders so I finally contacted the seller and worked out a deal. Interestingly, there is another identical pair (different seller) that ran concurrently with the these and are still there.  Are they at all 'rare' or just not popular?  Great models with a MARS light (the Legacy PA's don't have the MARS), lighted side number boards, and operating fans. 

 

The FT's have side lights and 4 stack smoke in both units too. It doesn't show in these photos but the FT's are slightly more Yellow than the Orange on the Lionel's.

 

Now I must look for D&RG as well as UP passenger cars for both.

 

Elegant!  Are the Williams the same size as the MTH/Lionel?  Are the ROW the same size? I do like the early Rio Grande colors.

Sam, I've never seen the early D&RGW engines in person.  The yellow looks different in the top and bottom pictures.  The lower picture looks more orange.  Which one is closer to the way they look?  

I only have one, a Williams that I added TMCC to.

Beautiful Alcos.  Thanks for posting.

 

Hard to beat a 'Daylight' !

 

Here's the Rio Grande at the club last week crossing the trestle

 

The color is closer to an Orange as in this photo below. There is a distinct difference between the colors on the FT and the PA in person with the FT a definite Yellow.

The photos crossing the club trestle are under florescents and look more Yellow

I've always wanted an Alco PA but have always found an excuse not to buy one; like I already have far too many trains, but after looking over this thread excuses are going to be much more difficult to come by.  Great looking engines.

SPECTACULAR !!!

Here is Lionel PA pulling the Super Chief on the G&O garden railroad.  The B units are F units.

 

 

 

 

Awfully pretty locomotives here fellas

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If space is a problem, have a look at the RK series PA's. MTH offers them in many road names over the years and they can be had at reasonable prices complete with all the features of PS2 and now PS3.

Bob,  most of the offeringss available are reasonably close to scale with the exception of a PRR set produced by K-Line years ago. These are very nicely proportioned and full-featured but are slightly smaller than 1:48 O scale. The Williams are full sized but they have taken liberty with the trucks (too short) and the fuel tanks (vastly undersized) to accommodate 031 curves, Still nice looking and some have terrific paint schemes unavailable in other brands.

 

MTH makes some in their RK line that are nice but several inches too short.

 

The best at the time (1990s) and first on the market were the excellent brass R.O.W. models that has great detail, powerful Pittman motors and QSI sound. The lighting was great and they were quality engines built by Ajin Brass of Korea. Expensive too at $1395.

 

Here's our D&H model that I kept for many years. Look at the simulated stainless steel finish on the cab compared to the trucks, windshield wipers, brake hoses, and especially the preponderance of lights - above the windshield, two color number boards, and on the sides. Quite advanced models in the day...

Thanks Sam - I probably like PAs as much as you do.  I think I have over 1% of the total production of all-cast CLWs, and three MTH that I converted to metal.  The new plastic models are getting difficult to resist.

Beautiful models, thanks to all who posted.  Maybe one of the last 1 to 1 productions that had some architectural class, before boxes on wheels became the norm. 

IMO

Mike CT

Those traveling to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon the GC alcos (FPA4 and FPB4's) were at Williams, AZ when we passed through, Sept, 2014, kind of rusting away back side of the yard.  

Thanks Sam.

Great photos everyone.

Sam

Nice thread, made me realize I dont have an ALCO, and those Rio Grande colors just got on my YORK shopping list

Steve

Here's another one.

 

- Mike

 

You've probably seen these.

I am not an expert on Alco PA's, but I think the first one Lionel made was the 2023 Union Pacific Alco made in 1950.  I have enjoyed restoring these engines to being operational.  

 

Detailed Lionel Santa Fe Alco PAs. Running on Atlas code 148 with n scale third rail.

Great looking engines Sam. That d&rgw looks incredibl. That black makes it pop out. I would really like to see a vid of it. 

Your modified PA's are definitely my favorites Ron - also your track work!

As you can see I will be in the market for some of your scale pilots if you should decide to reproduce them!