Anybody Model The Atlantic Coast Line?

Don't model it.

 

But it is a passing fancy in S Scale hirail for me:

 

Rusty

Larry, a club member from SC has quite a few ACL items and runs them occasionally on the club layout up here. He models mostly SE regional lines that were a part of his life experiences. He's definitely a happy RRer!

 

 

 

 

 

Bob

I like purple to. I guess you just have to live in the SE to appreciate that odd color

Sam I would like to find one of those purple diesels like that cab 107 you have there.

Larry

Certainly a colorful combination. I do like it.

Anybody Model The Atlantic Coast Line... items are available, even palm trees.

Traveled the ACL several times in the 60's.

 

The S C L era however, is always over looked with next to nothing available.

 

I would like to have these...

 

 

 

 

I'm not an ACL modeler but, living in Atlanta felt an obligation to pay some homage to the late great Coast Line.

Curt

Where did you get the black and yellow strip ACL GP30?

 

I never remember see purple anything in ACL in the late 50's and 60's.

TM Terry - The black/yellow GP30 may be a WBB; I have one - not mine - sitting in my kitchen right now (I have been working on it). Beautiful, for a GM diesel.

====================================

1 - The ACL (and later SCL) black/yellow paint scheme has to be one of the all-time most

attractive diesel paint jobs ever. Simple, striking, straight and crisp. No swoops.

If anyone ever produces an ACL EMD E-unit - preferably the E-6! - in that scheme (even a nice

MTH RK E-3/6), I will be all over it. I have no connection to the ACL, but if C. Sam can

run GM&O, I can run ACL!

 

2 - I dislike the color purple, and its cousins pink, violet, etc, in general. Always have.

So, the ACL also has one of my LEAST favorite paint schemes in that odd look. Also,

from a paint engineering point of view, I have been told by experts that purple, at least

back in the day, was/is one of the least durable colors available. It tends to turn pink,

which just makes things worse.

 

Strange extremes.

 

The ACL royal purple was a favorite color chosen by long-time (and very famous) ACL railroad president Champion McDowell Davis. The famous ACL passenger train "The Champion" was named for him. He retired from the railroad in June of 1957.

 

I read sometime in the past about the Atlantic Coast paint scheme, and that the complicated purple, yellow and silver paint scheme was found to be expensive to apply, and hard to keep up, requiring frequent repaintings, etc. (Of course, the paints of the time weren't like the ones that are available today.) After Champ Davis retired, the new president came in, and after a period of time decided that to cut costs (although the ACL was always a very profitable line), the royal purple scheme had to go. After that, the engines were gradually repainted into the far more drab - but cheap - black with yellow stripe scheme.

 

I decided fairly recently to get a set of the Lionel ACL purple aluminum passenger cars, and then picked up two Lionel ACL purple GP-7s to pull them. Although I'm not a huge fan of purple, the ACL royal purple engines can look sharp, and in the correct darker shade of ACL purple Lionel uses, I think this 2-engine, 4-car consist looks really nice.

 

I didn,t see that much acl locomotives.But I saw alot of boxcars for acl and some puplwood cars.I allways thought purple was kinda odd for a railroad.However I have to admit there passenger locomotives looked pretty slick.
I think kline did some acl steam locomotives.You might want to check into it.

       
       


That is a WBB GP30.  One of their newer engines with the prime mover sounds.

Curt

I do not model the ACL but I do own equipment for other South East Railroads like the Seaboard Airline and FEC.  I have read about their History in books though because I have always been interested in the Railroad History of Florida and the South East in general.  I have noticed it is very tough to find ready to run SAL, SCL, ACL, and FEC equipment in O-Gauge.  A few years ago I almost switched to N Gauge because of that.  

Although I don't model it, that purple paint job is very appealing.

