Frisco E8B Colors and road Numbers

Discussion in 'N Scale' started by nkpsteam779, Nov 21, 2010.

  1. nkpsteam779

    nkpsteam779 Member

    Does anyone have road numbers for E8B's on the the Frisco.

    Steven H.
     
  2. gstout

    gstout Member Frisco.org Supporter

    Sorry to break the news, and I hope you didn't invest in a fleet of scale model E8B units, but the Frisco did not own any E8B units (or E7B units either, for that matter). All the E-units were numbered in the 2000 series, with units 2000-2005 being E7As and 2006-2022 being E8s. The E7 units were remodeled in the early 1950s to more closely resemble the E8s.

    Greg Stout
     
  3. Karl

    Karl 2008 Engineer of the Year Frisco.org Supporter

    For the modeler who might wish to include E-8B's on his roster, I would number them in the 2100 class. This would follow the pattern set by the diesel freight units.

    EMD F3,7,9 A's were numbered 5000's
    The EMD F, B units were numbered in the 5100's

    The ALCO FA were numbered 5200's
    The ALCO FB 5300's

    Likewise those modelers who might wish to include ALCO PA's and PB's in their roster, numbering them in the 2200's and 2300's respectively, would be consistant with what the Frisco had done previously.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Jul 3, 2011
  4. meteor910

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

    Karl's suggestions make a lot of sense.

    The next question is ..... would an E8B, a PA, or a PB have received racehorse names?

    I'd guess no on the E8B and PB, but likely yes on a PA.

    I've had a Frisco E8B under construction here for several years - it's one of my projects that is stalled. Some day we'll get there - it will be a 21xx something road number. No horse name.

    Ken
     
  5. TAG1014 (Tom Galbraith RIP 7/15/2020)

    TAG1014 (Tom Galbraith RIP 7/15/2020) Passed Away July 15, 2020 Frisco.org Supporter

    I can imagine that PA's would have been named, E-8B's or PB's probably not.

    Tom
     
  6. gstout

    gstout Member Frisco.org Supporter

    Further to all this, and despite the efforts of model manufacturers which make it seem otherwise, E8 and E9 "B" units were comparitively rare, with only 39 E8B and 44 E9B units built (compared to 518 "A" units fo both models). "B" unit purchasers included Union Pacific (most of 'em), Baltimore & Ohio, Illinois Central, Milwaukee Road and a few others. Many of the UP units were sold to the North Western after passenger service wound down and were converted into "Crandall cabs" (so named for their designer) and placed into commuter service.

    Greg Stout
     
  7. klrwhizkid

    klrwhizkid Administrator Staff Member Administrator Frisco.org Supporter

    In response to Ken's question the possible names of E8B units, I would suggest the names of second place horses from the Kentucky Derby. After all, they were the ones running behind the leader :D.

    Or they could be named after any famous horse, especially since the E8As were named after famous horses in general, not just race horses.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Jul 4, 2011
  8. myopiceagle

    myopiceagle Member

    On the subject of painting and modeling E8 Racehorses, I'm wanting to add a couple of these units to my 'stable' as well. A Life Like unit seems the easiest way to go, but they are becoming a rarity on Ebay, and simply do not exist on the regular hobby sites. I did find one at the train show in Bentonville, AR this past spring, but the vendor selling it wanted $100.00 for it...which was insane in my opinion.

    The option to paint and decal one looks increasingly difficult due to Microscale discontinuing their Racehorse decals.

    So, what do we have to do to convince Broadway Limited to release on of their superb E8's in Frisco livery? I would pay the money to have one of those units with DCC, sound & crisp Frisco paint running around my pike.
     
  9. DanHyde

    DanHyde Member

    Another 2 cents worth. I just purchased a can of spray paint from the Switch Stand here in St. Louis called " Texas Special Red"
    I asked about it, and Roscoe said it is the same color that Lionel uses on their " Texas Special" F units they produce. It is a larger can [ 8 oz.?] for $7.89, not bad at all. The company producing it is called:
    Charles C. Wood & Co. , Hartford, Ohio. phone # 330-772-5177
    I have not yet tried it, but my large scale E unit will shortly! When I get a few coats on, photos will follow.
    Dan
     
  10. klrwhizkid

    klrwhizkid Administrator Staff Member Administrator Frisco.org Supporter

    Ethan, the older two releases of Proto 2000 E8s are all good models of the Frisco E8s, good running locomotives and are heavy enough to pull a long string of cars. The prices you have been seeing on ebay are basically the retail price from 10+ years ago. Tsunami sound can be added to them and as Terry Jankowski (tmfrisco) and Rick McClellan (rick mcclellan) will attest, they can sound really good. If you, or anyone on this forum, acquire one and want sound in it, I can offer my services for a clean, first class installation.

