GE 45-Ton SLSF 11 - AT&N 11 - Alabama, Tennessee and Northern - Blakely Island - Mobile Bay

Discussion in '44 and 45 Ton' started by Rick Morgan, Jan 27, 2007.

  1. Rick Morgan

    Rick Morgan Member

    GE 45-ton SLSF 11

    The Blakely Island car float operation, with 45-ton SLSF 11 working cars on the float "Pinto", Mobile Bay, Mobile River, Mobile, AL.

    Former Alabama, Tennessee and Northern, AT&N 11.

    October 9, 1978.

    Rick Morgan
     

    Attached Files:

    Last edited by a moderator: Feb 15, 2024
  2. Rick Morgan

    Rick Morgan Member

    Frisco's GE 45-ton SLSF 11 works the slip at Blakely Island across from Mobile, AL

    October 9, 1978.

    Rick Morgan
     

    Attached Files:

    Last edited by a moderator: Feb 16, 2024
  3. friscomike

    friscomike Administrator Staff Member Administrator Frisco.org Supporter

    Last edited by a moderator: Feb 16, 2024
  4. Karl

    Karl 2008 Engineer of the Year Frisco.org Supporter

    Mike,

    See page 37 of Marre's and Sommer's Frisco in Color.

    There is a nice shot of SW-1 SLSF 10, and the idler flat car SLSF 109322.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Feb 16, 2024
  5. friscomike

    friscomike Administrator Staff Member Administrator Frisco.org Supporter

    Cool, thanks Karl!

    Mike
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Feb 16, 2024
  6. friscomike

    friscomike Administrator Staff Member Administrator Frisco.org Supporter

    The little 45-ton arrived yesterday.

    I will take it apart this week to figure out which sound unit to put in, and how to do it. Later, I will post photographs of the sound installation and finished model. The GE will need a paint job too, since it arrived in yellow. The coonskin will be an interesting challenge.

    Thanks again for details and help.

    Mike
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Feb 16, 2024
  7. meteor910

    meteor910 2009 Engineer of the Year Staff Member Frisco.org Supporter

    Mike,

    I have a picture of SLSF 11 that shows it coupled to the same flat car as Karl referenced above with SLSF 10 in the Marre/Sommers book, p37, namely SLSF 109322.

    In fact, the car looks just the way it looks on the SLSF 10 picture in the book. Note the drum mounted on the car deck.

    Wonder what is in it?

    Also note the stakes mounted in the first stake brackets on the side at the front end of the car. They must have been an aid to the engineer for locating the front of the car in tight spaces. These features are clear in my picture as well.

    Let us all keep sharing ideas with the group as we try to figure what is worth doing to the Bachmann 45-ton to make it a credible SLSF 11.

    So far, my 45-ton is just sitting on a siding looking at me. I have the black version with yellow rails. I have no idea yet on what I will attempt to do. In fact, I have yet to finish the decal work on the Bachmann 44-ton as SLSF 8 - the "smoker".

    Just returned to St. Louis yesterday from a long weekend in Olathe to celebrate our granddaughter's 1st birthday. Great fun.

    And, there sure is a lot of BNSF action running through Olathe these days, on both the ATSF and SLSF lines. UP is on the SLSF line frequently as well.

    Ken
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Feb 16, 2024
  8. friscomike

    friscomike Administrator Staff Member Administrator Frisco.org Supporter

    Howdy,

    After some research, I opted for the LOKsound micro 3.5 decoder # 72843.

    It is supposed to be for the GE 44-ton, and the 44-tob and 45-ton motors are very close in bore and stroke. There were two motors in the 44-tonner, too. The ESU clip sounds terrific. See the link below and scroll down to GE 44-ton.

    http://www.esu.eu/index.php?id=346&L=2

    I have installed quite a few Soundtraxx systems in both steam and diesels but have no experience with LOKsound. We will see how it goes. I will do my best to chronicle the installation here.

    As a distraction, I am still focusing on a structure build that has taken me a year, so I will not be able to dedicate much time on the 45-ton until it is finished next month.

    Best,

    Mike
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Feb 16, 2024
  9. friscomike

    friscomike Administrator Staff Member Administrator Frisco.org Supporter

    Howdy,

    The logo on the 45-ton looks like it is red and gold.

    Is that correct?