Well, since some do like the odd color I might as well show another picture of my 4 aluminum 60' passenger cars. Purple will grow on ya

Larry

Good stuff guys!  Curt, that's a sweet looking diesel

 

When I was a kid back in the 50s-60s we lived between the SAL and ACL track here in Portsmouth Va, but the ACL main was closest, not more than 1/2 mile away.  All I can recall is the black diesels but I know some of the purple engines must have made their way down here.  We could see the swing bridge on the Elizabeth River from our back yard during the winter when the trees were bare.

 

I'm going to use the Williams/Samhongsa brass 4-6-2 mainly as a passenger train IF I can get some nice cars to go with it.  I just ordered the decals for the engine from Allegheny Scale Models.  If I can't find suitable passenger cars it'll become a freight (or dual class) real quick

TM Terry

If you are interested in the ACL engine you questioned  about. Contact me as I have one that I will be needing to find a good home for.

Thanks

Gene
wheeler359@gmail.com

I have the MTH O Scale VO1000. On the club layout, it is affectionately known as the One eyed, one horn, flying purple people eater. I purchased it specifically for a repaint project. As soon as the decals are available, it's off to the paint booth. 

 

Gilly

Here's one of my ACL boxcars:

 

 

My not so local Hobby Shop  C.T. McCormick has had this set in stock since I got back in the Hobby.
I might add that this thread has been putting pressure on me to buy it…lol

Atlantic Coast Line F-3 ABA Diesel Passenger Set - Includes The Following:

Atlantic Coast Line F-3 ABA Diesel Engine Set

Atlantic Coast Line 4-Car Streamlined Passenger Set

Atlantic Coast Line 2-Car Streamlined Passenger Add-on Set

All Are New In Original Boxes

6-11903 / 6-19154 / 6-21766

K.C.

To my knowledge only the diesel engines got the Purple paint scheme,I have not seen any pics of rolling stock painted in this color,although somebody may have a pic.

Have seen images of both heavyweights and express reefers in purple and silver.

Love the Streamliners with purple letterboards.

Now that you mention it I believe Sunset did their REA reefer in ACL colors.

I'll check my books but I think ACL passenger cars only got purple name boards/number boards, there may have been a few that had the panel above the windows in purple.

 

I believe ACL is even more scarce than SAL

I grew up in Wilmington, NC...the headquarters of the ACL...until they bolted for Jacksonville in, I think, 1959.  Completely devastated the town and the economy.  Was a crying shame to watch them tear down the ACL HQ.  Of course, the only reason it was there was because Champion McDowell Davis lived in Wilmington...which is about 90 miles from the main line.

 

Frankly, I mostly remember the black and yellow ACL and, then, SCL period.  I have a couple of SD70M-2s that were re-painted to SCL by Jeff Sohn.  I also have a couple of Atlas SD35s that have been re-painted to SCL and that have been re-tooled to be PS2 locomotives. These were number for a couple of SD35s that I explored in the deadline at the Hamlet, NC yard.  I just purchased an ACL GP35 from MTH.  I have also purchased every modern car Atlas O has produced in ACL or SCL.  I have some Weaver SAL hoppers as well as the MTH SAL 3-bay hoppers.

 

Do I model ACL...I guess not...but, I surely like and (kind of) collect anything that brings back the memories of what was for me a mighty fine railroad!

Bob here are mine The SCL Alco C628 now that the decals have arrived will be reflagged to ACL 2001. In terms of the waycars MTH uses the same waycar for both ACL and SAL. The MTH is suppose to be a M3 Class waycar. If your up to kit bashing , Lionel is coming out with a UP CA1 Caboose that could be reconfigured to a M5 Way car. Or have Malcolm build one for you. The Box cars the Atlas silver ACL I have had for a couple of yrs. The other two just arrived in the mail from Gene and as you can see are now in service. In terms of modeling ACL its kind of a mix. I run N&W, ACL, and SAL for the SE, The Midwest: Burlington/GN and the west ATSF and SP. I run a N&W coal drag (Alco C630)which can be swap out with either my ACL C628 or my SAL SDP35 as both roads ran coal into Florida. Same for the non coal consists.  

