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 I got another great suggestion for a loco that hasn’t been manufactured in O scale (other than Overland Models) ALCO Century 855. 

Id buy it... A and B units...I’m sure others would since Union Pacific was the only one that had them. Everyone loves big UP power. Correct me if i’m wrong. Add it to the list!!!

Along with a GE U50 ”B”.... 

“take my money” 

@sdmann

Last edited by Bruk
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Bruk posted:

 I got another great suggestion for a loco that hasn’t been manufactured in O scale (other than Overland Models) ALCO Century 855. 

Id buy it... A and B units...I’m sure others would since Union Pacific was the only one that had them. Everyone loves big UP power. Correct me if i’m wrong. Add it to the list!!!

I would hope the model would fare better than the prototype!

They spent their lives in the general freight pool at North Platte; however, constant shutting down due to overheating & poor performance with its twin prime movers & twin engines led to their early retirement and eventual scrapping by February 1972, after only being in service for less than eight years.

Bruk posted:

 I got another great suggestion for a loco that hasn’t been manufactured in O scale (other than Overland Models) ALCO Century 855. 

Id buy it... A and B units...I’m sure others would since Union Pacific was the only one that had them. Everyone loves big UP power. Correct me if i’m wrong. Add it to the list!!!

HO scale alone is two-thirds of the overall train hobby market. Given that only one single company has made this locomotive would not be much of a green light. And if what I've read is correct, Overland Models didn't even make a dozen of these models in brass. And they were priced at $2,700.00 in 1992.

So it's highly unlikely Lionel (or anyone else) would invest well over a million dollars in tooling, or even consider brass construction for a model that didn't even show much interest or success in HO scale.

ddgoose69 posted:

Not to mention it will only be the shell that has to be made.  A Propane Turbine or Veranda Chassis will work for the drive train. I have thought about kit bashing this locomotive before.  May be a summer project. Also if you made the a unit the b unit needs to be made.

This is something I've noticed they have half of the required bits to put it together. I’m still waiting for a reasonable 3d printer that can print body shells.....ill keep dreaming. 

Agreed - but more than that we need an Alco DH-643 C-C diesel-hydraulic that did what the Krauss-Maffei hydraulics couldn't. Nickname: "Alcohaulic". 

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"A Propane Turbine or Veranda Chassis will work for the drive train."

I would hope so, since the scrapped Turbines were indeed the source of the running gear for these C-855's, as well as the GE U-50's. Use that, and you'd be accurate without even trying.

RLaHaie posted:

I am in for any of these (U50B, C855, Alco DH-643)!  Love those big ALCOs!!!!  Covers my two favorite roads since SP and UP both used the U50B and SP the DH 643.

Rolland

I would be fine with any of those choices...DH-643 would be awesome to have. We need the big ALCO! Let them actually work on our model layouts. 

Great idea.  When they show up for sale, the 2-rail brass versions are super expensive!

Maybe someone could make the shells of the A and B units on a 3D printer?  And the shells could be mounted on an MTH turbine chassis?  Or MTH could just make the whole thing since they have the similar chassis tooling already.

 

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