SP 6000 project & Golden State

[nickelplate759]

I added the red to these engines.  The hardest part is getting the nose curves right.   I made a template by printing out a photo (with a little modification in Affinity Photo) n-scale size and using that to make a styrene template - I laminated the photo onto a piece of styrene to use a a guide.  Here's the front of the A unit with the template alongside.

I used the template to cut Tamiya masking tape.  The masking isn't perfect, but to be honest I didn't notice the defects until I took this photo and magnified it.

Note that the pilot isn't attached - so the lower overspray doesn't matter as it's behind the pilot.

[nickelplate759]

While I'm asking questions (hint - still hoping for an answer on the red mars light!), here are a couple more.
In the photo below there are some marking on the engine that I can't read.  More to the point, I haven't found any photos or diagrams where they are legible.    What are they, and where can I see what they look like?



I've called out the areas in question with colored ovals.

I'm pretty sure the rectangle in the green oval is the GM builder's plate.  Interesting that it's only on the A unit - presumable because all three units are #6000 and sold as a single set?   I further presume that the builder's plate is ONLY on the right side of the engine, correct?

Not sure what is in the blue oval by the fuel filler (these are also on the B units).

I'm also not sure what's in the yellow ovals.  Every unit has this in the lower rear panel.  Is it the unit number again (only the A unit has large 6000 on the side) - and if so is it 6000A, 60000B, 6000C ?

[nickelplate759]

Well, I found some answers:
1. The builders plate is on both sides of the A unit.
2. The yellow ovals are indeed around unit numbers:   6000-A  6000-B 6000-C  (with dashes).
3.  Still not sure what the blue oval calls out, but I think it's actually next to the water filler, not the fuel filler.

[Skeebo]

OK George,
     You are right on all three counts, Builders plates, water service plates and locomotive number in the yellow oval.

     A few more notes you may want to know when decaling. On all units directly below the loco number you show in the yellow oval is the SP class DEP-4 directly on the lower rail also in black but in even smaller letters. The F on the A unit isn't unique. The B units had them too on the long end between the ladder handrails. Not long after arrival the SP also added the loco number on the A units between the headlights in silver.

     The upper headlight had a red Mars light which was used when stopped in a siding to let an oncoming train know the switch was not safely locked to pass. They would extinguish it when the switch was confirmed locked and the oncoming train was safe to pass. As passenger trains had priority it was almost never used. So, not long after arrival it was changed to an oscillating headlight. Later for for maintenance reasons it was changed to a standard headlight usually at the same time as they eliminated the front coupler doors and went to a standard coupler pilot.

     hope that helps............Jim

[nickelplate759]

Thanks Jim - it helps a lot!  I was wondering where the F went on a B unit, and I totally missed the loco class designation.

I'm on the fence about keeping the Mars light white or changing it to red.  It's white now, so I'll leave it alone.   Maybe I'll jig up a removable red filter on the light board.

[nickelplate759]

@Skeebo - do you (or anyone else) know where I can find either black decals for the small numbers and diesel class, or pictures good enough to let me make my own black decals (using the Railfonts SP Roman font)?   The Microscale SP E-unit set has only the "Southern Pacific" and the large 6000 series numbers in black.   Also, I'd appreciate a pointer to a good photo of the water service plate.

[JMaurer1]

Sorry I'm back late to the party...

The red Mars light was known as a UDE light or Undesired Emergency Light, which wasn't used all that often, especially in passenger units since passenger trains had priority, so they really didn't last very long. It's primary 'useful' purpose was to warn a train on an adjacent track that a derailment might have occurred. If the locomotive was on the rear of a train, it could be turned on separately for use as a rear marker. Since they really weren't used that often, the lens were eventually replaced with a clear lens to improve visibility at RR crossings.