    Proto 2000 has re-introduced E8s, but none in the Frisco scheme. The chassis has been changed and does not weigh as much, but installing Tsunami sound in them is very simple compared to the original releases.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Jul 3, 2011
  11. Rancho Bob

    Rancho Bob Member

    Gee, I know I'm going to get it from everyone, but could we all agree once and for all that all the Frisco E units were NOT racehorses.... just famous horses? True "many" of them are, but Champion, Traveller, Commanche, and Truxton - for ex, were not. Thanks. I seemed to have made a career out of setting this straight all over the place. This would the LAST place I'd expect to see the urban legend perpetuated.

    Ok..done with the sermon.

    Rancho Bob
    aka
    Buck Dean
    Jacksonville
     
  12. meteor910

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

    Buck - Quite true, but ..... "Racehorses" was one of the two popular nicknames for the Frisco's E-units when they carried horse names. "Redbirds" was the other, but not here in StL - we have another bunch of Redbirds in town.

    We produced a list of each unit's horse name with the background of the individual horses - it's in Lou Marre's FDP book, p 79 (though there is an error on 2013, Sea Biscuit). I could post it on frisco.org if desired. Most of them were indeed racehorses - 17 racehorses out of the 24 names used by my count. The others were military horses or horses of famous people, etc.

    Frisco "Racehorse" E-units they are!

    Ken
     
  13. meteor910

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

    Attached is the listing of Frisco E-units with their horse names and the background of each horse. Note SLSF 2013, Sea Biscuit, has been corrected (after seeing the movie!)

    A .pdf format file is attached.

    Ken
     

    Attached Files:

  14. Rancho Bob

    Rancho Bob Member

    Yeah....thanks, Ken. Got my $1.296 worth in but what is definitely more important is the fact that among the postwar passenger diesel fleet, the FRISCO units were not only most striking, but classiest with these names. During my first iteration of HO... I had 10 Trains, Inc. E8's repowered with can motors and all detailed up. #2012, Flying Ebony, was my favorite.

    I always thought it was interesting that the Dupont color for the original "gold" color was called "Metallic Chrome".

    R Bob
     
  15. TAG1014 (Tom Galbraith RIP 7/15/2020)

    TAG1014 (Tom Galbraith RIP 7/15/2020) Passed Away July 15, 2020 Frisco.org Supporter

    That "Metalli-Chrome" color was a mix of gold and silver and it's evident in the early color photos, especially after the white outline stripes were applied. It was a "dusty" gold color.

    Tom
     
  16. myopiceagle

    myopiceagle Member

    I should have clarified this in my earlier post, but my suggestion was to have BLI introduce an N scale version of a Frisco E8. Although, an HO version would not be a bad idea either. How long has it been since Life Like produced their last run of Frisco E8's in N scale? Since before I returned to the hobby, 4-5 years? Longer? It's time for someone to pickup the torch and make another run of these classy machines.
     
  17. myopiceagle

    myopiceagle Member

    FYI, I submitted a question to Broadway Limited inquiring about the possibility of the Frisco's E8's making it in a future run. I received a reply from Matt Williamson at BLI. He informed me that they do not have any current plans for a run in Frisco livery, but he requested I send photos of the prototype and he would see if they might be worked into a future run. Not really anything to hang one's hopes on, but still, someone may bite on it.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Jul 20, 2011
  18. mktjames

    mktjames Member

    I do many modeling projects backwards and painted my Texas Special E7 and E8 with Krylon fusion for plastic color # 2328 Red Pepper / Safety Red. I then bought the Hallmark Texas Special and the color match is right on. Sometimes you do get lucky.
    mktjames
     

Share This Page