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[brokemoto]

I would buy either FA-2/FB-2 or FPA-2/FPB-2 as B&O had both.  The FPA/FPB-2 might interest me more, though.


The roads that had the passenger versions were:

B&O-10 A, 5 B
GN-2 A
L&N-5 A
MoPac-19 A, 6 B

CN-6 A. 6 B
CP-7 A, 2 B

Mexico-22A, 10 B

LV supposedly had two with 251 prime movers, the only FAs supposedly produced that way.  Perhaps one of the LV modellers here can comment on LV's.

B&O used its on accommodation trains in Ohio, New York, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Maryland and Washington.

Modelling the B&O's are not difficult.  You do need the ALCo cab unit steam generator stacks.  I am not aware of any detail manufacturer that ever sold those.  I harvested mine from two damaged PA shells.  On the B s, remember to put the stacks on the #1 end (the end opposite to the end with the large fan).  All that is necessary other than the stacks is to erase the number on the front of the A and replace it with one appropriate to an FPA-2.  Adding the unit number to the number boards would also be a nice touch.  None of the above is difficult.

If you want the original B&O scheme, you must buy a plastic frame LL FA-2.  Once a solder joint comes undone, either you must re-solder or transplant the shell to a split-metal frame chassis.  That requires a minimum of work.  When LL issued the split metal frame FA-2s, it used B&O's 1959 paint scheme.

For the other roads that had them, it might be a little more involved, but I am not sure, as I forget how the other roads placed the numbers on the units.

I do not remember the last time that LL issued the FA-2s.  Has it done so since the sale to WKW?  I know that when I put two NYC lightning stripe pairs and a PRR pair on FeePay, all three brought on sniping wars.  In fact, I put a FA-2/FB-1 Penn pair up there and it STILL got bid up a little.

If Rapido sold B&O FPA-2s, I would buy at least one pair. I checked the numbers for the HO issue, to make sure that I did not duplicate.  It appears that Rapido issued only one in the original numbering scheme, #811.  Two others have the four-digit numbers that B&O assigned after 1957 and there is one with no number.  I would buy at least one pair of the freight version, as well.

[brokemoto]

I could also see BLI doing one for some reason.

........................the Penn had the freight versions...................

[brokemoto]

Maybe the fact that the LL FA is a decent little engine already

Has WKW ever issued these since it bought LL's model train product line?  If it has, it has been quite some time.

[Dave V]

Has WKW ever issued these since it bought LL's model train product line?  If it has, it has been quite some time.

LL ones are not hard to find.  Any train show has tables of 'em.  A quick eBay search pulled up 40 hits:

https://www.ebay.com/sch/N-Scale/19119/i.html?_sac=1&_from=R40&_nkw=fa&_dcat=19119&Brand=Life%252DLike&_trksid=p2045573.m1684

[Philip H]

Captain Blaster even has some on sale:

http://www.blwnscale.com/odds-ends.htm#katof

[Mark5]

LL ones are not hard to find.  Any train show has tables of 'em.  A quick eBay search pulled up 40 hits:

https://www.ebay.com/sch/N-Scale/19119/i.html?_sac=1&_from=R40&_nkw=fa&_dcat=19119&Brand=Life%252DLike&_trksid=p2045573.m1684

You've gotta sort out the early plastic frame versions. Even then with the very nice split frame versions you still have to deal with the flanges.

On my "to do" list after I get the hundreds of N&W projects on my list done is the lone WM one in "Circus" - #304:

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=560909&nseq=3

Mark

[Mark5]

LV supposedly had two with 251 prime movers, the only FAs supposedly produced that way.  Perhaps one of the LV modellers here can comment on LV's.

Interesting trivia ... according to the Wik, "In mid-1954 the Lehigh Valley supplied an FA-2 and FB-2 for installation of test 12-cylinder 251A engines. The Lehigh Valley units were tested for a year."

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ALCO_251

Dug some more and found "In 1955, FA/Bs Nos. 583 and 594 returned to Schenectady where they underwent several major mechanical changes, chief among the many upgrades was the installation of a new 1800-horsepower V-12 251 engine. For nearly a year the pair of prototype "FA-3s" served as rolling test beds and enabled Alco product development engineers to assess the new power plant's performance and rediness to replace the 244 engine. Alco re-installed the V12 244 prime movers in the two carbodies, which remained on the roster for another seven years.".26

26. Book: Alco's FA, Running in the Shadow: An in-depth Look at the Alco-GE / MLW FA Series.
      By R. Craig Rutherford, 2005.

https://scotlawrence.github.io/LValltimeroster/#FA2

Weird that they put the 244s back in ...

Mark

[bbussey]

... I do not remember the last time that LL issued the FA-2s.  Has it done so since the sale to WKW?  I know that when I put two NYC lightning stripe pairs and a PRR pair on FeePay, all three brought on sniping wars.  In fact, I put a FA-2/FB-1 Penn pair up there and it STILL got bid up a little.

I do not believe that Walthers has released any FA units.  I do know that Life-Like reissued the FA2/FB2 with the split frame mechanism, as I have a pair of FB2 units in that configuration.

[bbussey]

You've gotta sort out the early plastic frame versions. Even then with the very nice split frame versions you still have to deal with the flanges.

You can get replacement wheels from Walthers.  The RS-2 wheels are a drop-in replacement.

[Mark5]

You can get replacement wheels from Walthers.  The RS-2 wheels are a drop-in replacement.

That's good to know, even though my experiences with Walthers on parts have been sketchy at best (they sent me obviously used parts once  ).

Mark

[JMaurer1]

Walthers = Black hole of N scale. N scale goes in but nothing ever gets back out.

[Dave V]

Going back to my original point, the FL9 had never been done in N but the FAs had.  So...  Be thankful this isn't another GG1 situation and instead a manufacturer is plugging holes rather than retreading the same tire.

[trainforfun]

Going back to my original point, the FL9 had never been done in N but the FAs had.  So...  Be thankful this isn't another GG1 situation and instead a manufacturer is plugging holes rather than retreading the same tire.

Rapido did it or will do here is their site :

https://rapidotrains.com/n-scale-emd-fl9/

[sirenwerks]

I doubt anyone was clamoring for FAs when LL was pumping them out like crazy. 

You didn't need to clamour for them, they were everywhere and cheap. My problem is I lkoaded up on FA1s thinking I was going to model X, when now I need FA2s because I am modeling Y. And I wish I would have gotten more than one GP20. LL was flowing like Athearn did with blue boxes, those were the days, when models were just there... now it's hymning and hawing about ROI and gauranteed success. I'm looking forward to the day when Shapeways improves its quality and works out its kinks, and loco models are ordered as needed and the decal and paint companies are thriving.

[wcfn100]

I'm looking forward to the day when Shapeways improves its quality and works out its kinks, and loco models are ordered as needed and the decal and paint companies are thriving.

I wonder what you'll be modeling then. 

Jason