 

Doug 

 

 

 

 

 

Doug, looks great!

 

A M5 caboose would be nice, as well as a M3 (plywood type):

 

 

 

I know there's cabs close to this, just need to get the windows right and add the shades and wind deflectors.

I am sure Brother Love can make you one of these real quick.

The MTH Way Car that I have would be the victim for bashing with little mod.

 

 

 

I think the "Thanks for Using Coast Line" slogan cabooses are pretty slick.

 

While ACL did use stainless steel cars with purple name boards, they painted some of their passenger equipment in the royal purple paint scheme, as well, both heavyweights and streamliners.

 

 

 

Thanks!  I had forgotten I have that book

Glad for the coincidental reminder, Bob.  I'll bet it's interesting - wish I had a copy.

 The Royal Purple scheme is nice,but I like the black and yellow best .

 

Yup, they're really sharp.  

 

(Just kidding.) 

 

Both images are of heavyweight cars, not sure they ever painted a real lightweight streamliner car in the purple and silver paint scheme.

not sure they ever painted a real lightweight streamliner car in the purple and silver paint scheme.

 

From looking at the 3-4 books I have, all I can see was that only the letterboards on lightweight streamliner cars were painted purple.

 

RF&P also painted some of their letterboards purple.  ACL also had cars painted in the PRR Lowey scheme as well as in IC colors (City of Miami letterboard) and with ACL written out on the upper sides.

 

Most/all of the purple painted cars were gone by 1960, a few engines and some of ACL subsidiary RRs kept the purple paint a bit longer.

 

From what I just read (Rails Across Dixie) the purple scheme ran from 1939 to 1957/9, until Tom Rice took the helm at ACL, estimated cost savings were $100,000/yearly.

Here's a photo of some ACL units in purple (Bob Drake/Tom Sink collection):

 

 

FedEx just dropped off my Williams Samhongsa USRA 4-6-2

 

It's in Boston & Maine paint but will soon go under the ??? (not sure, maybe a magic eraser) to get the Atlantic Coast Line treatment   Hopefully all I'll need to do is remove the B&M lettering/striping and add the ACL decals as soon as they arrive.

 

But...I'll probably replace the domes first, they are a bit low (more like heavy pacific domes vice USRA domes).  The engine is 4 scale feet too long (1") (Williams/Samhongsa used the same boiler as on the USRA 2-8-2) but it's spread out so there's no one place that could be modified (even if the chassis could) to make it shorter.

 

Still it's a nice piece of machinery and those HUGE drivers look great

 

Glad I was able to snag one of these brass engines, I'll most likely install PS2 electronics in it (more cutting, may have to repaint anyway ).

 

ACL replace the solid leading truck wheels with spoked wheels, need to look at the PSC catalog to see if they offer spoked wheels.

There was a pic recently in one of the Trains publications showing the Wilmington Depot with 3 Trains ready to depart that day and the Depot looked pretty run down, today that is all gone from the downtown area.

No really, I did spot this car in the yard.........

 

My wife used to work for Sherwin Williams and said that they often steered people away from shades with red tint because reds and yellows, to some extent, fade quicker than other colors in the spectrum as they interact with with the sun's UV rays so they don't last as long. It's also one reason you don't see as many autos painted in red. 

Martin,

Had to put sunglasses on for that   That car would really stick out in a train full of freight car brown.  The ACL/SAL Historical Society mag "Lines South" had a nice article on the ventilated cars.  I can't imagine the labor involved in hand-loading a boxcar.

Since I model an earlier era than most, I do get to build & use a few brighter cars,

 

That's an All-Nation kit with dry transfers from Clover House.  I have 3 other ventilated cars - all different lines.  Fun cars but making that pair of grilled doors can test your mental stability!

