On page 26 of the Hofsummer book (sp?), there's a photo of the QA&P motorcar they purchased and employed early on to get the railroad operating so they could apply for bonds (or something like that). It is called an A-3. Does anyone know if there is a brass or plastic model in HO scale that is even close to the prototype? It's pretty cool looking. It has a curved nose, a baggage entrance on the right side near the front, and passenger space behind that. It would be fun to kit bash one or find one from another railroad that was close. Thanks, Paul Moore
Here's a postcard or something I found online that is the same gas electric the AQ&P supposedly bought. It is made by General Electric. Has an HO model ever been made of anything like this? The hard part to kitbash would be the nose. Paul Moore
Hmm, let's me look into this just a bit. I remember an image of this somewhere. Maybe a museum. I don't remember.
It's a pretty typical gas electric, from the looks of it. After doing what research I could, it seems that it is a GE gas electric. Behind the mid body passenger door you can read Quanah Acme & Pacific. The porthole windows next to the door and curved nose are really unique and what make it cool to me. After a couple of hours of research, I've found almost nothing that was even close to this in HO scale...or any other scale, for that matter. The closest doodlebug I've seen is a McKeen Motor Car, and it's not that close--just the nose and pilot. Plus, the one PSC imported a few years ago sells for $1200-$1500!!!!!!!!!!!! Way too rich for my blood!!! Thanks, Paul Moore
That is quite an image Paul, Makes me wonder if the Matador RR was in service as well at this time. Talk about hard folks back then. Look at pictures and almost no one was smiling. I appreciate the that. Not much to smile about.
MoPac had one of these GE gas-electrics. Found this write-up online (apologize for not having the credit/link)... "Vol 42 of Electric Railway Journal dated Oct 4, 1913 shows that the MP received this unit in May 1912 for use between Butler Mo and Madison Ks. Missouri & North Arkansas received two of these in Sept 1912 for use Eureka Springs to Joplin and Heber Springs to Helena. Frisco had as many as 14 of this class."
We've definitely got it easy compared to what people had to deal with 100 years ago. When working on projects on the property I often think, "what would this be like with no power tools?" Paul Moore
Thanks for that post. It's good to establish a pattern of who had these gas electrics and to see other photos of the unit. Helps to know where I might look for a model of something other than Frisco that might work. Many of the gas electrics on the ATSF and other lines pulled a single coach behind the gas electric. I wonder if the GE units were used that way? If someone were to try kitbashing one, the only thing I can think of for the nose is the rear of a streamlined observation car. Paul Moore
Smiling was actively discouraged by photographers. Exposure times were relatively long--as long as several minutes, and movement ruined the shot, and the shots were expensive. A straight face is easier to hold than a smile. Photographers actually had stands and neck braces for children (sort of like a one-sided iron maiden) to keep them from moving.