I'm thinking about branching out and getting some ACL stuff. I have 1 or 2 boxcars and am getting a USRA 4-6-2 to paint up into an ACL class P5/P5A engine, but I rarely see anything in ACL paint on the forum. I've never seen an ACL M3 or M5 caboose in O scale.
Let's see some photos!!!
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Don't model it.
But it is a passing fancy in S Scale hirail for me:
Rusty
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.
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'm thinking about branching out and getting some ACL stuff. I have 1 or 2 boxcars and am getting a USRA 4-6-2 to paint up into an ACL class P5/P5A engine, but I rarely see anything in ACL paint on the forum. I've never seen an ACL M3 or M5 caboose in O scale.
Let's see some photos!!!
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.
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.
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 
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:
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.
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!
I'm thinking about branching out and getting some ACL stuff. I have 1 or 2 boxcars and am getting a USRA 4-6-2 to paint up into an ACL class P5/P5A engine, but I rarely see anything in ACL paint on the forum. I've never seen an ACL M3 or M5 caboose in O scale.
Let's see some photos!!!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 .
The Royal Purple scheme is nice,but I like the black and yellow best .
Yup, they're really sharp.
(Just kidding.)
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.
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.
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.
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!
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.........
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.
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.
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!
...very interesting article on ACL passenger service history.
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!!
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
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
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?
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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 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
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
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
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).
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
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.
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 $$$
We found this pretty observation sitting all by itself (on the 'bay) and picked it up for the color. K-line 18".
From the looks of it, I think that observation is a repaint. I may be wrong, but I don't recall K-Line ever making any 18" ACL passenger cars.
Nice purple, the only K-Line 18 inch ACL were some Purple Madison heavyweights, sold as part of the scale 4-6-2 release.
Has anyone ordered this book from Morning Sun Books? I hope to get one by Christmas. There is also a companion book for the Seaboard Air Line.
Larry, I picked this book up at the Greenburgs show in Va. Beach last weekend.
Has some nice color photos inside, makes me want to get a GP7 oe F3A in ACL paint.
Not in the book, but I spotted a photo of an ACL 4-8-2 Mountain. I knew they had the R-1 4-8-4, but never paid attention to the Mountains.
All I recall from back in the 50s-60s were the black units. My parents house was within eyesight of the ACL swing bridge on the Western branch of the Elizabeth River.
Mark, nice ACL E6s You guys are gonna make me spend my $$$
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?
Here's a photo of a Mullet River Southern Rwy caboose kit:
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!!!
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:
Bob it looks good.
Love that ACL. They had some cool cabooses. So some on desplay when I was down in Southern Florida
Looks great Bob. Well done! Did any originals have yellow handrails?
Gary, really not sure about the handrail colors. Looking at all the photos I have, it's hard to tell when they were taken.
I'm expecting one of the Atlas ACL Covered Hoppers (pre-ordered back in March 2015) early next week from PDT. Has anyone got one yet and if so, what do you think about it? I know Mr. Muffin has had them in for about a month.
I think that's going to be close to my last pre-order, 9 months waiting for a common hopper to see the light of day is just unreasonable.
I'm on tap to get the SAL Silver Meteor IF GGD gets enough pre-orders, and I'm willing to wait for that, but for a common piece of rolling stock at such a high $$$...I can do without.
Nativefl posted:Bob.......... here are the books I have, any other ACL beside our discussion book you just got?
Here is another pair to add to your collection. Although one is a little late to the party.
I didn't know about the Goolsby book although I do have the SAL passenger train book by the man with the oh, so familiar name...
Got the Atlas 70-ton Covered Hopper today.
Nicely built model, very heavy. The model is gray, I thought these cars were black but looking at the photos in Paul Faulk's book I do believe the gray is correct (or it's a very faded black).
I got the 3-rail model, but removed the claw couplers and add Kadees, had to drill new holes in the mounting pads and cut off the claw coupler mount so it would swivel without hitting the Kadee coupler box, took about 10 minutes.
The only "issue" I can find with it is the hatches are turned 90 degrees out from where ACL had there's. It may not be a problem though, they look like they can be turned, the housing the hatch is on appears to be a separate casting, will find out later and attempt to turn them. they do open so that's a good thing.
Anyway, here's some photos:
Well...the hatches do come out, that's the good news.
The bad news is that these "square" hatches aren't. They measure 21/32" long and 19/32" wide, a 1/16" difference. In order to turn them 90 degrees I'd have to cut the openings in the roof 1/16" bigger going from end-to-end and add 1/16" spacers going from side-to-side so the hatches won't fall thru the holes.
It's something that can be done, but I'm not going to mess with it now, make it a later project, although every time I run it those hatches will be staring up at me 
Wow, been almost 2 years since the last post.
