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And the Horseshoe Curve was something to behold! On my first trip in 1987, I was lucky to sit on the "fireman's" side of the coach when I boarded in Lewistown. I made sure to do that on all subsequent trips. Here's a YouTube link to some scenes from a layout modeling the Curve as well as the Altoona environs:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iLT5IuW4T3I

Looks like the only PRR rolling stock they've got running is a 3-car heavyweight Broadway consist, but it conveys the idea. I'd love to run a train on this pike.

First will preface this with it is your model rr and you can do what you like/want!

But, as apennvsy fan can't hold my thoughts.

The Pennsy never had any Tuscan Red  freight engines (including F-Units).  They did have one and only Baldwin VO-1000 painted Tuscan Red road number 5919 for the Sunnyside Yard NYC.  And maybe a red GG1 moved freight sometime or other.?

Mixed in this shot is MTH's rendition of that VO-1000 Number 5919.

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Ron

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The Pennsy had 2 A-B-A sets of FP7s painted tuscan with 5 stripes according to Paul Withers book on PRR EMD diesels.    These were the first two sets.    PRR had 40 FP7 A units and 14 F7 B units equiped with steam generators.     The standard B unit had enough space for the passenger steam equipment.    The FP7 was 4 feet longer than the standard F7 to accommodate the steam generator and water tank.     These were considered dual purpose locos.    All other F3s, F7s, and FP7s were painted in the Freight scheme.

Sunset did the FP7 a few years ago in both Tuscan 5-stripe and DGLE (Dark Green Loco Enamel) and offered in both 2 rail and 3 rail.    I have a set of the 2 rail ones in DGLE.    I am pretty sure all of the Sunset GGD locos have been offered in 3 rail as well as 2 rail.

As far as I know they are the only O Scale or O GAuge ones made.   However, there may have been some brass ones.    I think more than one mfg made in HO,   Atlas I think was one of the first ones.

I think they have also been done in S-Scale.

Last edited by prrjim

All I know is Sitka's "rattle can" must have had a genie in it! Those F-units look great pulling freight! I always preferred the Tuscan to DGLE. I only wish I had been around to see those Tuscan units in action, speeding by, blowing back my hair as I stood too close for comfort! OK, I guess the DGLE would have been fun, too. And the silver. And the baby blue. Maybe not "Old Rivets" in CR Bicentennial, though.

@Bill Swatos posted:

All I know is Sitka's "rattle can" must have had a genie in it! Those F-units look great pulling freight! I always preferred the Tuscan to DGLE. I only wish I had been around to see those Tuscan units in action, speeding by, blowing back my hair as I stood too close for comfort! OK, I guess the DGLE would have been fun, too. And the silver. And the baby blue. Maybe not "Old Rivets" in CR Bicentennial, though.

You would have had a long wait since only four of the original 40 FP's were painted Tuscan.

Ron

@Bill Swatos posted:

All I know is Sitka's "rattle can" must have had a genie in it! Those F-units look great pulling freight! I always preferred the Tuscan to DGLE. I only wish I had been around to see those Tuscan units in action, speeding by, blowing back my hair as I stood too close for comfort! OK, I guess the DGLE would have been fun, too. And the silver. And the baby blue. Maybe not "Old Rivets" in CR Bicentennial, though.

Thank You sir, Bought paint at Lowes (not the right color) those are the only decal I found on line, the shells were cracked and in bad shape but it was about giving them new life, they will run freight till I get a passenger set to run with those F3s, Have 2 Railking passenger cars that I repainted the inside and added  passengers, looking for a Observation car and  Passenger to run to complete the set, Thanks all who posted photos and all the History of the once Great Pennsylvania R.R.

U.S. Army Retired

@Sitka posted:

Those are sharp!

I think so too  I had given up on having F3s on my late 40s era layout because, except for high end and hard to find brass, models of PRR F3s all had the large number boards.  I was really happy when 3rd Rail decided to do these with the PRR correct streamlined number boards.  The PRR did not go to the large number boards until their second lot buy of F7s.

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3rd Rail's model is of the Phase 2 Late body style, purchased in late '47-early '48.

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@PRRronbh posted:


The Pennsy never had any Tuscan Red  freight engines (including F-Units).  

I always considered the Tuscan Red F3 and the Tuscan Red freight Shark as stand ins for the E7 and the passenger Shark for layouts with very tight curves (O-31/36).  Coupled with 15/16" passenger cars, they look right for that size.

I also think a F3 or freight Shark in Tuscan Red are not correct for freight, but as they say, it is your railroad.  Have fun.

Speaking of PW Turbines, I've got two of the 1985 FARR#5's (the newer of which is featured in my earlier video) that run hot and seem to slow down some after about 20 min pulling a 4-car consist of the not-so-easy-rolling Williams 60' semi-scale aluminum coaches. As the attached photo shows, I've slipped in a couple of "pie-pan" aluminum "fins" to cool the brush holders on the newer loco and this seems to help somewhat, but most of the heat seems to be coming from the armature windings as the field coil stays relatively cool. Is this newer (Mexican made?) version of the "slant" PulMor a problem, possibly due to poor enamel on the armature windings? My Williams Congressional GG-1 (2 DC can motors) pulls this consist with ease at just 4 "bars" on my Z-1000.

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@Bill Swatos posted:

Speaking of PW Turbines, I've got two of the 1985 FARR#5's (the newer of which is featured in my earlier video) that run hot and seem to slow down some after about 20 min pulling a 4-car consist of the not-so-easy-rolling Williams 60' semi-scale aluminum coaches. As the attached photo shows, I've slipped in a couple of "pie-pan" aluminum "fins" to cool the brush holders on the newer loco and this seems to help somewhat, but most of the heat seems to be coming from the armature windings as the field coil stays relatively cool. Is this newer (Mexican made?) version of the "slant" PulMor a problem, possibly due to poor enamel on the armature windings? My Williams Congressional GG-1 (2 DC can motors) pulls this consist with ease at just 4 "bars" on my Z-1000.

Bill I have mostly PW and a couple MTH PS-1, Those PW Turbines I have when I buy I tear them down and degrease, I get good performance when they pull those williams cars, (or Railking) plus those cars have alloy seats that I added and the cars are much heavier now, If CAPPilot or a PRRronbh, see this I'm sure they can help you on that motor issue. HAGD 

@Apples55 posted:

The only thing better than one GG1is two GG1’s Great shot Jonathan. Your pic points out my my only problem with GG1’s… I always preferred the 5-stripe scheme, but think the larger keystone on the side always looked better.

It's tough call for me Paul.  I too have great affection for both schemes.  That is why it is important have at least one of each!

If two GG1s are better, how about three GG1s?

_IGP9642

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