Thanks! I grew up in Pinellas County, FL and saw SCL trains all the time running phosphate to the Gardinier Plant in Tampa (Gibsonton, actually). In 1978 I rode the Amtrak passenger train from St Pete to Washington and back and apparently unknowingly rode one of the final first class passenger trains on that route. 

"Purple Papa" who had the Conway, S.C. O-gauge Hobby Shop[near Myrtle Beach] was a knowledgeable Atlantic Coast Line fan. He closed the Shop several years ago, don't know if he still posts on the Forum.

 

 I have six Fruit Growers Express reefers[yellow] that are sub-lettered for the ACL. The ACL was an investor in the FGE joint-venture operation at Alexandria, Va. [near Washington] that built reefers for PRR, Southern,etc,etc.

Breezinup

 

THANK YOU for the information on ACL

 

When my then 5 year old got me back into this wonderful of Hobbies we BOTH fell in love with ACL, yes it was that purple scheme. I just love that rail line even though we really are into UP and Santa Fe.

 

I do have the WBB F-7's in ACL but I don't think they quite got the purple right but it still looks cool.

 

I did buy WBB's ACL black and yellow GP-30 and it looks really cool too!!

 

Anybody paint an engine into the ACL purple/aluminum?  Did you mask each color off or spray one over the entire body first, then mask, then spray the second color?  Which color should go first, aluminum?

No, but I may some day - I am always repainting the E-7 fleet, and fondly remember the ACL purple.

 

Here is what I would do - spray the entire thing with the appropriate yellow, then mask the outlines with fine line tape.  shoot silver over everything, then carefully mask the areas you wish to remain silver, and shoot the purple.  Then carefully unmask.

 

The secret is to not let the tape stay on too long, but not to attempt masking over paint that has not cured.  I use Scale Coat, and bake the first coat.  I have done B&O and NYC this way with moderate success.  If I was not always in a hurry with masking tape I could do professional work.

Thanks Bob, I hadn't thought of doing the yellow stripes in paint, just using decals.

 

It might be easier to do them with paint as you described.

Hay Bob

Fooling around on the e-net (the bay) I came across this Berk 4-8-4 WB. Another purple

I'm really thinking about buying the thing. I certainly got a lot of purple around here.

Larry

I always spray silver last.  My experience is silver tends to like to come up with the masking otherwise.

 

Rusty

WOW

 

when did WBB release that Berkshire?

 

The research I did was that the shade of purple WBB uses is more in line with faded purple after the trains had been out in the sun and elements for awhile.

 

I like stuff like that

 

Although the original deep royal fresh painted purple is really cool too

I grew up in Wilmington, NC as well, but after the ACL had left. Was a long time volunteer at the railroad museum there during the 80s and early 90s before I left for Southern territory. 

 

I have several ACL and SAL 3R models from Lionel, MTH and Atlas. I even have the SCL C628 as previously mentioned, but it will stay SCL. Atlas has done a great job in producing southeast freight cars, and I have several in my collection. Wish someone would make accurate ACL passenger cars for my MTH E-8s. 

 

I also have several HO scale ACL, SAL and SCL locomotives and freight cars as well. Much easier to find stuff in this scale. 

 

I just wish there were 3R clubs closer to me than Winston, Raleigh or Asheville. A little too far to drive for an operating session or club meetings.

 

Glad to see plenty of interest in the ACL, SAL and SCL!

Breezinup

 

Thanks for the history on ACL and Seaboard. I find it very interesting that Amtrak does not have a Chicago to Florida line anymore I really think it would do well.

 

I have grown tired of all the "stuff' with flying and all the difficulties. I now drive as often as I can have rediscovered the fun of train travel and do take extra time to do it and am finding out more folks are thinking that way.

 

While in Naples Florida last June I discovered the ACL and Seaboard train museam and preservered train station. Next month I will fly down with my 10 year old son to go through the museam. There is an extensive Lionel O-Gauge museam inside which I want to see.

 

Thanks again Breezin.

 

I love that Purple ACL!!!!

