Sante Fe FT Series

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Burbs

Burbs

Member
I'm researching what I would like to start off for my first set. In my post under "Newbie looking for advice", I mentioned that I always remembered Santa Fe trains. I found this picture that I really like. This falls under their F-units. Does anyone know if this style or color scheme is available in O gauge? I didn't see anything under Lionel, but I will continue to search the web.

Thanks,

Chris

1a34711u1.preview.jpg
 
UP2CSX said:
Lionel does make a Santa Fe FT but, as far as I can tell, it's only available as part of a train set like this one at http://www.oakridgehobbies.com/inde...itan-electric-train-set-with-trainsounds.html. Lionel does make F-3's you buy separately. Is there some reason you really want an FY compared to F-3, which is a very similar looking locomotive?
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Forgive me for being dumb, but what do you mean by FY? I think my biggest problem is figuring the locomotive models I want to research. Any good websites break down the locomotives by brand and model number all in one place?
 


Sorry the link was not much help.

F7 and F7A units were very popular with many roads, and you should easily be able to find those models in Sante Fe colors in O scale.

In HO scale, it is hard to find train sets not in Sante Fe colors.:D
Mikey
 
PNKFLOYD said:
Sorry the link was not much help.

F7 and F7A units were very popular with many roads, and you should easily be able to find those models in Sante Fe colors in O scale.

In HO scale, it is hard to find train sets not in Sante Fe colors.:D
Mikey
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Mike,

Don't be sorry, I appreciate you helping me out. I've seen the red and silver Santa Fe, but I can't seem to locate the one I like with blue, yellow, and red. Though, not owning a set yet, I'm sure I haven't exhausted every avenue! :confused:
 
Burbs, that was a typo in my post - should have been FT. I'm not sure what Santa Fe engine you've seen in blue, yellow, and red. The passenger scheme was the famous red and silver Warbonnet and the freight scheme was blue with a yellow stripe and "cigar band" herald on the nose. Which scheme are you looking for and, again, does it actually matter exactly what model of F unit, since they all look very similar, especially in the toy train world.
 
UP2CSX said:
Burbs, that was a typo in my post - should have been FT. I'm not sure what Santa Fe engine you've seen in blue, yellow, and red. The passenger scheme was the famous red and silver Warbonnet and the freight scheme was blue with a yellow stripe and "cigar band" herald on the nose. Which scheme are you looking for and, again, does it actually matter exactly what model of F unit, since they all look very similar, especially in the toy train world.
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Hey Jim,

I apologize for confusing you. Honestly, there is so much "lingo", that I'm a friggin lost!! Anyways, I'm more interested in the freight side of it for some reason. I've included the link of the locomotive that I'm interested in. I know I can't find #103, but I'm hoping to get this paint scheme. Bear in mind, I've been searching Lionel high and low, but I don't know much about Atlas or MTH, or others for that matter.

="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:ATSF_DL_in_Kansas.jpg"
 
UP2CSX said:
Lionel does make a Santa Fe FT but, as far as I can tell, it's only available as part of a train set like this one at http://www.oakridgehobbies.com/inde...itan-electric-train-set-with-trainsounds.html. Lionel does make F-3's you buy separately. Is there some reason you really want an FY compared to F-3, which is a very similar looking locomotive?
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I'm good with that locomotive, but I want the freight version, and maybe some other options with color and train companies. It looks like I can't get exactly what I want for colors in Santa Fe. I'd rather go with a set because of price, because buying the freight cars alone will be expensive.

Chris
 


Chris,
Your link doesn't work. Let's try this. Here is a late Santa Fe freight unit scheme:

ATSF335_onCaneBeltbranch_nearGlenFloraTx_June76.jpg


This is an F-3 freight unit still in original condition in 1977 (!) with the "cigar band" paint scheme:

ATSF260c_HBTshops_HoustonTx_March77.jpg


This is an F-7A & B set in the classic Santa Fe Warbonnet scheme:

08250102.jpg


These were the only three schemes in common use on Santa Fe F units. Which is the one you're interested in?
 