[Skeebo]

George,
     Other than Photo's, my go to guide is the SPH&TS book; 'SP Painting and lettering guide' by Cauthen and Signor. But in this case I have to admit its two pages on the E7s in Golden State paint doesn't show anymore than the pictures you've found. It did have the tidbit though, that the units were repainted Daylight before the full lightweight train ran as a unit in 1949. So an accurate consist behind E7s in this paint scheme would include some two tone or heavyweight cars!
     As for the Decals, I have to admit I didn't go to that much effort on these, so all the super small detail lettering I left off. Although I've never seen a closeup of the water service plate, (and I have an extensive SP library), it does come to mind that microscale has a sheet that is nothing but builders plates etc. There should be one there that is useable. Nobody I know has eyesight good enough anymore to read a bit of one though, so something on the sheet should do? If you pull up on the internet a picture of the HO or larger scale corresponding sheet, you might just be able to read it.

     Jim

[GhengisKong]

Just to note, the Golden State used a horse-baggage heavyweight starting in either late 1949 or early 1950 and was painted in GS colors until around 54 I believe.

[nickelplate759]

Wheels of Time made that Horse-baggage car, but alas did not offer it in Golden State paint.  I'm not adverse to painting one but haven't been able to find an undecorated car with appropriate details.

[Skeebo]

IF you want something right, sometimes you just have to do it yourself. Here is the SP Golden State horse car I made from a Rivarossi baggage car. New doors, roof vents and a custom end that clam shell opens. It was a quick and easy project.



     Jim

[Mike Madonna]

IF you want something right, sometimes you just have to do it yourself. Here is the SP Golden State horse car I made from a Rivarossi baggage car. New doors, roof vents and a custom end that clam shell opens. It was a quick and easy project.



     Jim

Very nice work, Jim

[JMaurer1]

How did you do the clam shell?

[nickelplate759]

I've updated the title of this thread to reflect that it's gone on to be more than just the motive power.  I'm also continuing to paint up cars.  I know that Intermountain/Centralia have released several cars painted for the Golden State, and I have a bunch, but they have selected an odd almost salmon color for the red, and painted the car ends red rather than silver.  So, to represent other cars I'm painting my own, but when they are the same car type (e.g. 6-6-4 Pullmans) I'm trying to avoid duplicating names/numbers.

So...lettering an SP 6-6-4 this weekend I carefully selected and lettered a car for one the names that Centralia hasn't announced - Golden Cloud.   Only to later find out that it was wrecked in 1948  .   Yet another anachronism for my Golden State if I include any of the later cars - which I will.

So far I have three coaches (the Rivarossi Rock Island coaches, not correct for the Golden State), Rock Island Baggage-Dorm 820, lettered Golden Rocket (as delivered),  Rock Island observation Golden Vista, one RI 4-4-2 (Golden Hour) and one SP 6-6-4 (Golden Sea) completed.   In the paint/lettering shop write now are two more 6-6-4 cars (SP Golden Cloud and RI Golden Locket),  an approximation of SP 5068 RPO/Express from an Wheels of Time kit, and another 4-4-2 from a Des Plaines Hobbies kit.

I've started on two Union Station Products kits for the Rock Island diner and coffee shop cars, but they are far from completion.


Pictures of the cars soon.  the E7s are awaiting the arrival of more decals.

[Skeebo]

J
     The clam shell end may have been the easiest part. I cut out the entire end and put in a .30 thick piece of styrene with a door cut out, and put a seam over where the door would be with the back side of an exacto knife. The door came excess from one of the early Wheels of Time kits as did many of the brass ladder steps on the sides. The hinges were made from styrene and as they were very large on the prototype were easy to cut from sheet styrene.

     As for the cars, the definitive source I think is the SP Trainline issue 59 from the Spring of 1999. It has an extensive article on the 'Streamlined Golden State'. An interesting fact is the Rock Island contributed roughly half the cars for the train and ALL THREE of the old Atlas Rivarossi corrugated streamlined passenger cars from the seventies is dead on for some of the RI cars. The baggage chair for car for RI #820, the 48 seat chair car for RI#339 to 349, and the observation for RI Golden Vista or Golden Divan.

     Jim