Has anything new come out in the past 2 years for ACL??? I'm STILL looking for some ACL full length passenger cars, heavyweight and streamlined. I need to check Union Station, OK Engines, and Delta Models for stuff I can use to make a train if nothing is available RTR.
Purple Train...Purple Train
Bob Delbridge posted:Wow, been almost 2 years since the last post.
Has anything new come out in the past 2 years for ACL??? I'm STILL looking for some ACL full length passenger cars, heavyweight and streamlined. I need to check Union Station, OK Engines, and Delta Models for stuff I can use to make a train if nothing is available RTR.
Bob,
The new Lionel catalog has 21 inch ACL streamlined passenger cars with purple letterboards. Full set plus add-on cars, including railsounds diner. Also has ACL purple E units to go with the cars.
Thanks Larry, will take a peek!!!
I hope to get a set of the Lionel ACL E6s and a set of the purple MTH heavyweight cars. I know it's probably not prototypical to run those together but I don't care,I think they will look awesome together.
I don't really per se, but I thought my Williams ACL E-7's would look good pulling my Weaver Royal American Circus 20" passenger cars on the club layout.
Someone asked why they don't have an Amtrak Chicago-Florida train anymore. They used to. It ran behind my home and the tracks from Logansport-Bringhurst are all that remain. When I visited my grandparents (where we now live), I loved to see those purple ACL engines pulling the SouthWind now and then. And, if you want to be more authentic, get the Lionel 1501 Northern rather than the Berk and put a charcoal-black tender behind it. I have one of the locos and the only thing I haven't figured out is how to change the "5" into an "8." as their Northerns were numbered in an 1800 series. I painted one tender in that scheme but now I have one that has the electronics still in it with matching plugs to the engine so I'm getting out the masking tape and ordering another set of decals. (I know, the electronics may or may not work, but the engine runs OK on my carpet layout.) I still have to put the decals that surround the steam chests on the loco, too. I'd like to find something close to the drum shaped covers that sit on the platform above the cowcatcher and then it'd be "pretty close." (I just picked up a cheap ball point and two tops should do it.) Also, the tender pictured is the one from my Lionel ACL Hudson.
I grew up in Seaboard territory, the ACL ran to the east of where I grew up in Tallahassee, Florida. Not even much of the local modelers ran ACL/SAL or SCL or later road names. I never knew why but I always suspected those lines didn't run through the most scenic places to model on a layout for scenery. Beats me how you'd model a long leaf pine forest with palmettos.
Thought I'd dredge this up again.
Anyone got the Lionel 21" ACL passenger cars? How are they? Are they still available?
has anyone contacted GGD about making an ACL set? Better yet, has GGD made any similar cars that ACL owned/used?
I wish some O manufacturer would step up and offer a scale ACL #1504 USRA Pacific
Photos taken by me....
Growing up in monroe n.c. I got to see seaboard gp9 and gp7.I recall seeing the local train that would come and pick up.The seaboard ballest cars that were picked up from a rock quarry.That is still behind my old school.I have a few ACL boxcars by weaver,lionel,mth and kline.I wish I could have got my hands on pulpwood cars.Cause my god I saw a whole lot of those cars.Every long freight train have some mixed in.Another thig in the monroe train station.There is a pianting of the ORANGE BLASSOME SPECIAL being pulled by a M2 mountain.Its an oil painting the train looks like its doing 75 to 90 mph.
Great link - https://www.flickr.com/photos/palmateer/5647377490/
Nice thread. The Pacific could easily be any model of the USRA. All Nation made one that is close - the sand dome needs an addition.
I have a photo of a bronze GP7 in ACL purple. I will ask for an ok to post it.
I have 2 ACL Pacifics and 2 F3s and a handful of rolling stock:
Ever since I got the GGD SAL Silver Meteor I hardly run any of my other passenger cars. I have 3-4 MTH cars in SAL livery nd have been contemplating changing them over to ACL. They're not correct for either RR so it would make no difference to me, except they're lightweights and I would rather have a set of heavyweights to pull behind Pacific #1549.
I do like that purple though.
My introduction to Atlantic Coast Line and Seaboard Air Line began when my stepfather (a Florida native) moved my mother and stepbrothers and sister from Dallas, Texas, to Tampa in June 1959. Born in Dallas on July 4, 1946, I turned 13 in 59. We lived with my stepfather's parents in Tampa on B Street until we found suitable housing. The ACL's Rome Avenue spur off the Port Tampa branch crossed B Street where a switcher, usually an assigned SW7, switched the many industries on Rome as well as a few team tracks as well. We took the train from Big D to Tampa. T&P-L&N-SAL. Indeed, a grand trip which included a daylight layover in New Orleans, where I got to see streetcars again, as Dallas had converted to busses by 59.