The F-3 Santa Fe freight train.

From what I gather, most likely, I'll have to buy the locomotive of my choosing, separate from a set.
 
I'll be damned! It's amazing what you find when you look hard. I found a set of what I like through MTH.
 
Jim, you forgot the Yellow Bonnet.

I got the chance to see a number of the schemes, while at WPM. A modeler there by the name of Tim Furhman, had 6 variations on Santa Fe F's. The 6th version was a CF7 in the book ends scheme.
wpm08_179.jpg

wpm08_180.jpg

wpm08_181.jpg

wpm08_182.jpg

wpm08_183.jpg
 
Chris, where did you find the freight F unit set at MTH? I've looked in their entire catalog and, although they have the Warbonnet F units, I didn't see and cigar band units. MTH is also notorious for advertising things "For Future Release", which can mean in a few months, a year, or never, depending on the amount of pre-orders they get.
 
UP2CSX said:
Chris, where did you find the freight F unit set at MTH? I've looked in their entire catalog and, although they have the Warbonnet F units, I didn't see and cigar band units. MTH is also notorious for advertising things "For Future Release", which can mean in a few months, a year, or never, depending on the amount of pre-orders they get.
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I found it in their 2008 M.T.H. RailKing Train Sets & Accessories, on page 29. It's not exact, but it's close. I've attached the link.

http://204.156.4.221/manuals/oldcats/2008RTRCatalog.pdf
 
OK, I see it in their catalog now but it's the blue bonnet scheme that I showed in my first picture, not the cigar band scheme you asked about and said you wanted. For some reason, it's not available from any of the normal on-line retailers. There's a list at http://www.mth-railking.com/dsearch/detailframe.asp?item=30-4187-1 of dealers that supposedly have it in stock, including MTH. I'd contact one of these shops or MTH quickly if you want this set since the lack of availability on-line means it's probably near sold out.
 
Well this is my first post. I've been reading over Burbs first post "Newbie Looking For Advice". Pretty much in the same boat as you in venturing into this new hobby. Thanks for posting the "Manufacturers vs Manufacturers" one too.

For me, my wife purchased my first train set last Christmas. A LIONEL Santa Fe El Capitan (O scale).

It's a very nice train set. Really impressed with the desiel sounds and look of the engine. However, the only problem I have with it....I would love to add freight cars to it, instead of using the passenger cars (don't get me wrong though, the passenger cars are great).

Nevertheless, I know it's my train, and I can add whatever I want, but I'd like to keep everything in all the historical aspects of the train. I've been told the Santa Fe El Cap was used for freight cars (after the passenger side of the business dwindled away). Unfortunately, I haven't found anything that really flows with it.

Lastly, not to take away from the thread. The passenger cars' lighting can vary pending on the voltage (higher the current, the brighter the lights are). I've been told to look for constant light bulbs to have the constant brightness. Not sure, if this is correct, or if there's more to upgrading this.

But, anyways...just wanted to give my opinion about the Lionel set that someone referenced earlier in the thread.

It's a great set out of the box (coming from a newbie). Only thing, I would like to upgrade a year later... is the lighting and using something other than a transformer to control it.
 


Welcome aboard, 73mph. The Santa Fe did run many F units in the red and silver Warbonnet on freights even during the passenger era. Although the Santa Fe had some F units that were exclusively used for freight service, the Warbonnet's were dual service and hauled freight whenever they weren't on passenger duty.

There are constant lighting units available. The can be run either from track power or batteries. Once that I like is the Ram Track unit at http://www.hobbylinc.com/htm/rmt/rmt131.htm. It's inexpensive and the track power recharges a nicad battery pack so the lights can stay on even when the train is stopped. The lights can be turned on and off by a magnetic wand.
 
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