My First HO Frisco Diesel

Discussion in 'Diesel Locomotives' started by Jim James, Mar 23, 2012.

  1. Jim James

    Jim James Staff Member Staff Member

    The SD40-2 has always been my favorite diesel locomotive and of course the Frisco's my favorite railroad. Unfortunately Athearn has discontinued their Frisco SD40-2 but I found one on eBay. Engine #953 new in the box! I must be nuts but I couldn't resist the purchase. Did these ever run through Cape Girardeau? I need to come up with a diorama project to show it off. Lordy, Lordy what am I getting myself into?
     
  2. Coonskin

    Coonskin Member

    You're getting yourself onto a long and slippery slope. First it will be orange/white diesels... then GREEN diesels... then ORANGE and GREEN diesels... the end is tragic beyond words. One our "own" knows this slope well. :D

    Andre
     
  3. Iantha_Branch

    Iantha_Branch Member

    Jim, to my knowledge the SD40-2's tended to stay in Oklahoma, they could also be seen on through trains between St. Louis and Tulsa.

    Some one correct me if I'm wrong

    Ethan
     
  4. gjslsffan

    gjslsffan Staff Member Staff Member

    Jimmy
    First of all My condolences, and congratulations, on your most recent affliction:D:D. Those SD40's, or -2's, or T-2's, are still my favorite Locomotives, with no apologies,:D:D We see very few thru here any more.
    Those Geep 40-2's were the Frisco's best/last locomotives delivered IMHO. But when you needed a grunt, and are in no particular hurry, the SD40-2's would pull their rated tonnage (an all weather puller) those SD40-2's were the locomotive the RR's turned to, time and again.
    They were never expected to perform as well as they did, and still do, for 40+ years.
    If I had a more acute, knowledge of Frisco Steam Locomotives, I would give an example, of the same favored Steam locomotive.
    I will say your recent SD40-2 acquisition, is a triumph:D
    And although may not represent the pentacle of motive power, it is a locomotive, that "in it's day" was indeed "world class" and "worthy" and up to the task, of any assignment.
    If you ever wanted to see a Yard Master with a tear in his eye, then you would see a few of those SD40-2's making some smoke, and pulling every car assigned to the train:).

    My Grandpa, who was a Steam promoted Engineer for the QA&P/SLSF told me that a steam engine would pull more over the road, than it could ever hope to start. But a diesel would always start more than it would ever hope to pull over the road.
    For his working era the 2-10-0 was in his words the engine that would pull "Hell off the Cross", and they did in my opinion win the second World War.
    Please carry on.
    Tom Holley
     
  5. HWB

    HWB FRISCO.org Supporter

  6. renapper (Richard Napper RIP 3/8/2013)

    renapper (Richard Napper RIP 3/8/2013) Passed away March 8, 2013

    The two above pictures show the diesels after the Frisco was gone, so really do not prove anything. Sorry.
     
  7. Jim James

    Jim James Staff Member Staff Member

    I've got the urge to pose it along the flood wall at Cape Girardeau while crossing the bridge just north of the old shoe factory. Nothing big, just a small diorama to display it.
     
  8. meteor910

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

    The Frisco SD40-2's were often seen in and out of St Louis on the Eastern Division, 1979-1980. I don't recall seeing them on the River Division, but I did not often watch trains on the River, except for seeing them leave Lindenwood and make their left turn.

    Ken
     
  9. Jim James

    Jim James Staff Member Staff Member

    I'll have to come up with another idea or just dust off my modeler's license:)
     
  10. meteor910

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

    Enjoy it - it's your railroad!

    K
     
  11. SAFN SAAP

    SAFN SAAP Member

    Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo! [​IMG]
     
  12. Jim James

    Jim James Staff Member Staff Member

    No worries Manny. I just made more fall color trees for the final scene on the Zalma Branch last night. Next is the trestle and water for the Castor River. Early era steam will always be my main passion and focus:) As a matter of fact my #151 project is coming along nicely. Soon I will bash an even earlier 1870s 4-4-0 to represent a loco from the Frisco's beginning years. I would eventually like to have a loco from all periods.
     
  13. friscobob

    friscobob Staff Member Staff Member Frisco.org Supporter

    I have two blue-box Athearn SD40-2s- one factory-painted, the other I custom-detailed & painted myself. I have no regrets about not buying the RTR models.

    As for where the 950s ran, based on where Frisco allowed the SD45s to run, I would think it's not outside the realm of plausibility that SD40-2s could have been on those routes as well. Which would mean if the River Division was able to host 6-axle diesels, one could have seen them there as well.
     
  14. friscobob

    friscobob Staff Member Staff Member Frisco.org Supporter

    BTW, may as well continue your trip in the dark side & spring for a GP7 or three......in B&Y, of course! ;)
     
  15. yardmaster

    yardmaster Administrator Staff Member Administrator Frisco.org Supporter

    Jim, if it makes you feel better, I have a mongrel F7/FP7 that needs some work, along with an SW1500. And, I even think that I've seen Don Wirth in possession of a Baldwin switcher at some point. Judge not, etc. etc.

    Whatever motive power you put on it, I'd enjoy seeing a diorama of the Sloan Creek Bridge...

    http://www.frisco.org/vb/showthread.php?301-Bridges-misc&p=9815#post9815

    It sure seems that River Division power in the 70s was limited to GP38-2, GP38AC and SD45 power. I'd hope that Tim Cannon can clarify and provide confirmation one way or the other.

    Best Regards,
     
  16. Jim James

    Jim James Staff Member Staff Member

    I was thinking of this bridge at the north end of the flood wall. I was there today on lunch break and took some photos. The new casino is being built in the distance as evidenced by the large crane visible.
     

    Attached Files:

    Last edited by a moderator: Mar 26, 2012
  17. klrwhizkid

    klrwhizkid Administrator Staff Member Administrator Frisco.org Supporter

    Last edited by a moderator: Mar 26, 2012
  18. Jim James

    Jim James Staff Member Staff Member

    Oops. I thought Chris meant that bridge down near Smelterville closer to the cement plant.
     
  19. yardmaster

    yardmaster Administrator Staff Member Administrator Frisco.org Supporter

    Jim, no worries. Your photo is much clearer than my photo (taken on 12/26/1994 with a Kodak 35mm "idiot proof" model). I also took some photos of the Cape La Croix bridge in Smelterville:

    http://www.frisco.org/vb/showthread.php?301-Bridges-misc&p=9813#post9813

    It looks like they're shoring up the floodwall up north? I knew they'd replaced some of the floodwall panels down at the foot of Independence & Water, not far from where the old passenger depot stood.

    Best Regards,
     
  20. klrwhizkid

    klrwhizkid Administrator Staff Member Administrator Frisco.org Supporter

    The changes to the floodwall are reinforcements to the joints between the panels. The repair that you mention was the result of a displacement between two panels at a joint during the 1993 flood.

    My how this has drifted off topic.
     

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