By 59 Purple Diesels were becoming rare as the railroad had switched to black although buildings, baggage cars, and CN&L GP7s (a South Carolina subsidery of ACL) remained for several years into the 60s, a reminder of a proud past.
Soon after our second move back to Tampa from Texas (we relocated back to Texas briefly in 61) I met Robert Taff at a hobby shop in north Tampa and we became best friends until his untimely passin g in April 2006. (RIP Robert). Tampa Union Station became our regular hangout. We met a veteran engineer who permitted us to visit him in the cab of E units when he was on duty. Oh to return to those carefree pre-9/11 days with no "armed" security forces...!!! LOL After TR 92, the northbound West Coast Champion left TUS at 12:01 PM we'd hike down the Port Tampa line to spend the afternoon with Chester "The Most" Holley* in his hobby shop in the Palma Ceia area of south Tampa.
*Item: Chester and his wife Margo were instramental in organizing the Southern Division of the TCA. "The Most" was used in ads Chester placed in MR and Railroad Model Craftsman. It meant he maintained a well stocked inventory of trains in all gauges. Note that O Gauge Railroading ran a three part series on Chester in the 1980s.
ACL freights to and from the port hauling outbound loaded phosphate dumps and inbound loaded tank cars would pass by the rear of Chester's shop, usually behind F units with red painted wood cabooses bringing up the rear. A large lift up garage door in the back of the shop was always open with a fine view of the track putting on a real neat show for two teenage boys who dreamed to go railroading after high school. We did too!
Though apartment living here in Germany leaves little space for a layout, other than perhaps a small compact S scale shelf layout in my basement, after it receives a facelift. Any smaller scale is out of the question! It would be freelanced, with a brick red painted depot, perhaps Plasticville? Nothing close to Tampa Union Station of course, but to qoute an old Model Railroader magazine slogan, "Model Railroading IS Fun!"
You bet it is!
Joe Toth
Joe, great memories! Have you ever thought about doing an article? The ACL/SAL Historical Society puts out a quarterly magazine LINES SOUTH, and could probably use a couple.
The ACL line coming into Portsmouth VA was a bit over a stones throw behind my house, but I was so scared of those huge things back then I can't recall if I saw any purple engines or not. There was a small trestle between my house and the little league baseball fields that I would walk on sometimes but it was scary to look down between the ties and see nothing but water. Within eyesight of my house there was an ACL swing bridge over the southern branch of the Elizabeth River, back in 1905 an excursion train plunged into the river due to the bridge being open, killing between 15-27 people depending on the reports.
I got permission - Jim DeBruin took the photo and owns the model. It is a bronze cast GP7 or 9 - ( I personally don't know the difference).
Jim thinks the model was cast by Bill Lenoir, a reasonably famous custom builder with an ACL affinity. The model was owned by the late David Eslick. Both are from the Tampa area. David was well liked in the O Scale community.
I have one of these, ACL decals, and purple spray paint. Just haven't taken the time to tape the stripes - she sits in orange-yellow, waiting . . .
Bob Delbridge posted:Thought I'd dredge this up again.
Anyone got the Lionel 21" ACL passenger cars? How are they? Are they still available?
has anyone contacted GGD about making an ACL set? Better yet, has GGD made any similar cars that ACL owned/used?
Bob,
I took a look at the Lionel 21" cars and decided not to buy them for a couple of reasons:
1. I have some K-Line NYC Empire State Express 21" Budd cars and a K-Line California Zephyr 21" Budd sleeper relettered for ACL and in my opinion they look nicer than the painted plastic Lionel cars. As you know, the K-Line cars are aluminum.
2. The Lionel cars are generic, and thus are at best a representative approximation of the ACL cars, just like my relettered K-Line cars.
3. The Lionel cars use the short purple letterboards, which I believe date from the mid-1950's, as opposed to the full-length purple painted letterboards used prior to that, which I have on my relettered K-Line cars. I think the full-length purple painted boards look much nicer, particularly the wrap-around on the boat tail of the observation.
For about the same cost as the Lionel cars, you could get some K-Line aluminum cars and end up with a much nicer looking set, in my opinion. The Lionel painted plastic on the ACL cars just looks cheap to me.
Thanks for the update!
I'll pass, I have enough generic stuff.
I don't know enough about ACL passenger cars to even think about contacting GGD to do a set.
bob2,
The number 146 puts it in the GP7 category (100-253), I'm not sure if ACL even had any GP9s. All of the louvered doors look right for an ACL GP7 as do the lights and horn.
Bronze...isn't that a bit on the heavy side?
Yes. We are doorstop collectors - almost all of my Diesels and electrics are cast brass or bronze.
I was making a joke. I cannot tell the difference between a GP7 and 9 because it does not rise to any discernible level of interest for me.