Glad to see plenty of interest in the ACL, SAL and SCL!

Now if we can get the manufacturers to pay attention we'll do alright!

 

I've just started paying attention to what ACL had, but SAL had a number of cars not owned by anyone else or very few owners.  I'd like to see some SAL Turtleback (round-roof) roof cars (single and doubel-door) instead of the B&O version painted in SAl livery.  Been done in S scale and I'm sure HO, but not in O.

I just emailed American Model Builders/Laserkit to inquire about them making O scale items, specifically ACL/SAL cabooses.

 

Their response was they had no plans at this time to pursue O scale rolling stock.  Maybe if enough of us emailed them to let them know maybe they'd change their minds.  They make some beautiful ACL/SAL cabs in HO.

Count on me

 

It seems ACL is a sell out when available especially when they use the Purple

Just found this thread. Add my name to the list of ACL followers. My main interest is O scale 2 rail and purple paint schemes- early diesels and passenger trains.
Leon

 

Has anyone ordered this book from Morning Sun Books? I hope to get one by Christmas. There is also a companion book for the Seaboard Air Line.

I was considering the book and would be interested to see a review on it.

No review on Amazon that I can find. I have the Seaboard Coast Line in Color, and the book is very good. It will be interesting to see the ratio between the purple and black paint, since it goes up to 1967. The black era (1958 - 1967) seems to be more prevalent in color images that I have seen. The cover photo dates from 1957-58 since loco has the larger side letters introduced in 1957. 

 

I may just order one in the next few weeks and post my own review here. Same with the SAL book. 

From a source I know down in Ft Lauderdale who's Dad worked on ACL. He told me the purple paint scheme was very hard to maintain. Everytime they ran the engines through the "Train Washes" the purple would be faded and sometimes have to be repainted. 

That is why you seem to see so many different shades.

 

Personally I like new looking paint BUT also like the faded looks too!!

 

Long live ACL.

 

In fact my son and I were running the trains last night and hooked up the ACL F-7's

I happen to pick up another purple thing from a member not long ago.

 

Larry

 

 

Anyone ever heard of Phoenix Railways Inc. making 18 inch passenger cars for the ACL and FEC? Picked up a set recently of these cars which included 6 cars split equally between these two railroads to run behind my recently acquired ACL E-6s. Makes a believable Champion from the late 40s. Just need to add some Pennsy baggage/express and ACL express boxcars and it will be complete.

 

What I need to find now are 18 inch lightweight sleepers to model the ACL County series, which were common on the Champion starting in 1949.

Larry,

 

I had to do some searching, but there was a topic on their cars back in 2013:

 

https://ogrforum.ogaugerr.com/t...minum-passenger-cars

 

I looked on Google but didn't see any ACL stuff by them.  From what Marty Fitzhenry said they were good cars.  I did spot an L&N set on Google when I searched for Phoenix Rail Ways.

Bob,

 

I had seen the topic from 2013 on Phoenix cars when I discovered these cars. The L&N cars you reference were made in the blue scheme, with around 6 cars total. I have also seen a baggage, combo and coach lettered for Seaboard. I wonder if Phoenix made very small runs of cars to go with existing Lionel or MTH locomotives. In many ways the Phoenix cars mimic Lionel's postwar streamlines, just 3 inches longer. 

 

What I would really like to know are the exact years the company was in business. I figure they lasted into the early 90s, but not sure.

 

i will post pictures of my cars when I get a chance. 

Probably showing my ignorance here but I just picked up a 4 car WBB set of ACL72 streamline passenger cars from train world that I liked when I got them  , run on 042 look scale. I liked them a lot but I'm new at this! Just sayin!

Thought I would post these here. Had previously posted to the ACL/FEC Champion thread, but might useful to all ACL fans. Great to develop passenger trains for any era.

Thanks Larry!

