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1949 11cars and F3 A+B+B
This changed as the years went on
Why would you have 5 locos pulling 12 cars?
Why would you have 5 locos pulling 12 cars?
They want to go really, really fast? And, I think some of the western US railroads had challenging grades on some runs and may not have wanted to have their "halo" brand passenger trains to have to wait for helper engines, etc. Five F3s would have about 7500 HP so they would be a bit more power than an A-B-A set of the bigger E units, and I'm pretty sure some RRs ran that combo. Regardless, particularly with 12 cars behind it, it would certainly look fantastic.
Every photo I've seen of the CZ on the WP had an A-B-B F-unit set on the point.
Even the one in Classic Trains "Great Train Rides"(pg 62-63) when the CZ had to detour to Donner Pass in 1951, where it was helped by a Cab-Forward.
Rusty
Engines
Burlington Route EMD F3 ABA
Rio Grande Alco PA ABA
EMD F3 ABBA
Western Pacific EMD F3 ABB
EMD FP7A F7B ABA
Actually that combination would NOT look like how the WP operated their portion of the CZ. The WP used A-B-B configuration, and really didn't need any additional HP, since the train speed was essentially limited by all the curves in the mountainous territory, and NOT how steep the grade was.
Actually those EMD F3 A-B-A consista on the CB&Q didn't last very long. The CB&Q quickly switched to "E" type units, once they discovered that their "F" unit sets would NOT be operated west of Denver.
Engines
Burlington Route EMD F3 ABA
Rio Grande Alco PA ABA
EMD F3 ABBA
Western Pacific EMD F3 ABB
EMD FP7A F7B ABA
The Burlington F3's on the CZ were replaced by E-units in 1954, regeared and repainted for freight service in 1955.
Rusty
Actually that combination would NOT look like how the WP operated their portion of the CZ. The WP used A-B-B configuration, and really didn't need any additional HP, since the train speed was essentially limited by all the curves in the mountainous territory, and NOT how steep the grade was.
Yes, the real world - ugh! I hate it when that gets in the way of fun. You know what they say - my railroad, my rules. If "Scrappy" wants to run a five-F3 set, well, more power to him. Besides, it would look spectacularly cool, you have to admit. I'm sitting here adding up in my mind. I can put together an A-B-B-B-A Warbonnet set, I think, maybe an A-B-B-B-B-A set, and I have about ten to twelve cars, I hope, to make a "Super-Duper Superchief" that any eight year old would love. Gotta do that tomorrow.
You can check out some photos in the links below.
http://www.railpictures.net/sh...=California%20Zephyr
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