Some of you may know I am an aviator - I feel the same way about forward and side slips. Even more esoteric - I refuse to memorize the difference between wash-in and wash-out.
bob2 posted:Yes. We are doorstop collectors - almost all of my Diesels and electrics are cast brass or bronze.
I was making a joke. I cannot tell the difference between a GP7 and 9 because it does not rise to any discernible level of interest for me.
Some of you may know I am an aviator - I feel the same way about forward and side slips. Even more esoteric - I refuse to memorize the difference between wash-in and wash-out.
Your model is a GP-7, based on the 3 louvers under the cab and on battery box doors. ACL did not own any GP-9s, just a whole bunch of GP-7s.
Just a note - 3rd Rail still has the ACL GP-7 shown for order on their site. This would be the only prototypical ACL GP-7 made in O scale with the safety light attachment above the headlights. They will be purple/silver with the silver colored herald by the nose. Fixed pilots, O54 curves. He had them removed a few days ago, but added them back to the mix. Depending on the numbers may be steam generator equipped.
MTH has just released their Rail King version of an ACL GP-7 as well, but will not be near as detailed as the 3rd Rail version.
Bob Delbridge posted:Thanks for the update!
I'll pass, I have enough generic stuff.
I don't know enough about ACL passenger cars to even think about contacting GGD to do a set.
Bob,
GGD may be interested in a Champion train set since they had good results with the Silver Meteor. They are also exploring 18" versions of the 21" cars, so people can have the same detail but on smaller cars. I am sure the ACL/SAL Historical Society can help with proper car diagrams, and I have all the red covered Pullman diagram books for southeast cars from years ago.
They are more generic cars, but a company called Phoenix Rail Ways made nice 18" cars lettered for the ACL and FEC back in the 90s. I happened upon a set a few years ago, and they are nice, but have silhouettes instead of figures inside.
My Railking ACL GP-7 arrived yesterday
Bob Delbridge: Gads, it's November and your post regarding the ACL/SAL Historical Society was way back in pre-Corona February 2020 no less! Sorry.
I don't belong to any society in the U.S. because the overseas rates are unjustified to put it plainly. It's not their fault, but it's a darn dirty disgrace what the postal people now demand for international mail delivery. Then, on top of Old Smoky and on top of that, you're confronted with the possibility of receiving damaged or out right lost items in transit which sets off the blood pressure button big time every time...!
Now that Germany has issued a four week November lockdown due to the Corona thing (could it possibly be a Mars attack from outer space...?) and if any of you guys who model ACL/SAL/SCL/Family Lines are interested in sharing your newest projects or latest purchases, please, don't delay, do it today!
Thanks,
Joe
I can remember those E-8's coming around the bend into Charleston. Purple or not they made the ground shake! The 'Seaboard' switcher is the only eng I ever knew Lionel made.
During world war 2 my grandfather Frank Tally was head of transportation at the old Norfolk Southern RR. He would get phone calls in the middle of the night where someone was wanting to know the current location of a high priority car. He soon leaned not to ship on the ACL if it was a high priority car as the ACL would did not be able to find the current location. Instead he would always ship by the SAL as they could always locate the car and know when it was going to reach its destination. The SAL during the war was still in receivership and was a single track railroad but was lean and hungry and once they installed CTC they could run almost as many trains as the double track ACL.
My first MTH engine
@bob2 posted:I got permission - Jim DeBruin took the photo and owns the model. It is a bronze cast GP7 or 9 - ( I personally don't know the difference).
Jim thinks the model was cast by Bill Lenoir, a reasonably famous custom builder with an ACL affinity. The model was owned by the late David Eslick. Both are from the Tampa area. David was well liked in the O Scale community.
I have one of these, ACL decals, and purple spray paint. Just haven't taken the time to tape the stripes - she sits in orange-yellow, waiting . . .
Bob,
Based on the venting under the cab and the vent configurations on the long hood, this is an early model GP7. The other tell is the tubular handrail stanchions, also some early GP9s had the same style handrails. The transition between GP7s and 9s gets a little tricky only because late GP7 and early GP9s shared several details during the transition period.
More than you wanted to know no doubt but the model is nicely detailed for the ACL with the Mars light mounted high and the bell position.
For the ACL Purple fans :
All
Chester Holley - "The Most"
Talked to him and his daughter many times back in the day. What a vast vintage collection on the private room walls!
I'm more of an SCL guy but its hard to wait for MTH power units. Had to decal my own switcher and passenger cars. One of the most prominent passenger lines in R.R. history and no one has ever offered it. That's what we get with salesmen vs. real railroaders running a company. Bet they don't even have a layout.
1970's, Elfers Fl.
I only have one ACL car, an ACF 55' steel reefer they bought in 1947-8. ACL bought only 50 of them.
This is my best shot I have of the car's colors. Brass by Sunset.
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