 

Here's a photo of a Mullet River Southern Rwy caboose kit:

 

 

 

How close do you think it is to an ACL M3:

 

 

 

Price is a bit steep ($120+ shipping) for a kit, and does not come with trucks, brake details, or couplers.  Then add in paint, decals (if they can be found), going to bring this cab up to or pass $200 easily.

 

I meant to point out ACL had both woodside and smooth plywood-sided cabs.

Unfortunate. They could scale up everything into their laser cutter and do a custom run of several of the cabooses that they list in HO, and I think that they'd be able to sell them, too.

Bob,

 

I know Brother Love on this forum has made ACL M3 cabs lettered for ACL and subsidiaries that look very god and come complete with trucks and couplers. I would contact him to see about making one of these before trying to shorten one of the Southern cab kits. His are expensive too, but well worth the price. If I am able to save up enough money for 2-3 myself, I plan to have him make some for me.

Larry, I didn't realize the Southern cab is too long.

 

I have drawings of the ACL M3 that were in either Lines South or S-CL Modeler, I might give it a go myself!  2 of the 3 SAL cabs I have were either entirely scratchbuilt or heavily modified MTH cabs.

 

I need to finish the 3 or 4 other projects I have laying around first, if for no other reason than to free up some room

Bob,

The ACL M3 measures 38 feet 8 inches coupled, and 30 foot 6 inches inside measurement.  Not sure how that compares to a Southern wooden cab, but they look longer to me in photos. Can't find measurements for the Southern at the moment.

Larry,

 

Something you mentioned got me thinking.  In Bill Griffin's book "The Atlantic & Danville Railway Company" there's photos of the A&D wood-side cabooses, X100-X108, that were ex-Southern cabs.

 

Says they were 37 feet long, 30 feet inside.  Pretty close I think.  Still the Mullet River model is going to be close to $200 by the time trucks, paint, and decals are added, plus it needs to be assembled (does come with an interior).

 

One of our Southern Rwy guys should be able to confirm some dimensions if they're reading this.  Prince's book on the Southern doesn't have anything about the cabs.

 

Leaning more and more towards building my own.

I recieved this book as a late Xmas present 2 weeks ago, I am not a big ACL fan but I thought the book was well done a good mix of early and late colors. Not all pro grade pics [I guess I am spoiled by quality of todays digital shots] very little on Willmington, Florence and Charleston RR areas, the book highlights a few main hotspots. RonsBooks worth the money.JMO

Thanks for the review. Wilmington was really off-line, and Florence has been covered well in other publications. I plan to get a copy in the next few weeks.

Bob,

You could get the AMB HO M3 kit and double the measurements, and construct out of styrene, especially if you want the plywood version. Were did you find the decals?

Does anyone have or know where I can find O scale ACL RPO decals? I think the Atlas RPO should make a descent representation with the clerestory roof and 6-wheel trucks. I have found sources for the Champ P-118 ACL Passenger Car set, but don't think this covers RPOs. 

 

Has anyone made their own ACL passenger train decals?

 

Thanks,

No decals yet. It's still purple, for now.

 

Gilly

We found this pretty observation sitting all by itself (on the 'bay) and picked it up for the color.  K-line 18". No ACL motive power as yet however...

 

 

Larry, You looking for something like this car:

 

http://modeltrainhub.com/wp-co...oad-Post-vehicle.jpg

 

or this:

 

http://www.railroadcollectible...assC/ACL-RPO2541.jpg

 

this one's an O gauge (on 2-rail track, look at the coupler and wheels)

 

I've never tried making any ACL decals, but may give it a go just to see what comes out (if I can find the correct font).

I have used www.railfonts.com and an alps printer to make lettering for passenger cars. They have fonts that are very similar to those used by major railroads. Hope this will help.

Leon

 

 

After looking back through my books, the purple scheme would work best for my era modeled. The decals are Champ P-41, which I located 1 set. I can find plenty of Champ P-118, which has the yellow lettering from the late 50s - 60s. I hope I can find more P-41 sets in case something happens. If anyone has some, please let me know.

