N scale ATSF passenger diesels 1 Spot and 1A booster by ATSF N Scale Models

[Mike C]

 Wow ! I didn't expect that . I wonder what kind of loco frame I'll need ..

[Dirk Jan Blikkendaal]

Wow ! I didn't expect that . I wonder what kind of loco frame I'll need ..

Mike, you'll need a Kato E8/9, modified and shortened a bit. See my website WWW.ATSFNSCALEMODELS.COM for more info (building instructions). Its a bit of work but not too complicated....... I would almost day decalling is the hardest part 

[Cajonpassfan]

Dirk, I think @Mike C was referring to the potential HO version...
Otto

[Dirk Jan Blikkendaal]

sorry..... I am looking at the possibility to shorten the the H0 Proto 2000 chassis by about 10,5 mm .... I hear good running, plentiful and not expensive...... will know shortly I hope.....

[Mike C]

  It would be 1 of a kind .

[draskouasshat]

Dirk, thank you for producing these ugly models. Of course, mine are arriving tomorrow as i had for Illinois for work. I can't wait to work on them!

Drasko

[randgust]

If you don't mind a little 'added drama', I recommend Stan Repp's "Super Chief - Train of the Stars" book for the story of the original running and testing of Amos & Andy and the first cross-country trips.    The story seems a bit dramatized but it does appear to be fact that there was an on-board fire during one of the first trips as a result of a 'between units' (???) fuel line fracturing and dumping diesel in the engine compartment while under high-speed operation.   No passengers hurt but a significant fire.

So feel free to add a smoke unit, at least in HO.

I'd call them ugly too, but I'm in the middle of semi-scratchbuilding an NW-3, and that's another one only it's mother could love.

[Dirk Jan Blikkendaal]

Randy,

That story about the fire in 1935 during the first test trials is true...... there was a en route fuel/diesel loading system, pumping fuel from a tank in the first heavywheight baggage no 1899 to the diesels when travelling.
Somehow the diesel tank on 1A overflowed, dumping fuel on the hot Vapor Clarkson steam generator..... resulting in a massive fire........ 1A had to be almost completely rebuilt ..... engine 512 took over for the time being.
There is also a very good book: The One-Spot Twins by Larry Brasher, published by the SFRH&MS......

regards, DIrk

[kiwi_al]

Mine arrived today from Holland! 
Thanks Dirk,  they are spectacular!

[Dwight in Toronto]

Hoo boy … to each his own I guess, but to my eye there is not a single stylistic feature on those things to warrant making a model of them. Were those truly, really “a thing”?!?   That there is an abomination of a design that shoulda been gently cajoled and prodded out to the back forty and mercifully, quietly put down.

On further contemplation, it might be fun to have a topic dedicated to the ugliest locomotive designs of all time.  This one would surely be a contender for the gold medal.

[Cajonpassfan]

Hoo boy … to each his own I guess, but to my eye there is not a single stylistic feature on those things to warrant making a model of them. Were those truly, really “a thing”?!?   That there is an abomination of a design that shoulda been gently cajoled and prodded out to the back forty and mercifully, quietly put down.

On further contemplation, it might be fun to have a topic dedicated to the ugliest locomotive designs of all time.  This one would surely be a contender for the gold medal.

Yes, they were a BiG THING in their day, running Chicago to Los Angeles in under 40 hours, without power change at a time most railroads ran their passenger locos across one or maybe two divisions. So yea, they were a thing, before there were industrial designers putting sleek noses on the multitudes that followed. So yes, the noses are a bit amateurish to more modern eyes, but they started a revolution. If you want a piece of history, these puppies are a perfect choice. And beautiful models of a "unique" prototype
Thank you Dirk!
Otto K.

[Dwight in Toronto]

Thanks, Cajon, for the enlightenment … I’m going to study up on them a bit more.
I hope folks don’t get the wrong idea from my criticism. I have nothing but admiration for the modellING - Dirk has done an incredible job re: accuracy, smoothness, detail etc. Far better than anything I could do. It’s just such unappealing styling/design!

[thomasjmdavis]

These were the original "Bulldog" nose, although that term would later be applied to FT units and others that did not have the slanted nose of the E0-E6.

These units were rebuilds of the "Amos and Andy" boxcabs (the originals are also available from Dirk and have their own thread)- which has a lot to do with the design.  A high cab view was preferred by the crew (better distance vision when traveling 90+ MPH) and so to raise the crew position and provide minimal front end protection (vs a boxcab), without having to cut up the frame and move around machinery, the shops devised the odd nose and eyebrow windows.  The rest of the body is mostly original boxcab shell.  For the first E units, EMD would opt for fans vs the rows of vents.

The units were rebuilt in the 50s into E8m booster units- and in that carbody served until near the end of ATSF passenger service.  Now, I grant, it surprises me that these are listed as "rebuilt" into E8s, because I can't for the life of me think of any part of them that would have remained in the new loco, but that is how they are shown in the historical society's rosters, and noted in the article on E units in the Warbonnet magazine a few years back.