    Best,

    Mike
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Feb 16, 2024
  10. Karl

    Karl 2008 Engineer of the Year Frisco.org Supporter

    I believe that the coonskins that graced the sides were the "Scotch-Lite" decal stickers.

    They were found on motorcars and other pieces of equipment.

    They were red and gold.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Feb 16, 2024
  11. meteor910

    meteor910 2009 Engineer of the Year Staff Member Frisco.org Supporter

    Early on SLSF 11 carried a small "AT&N" in a coonskin outline on the cab sides.

    See page 31 in the Marre/Harper book Frisco Diesel Power.

    I presume this was in yellow, like the numbering.

    Later, and for most of its SLSF life, it carried the red and gold coonskin that Karl has noted above.

    I'm still wondering how we are going to model either of these coonskin heralds on the cab sides of the Bachmann GE 45-ton puppy?

    I wonder if Tom Stolte would do an itty-bitty coonskin herald in red and gold in his Oddballs line?

    Ken
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Feb 16, 2024
  12. friscomike

    friscomike Administrator Staff Member Administrator Frisco.org Supporter

    Howdy,

    I have a buddy at the train club who said he will make us some red and gold decals.

    I need to get their size figured out, then have a go at designing them.

    Best,

    Mike
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Feb 16, 2024
  13. Karl

    Karl 2008 Engineer of the Year Frisco.org Supporter

    Mike,

    I think that I might be able to find a full-sized Scotch-Lite decal for a reference.

    I am in frigid, -4 degrees this morning, Kansas City at the moment.

    I may be able to post something after the end of the year.

    Merry Christmas to all!

    KEB
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Feb 16, 2024
  14. friscomike

    friscomike Administrator Staff Member Administrator Frisco.org Supporter

    Howdy,

    I received the LokSound decoder today.

    It is really small and will fit easily in the locomotive. The included speaker is larger than the decoder and will not fit in the speaker holder cast into the floor. The cast enclosure is only .6", way too small. I have a few ideas and will work on them in the next week or so.

    On decals, if the decal was Scotchlite, one of the red and white diesel decals might work or be good enough.

    Best,

    Mike
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Feb 16, 2024
  15. yardmaster

    yardmaster Administrator Staff Member Administrator Frisco.org Supporter

    Karl,

    Let me know if you do not run across yours.

    I am pretty sure I have a small "reflective" red and gold sticker in an "odds-n-ends file" out in the garage. It i only 3 inches across and has a gold border near the edge. If nothing else, maybe someone will know its origins.

    Suddenly, 1 above in Columbia, MO while scraping ice this morning suddenly does not seem too bad! :)

    It is a good incentive to keep working on the layout so that my mornings of coaxing and cursing the car to start will not be for nothing.

    Stay warm!

    Best Regards,
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Feb 16, 2024
  16. Karl

    Karl 2008 Engineer of the Year Frisco.org Supporter

    My brother had a couple of the big ones.

    They are 12" x 6" over the extreme dimensions.

    Images will follow.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Feb 16, 2024
  17. Karl

    Karl 2008 Engineer of the Year Frisco.org Supporter

    Attached are photos of a 6 inch and a 12 inch Scotch-Lite decal.

    I believe that the GE 45-ton SLSF 11 used the 12 inch decal.

    Also attached is a drawing of the Frisco "Monogram" or herald as used on freight cars.

    It might be useful for producing a good scale decal.
     

    Attached Files:

    Last edited by a moderator: Feb 16, 2024
  18. yardmaster

    yardmaster Administrator Staff Member Administrator Frisco.org Supporter

    Neat stuff, Karl.

    Wonder if these made the Paint Shop's job easier, or if it was more of a headache to get them on straight?

    The small sticker is identical to one someone in Chaffee gave me when I was in high school.

    While off-topic, I wonder what their use would have been?

    I am just glad I did not decide to peel off the backing and put it on a school binder.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Feb 16, 2024
  19. friscomike

    friscomike Administrator Staff Member Administrator Frisco.org Supporter

    Yahoo, cool stuff.

    Now, let me see what I can do about decals.

    Best,

    Mike
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Feb 16, 2024
  20. friscomike

    friscomike Administrator Staff Member Administrator Frisco.org Supporter

    Karl, about the ruler.

    Just kidding.

    Thanks again,

    Mike
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Feb 16, 2024

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