Joining in a bit late on this one but I have videos of both ACL E6 passenger consist and a more recent SCL Lime green E8 consist on my you tube page

 

https://www.youtube.com/user/N...ideos?view_as=public

 

Grew up in South Florida,  and regularly saw all three railroads........  great stuff.

 

Mark

Larry, I picked this book up at the Greenburgs show in Va. Beach last weekend.

 

Has some nice color photos inside, makes me want to get a GP7 oe F3A in ACL paint.

 

Not in the book, but I spotted a photo of an ACL 4-8-2 Mountain.  I knew they had the R-1 4-8-4, but never paid attention to the Mountains.

 

All I recall from back in the 50s-60s were the black units.  My parents house was within eyesight of the ACL swing bridge on the Western branch of the Elizabeth River.

 

Mark, nice ACL E6s   You guys are gonna make me spend my $$$

From the looks of it, I think that observation is a repaint. I may be wrong, but I don't recall K-Line ever making any 18" ACL passenger cars.

Nice purple,  the only K-Line 18 inch ACL were some Purple Madison heavyweights,  sold as part of the scale 4-6-2 release.

I don't have that book,  I have 4 other of ACL,  may add that one........  let us know what you think.....

Mark,

 

I like the book, but then again ANY book on ACL or SAL is good for me.

 

There's more color photos of the black scheme than the purple, but there's some beautiful photos of purple engines that'll make you drool (and some of them faded that'll make you gag).

 

Engines (diesel and some steam) and passenger cars mainly, but there's a few caboose photos too including the M3/4 which I have been looking for.

 

I probably paid too much for it, but it was the only one I saw at the Greenburg show and one of the few books on ACL I don't have.

Thanks for the info Bob.........   I will post a picture of the 4 books I have in a bit,  just to compare.

Was checking out the Lionel 2015 catalog and LionChief+ has a Purple Color ACL F-3 coming out!!

 

For years I was looking for a reasonably priced ACL Purple F-3 but prices on e-bay always ran high. Well now best of both worlds as you get the Deep(Northwestern University) Purple color F-3 and as a LC+!!

 

I do have the WBB ACL F-7's with the faded purple which is nice too. I recently replaced the bulbs with LED's and it looks really cool!!

Bob..........  here are the books I have,  any other ACL beside our discussion book you just got?

 

 

 

Update!!!

 

I emailed Mullet River Model Works to see if they would be interested in making an ACL caboose and Glenn Guerra the owner(?) said he could do it if he can get 10 confirmed reservations and some additional data on the caboose itself.  I also emailed the ACL/SAL Historical Society board members, letting them know Glenn is interested but needs additional data.

 

So anyone with an interest in getting one of these ACL cabs, please email Glenn:

 

glenn@mulletrivermodelworks.com

 

I'm in for at least 1 so only 9 more to go

 

The caboose I emailed Glenn about was the ACL M3 woodside cab, not the plywood side cab:

 

Warren Calloway has provided me with all the blueprints he could find in the ACL/SAL Historical Society's archives, plus several photos of this caboose, I have forwarded them on to Mullet River.

Here's an email I just got from Glen Guerra:

 

Well, as we all know Mullet River Model Works closed a couple months ago.

 

I did manage to get one of their Southern cabooses to attempt a rebuild into an ACL M3 caboose.  I think I got close, at least on the outside.  I replaced the steps that came in the kit with some from PSC and had to make the shades/awnings over the windows.  I still need to replace the roller-bearing trucks with friction-bearing.

 

Anyway, here's a couple of photos:

 

 

 

 

 

(need to fix that crooked handrail )

 

These kits were/are not for the novice, I had a bear of a time soldering the brass underframe together.

 

Anyway, it's about as close to an ACL M-3 cab as I'll probably ever get.

 

Here's a photo of the real one:

 

 

Oh, the windows actually slide up and down!!!

Bob it looks good.