Howdy folks, How about posting photos of your favorite Frisco model including locomotives, rolling stock, structures, etc. Have fun and lets see your fav, mike
It's a close tie, but I like my B30-7 the most, followed by my SD45 and SD40-2. I also like the work train I have started putting together. I think it would be nice to see an O&W GP7 pulling it, but I use what ever at the moment.
Nice engines Ethan! Looks like you've got the R-W diesel era on the Frisco nailed. Do you run your engines mutiliple? I see them coupled together in the one photo. Tom G.
Yes I do. As as soon as I get the problems solved with my DCC system I can get back to operating. Ethan
You always remember your first. During the middle sixties, Athearn didn't produce any Frisco rolling stock. That is until this yellow, dbl-door box appeared on the shelves of Spotlight Model Railroad in KC. Strictly a fantasy model, it was the first Frisco model that I purchased; the cost of the model, Kadee couplers, and the ACI label decals required the proceeds from two lawn mowing jobs.
Not much, but my fleet of Frisco tenders is increasing. All are PFM Russian 2-10-0 tenders, with the exception of one Hallmark 2-8-0 tender. I'm always hunting for these.
Karl--Atlas carried on the fantasy in N scale. Atlas had a similar 50' yellow double door "Frisco" boxcar imported from (I believe) Yugoslavia in the early days of N scale. Tom G.
Hi Fellas, Here is my vote. These are a pair of Athearn "blue box" diesels in the O&W Frisco paint scheme. One is a SD40-2, and the other is a GP38-2. Both have custom painted hand rails. I bought these back in 2002 at my local hobby store. The SD40-2 was the first kit loco I ever built. I have removed the typical metal strip and re-wired the motor with size 22 wire. It runs surprisingly smooth with only a slight "growl" which is Athearn's trademark. George
I also have more than one favorite. My AMB Laser Kit Frisco wood caboose and my scratchbuilt Zalma combination depot. I still have to add the marker lamps on my caboose. I may just install them tonight. The depot is my favorite scratchbuilding project.
Like Karl, I remember my "first" Frisco kits as my favorites. They certainly aren't up to the standards we enjoy today, and are not totally prototypical, but back then (1960's) Frisco decorated kits were quite rare. The first three pics are all Silver Streak kits, wood with metal parts, and were popular back then. The Frisco three-window cab and the Frisco double-sheathed 40-ft box car were two that I have kept through the years for sentimental reasons. They provided a lot of fun and we ran the dickens out of them. All of these old guys are on replacement trucks now. Yes, the three-window cab is too short, and yes it should not have a radio antenna - back then, I put antennas on everything! It also has been repainted from the Silver Streak kit Frisco decor. The DS box still carries its stock Silver Streak decoration, not bad! A third Silver Streak, which I talked about a few weeks back, is the very first HO kit I ever built - the MP drovers caboose, which I later repainted into Frisco colors and have run ever since. Another pic of it is also shown. These guys are approaching 50 years old. Then, while in Cincinnati in 1974, I see two Athearn Blue Box kits coming out in Frisco colors! Wow - the Frisco made it into the big league! The original Athearn BB Frisco 40-ft Box car, SLSF 147053, is shown still wearing its Athearn decoration. Shortly thereafter, Athearn brought out a BB 34-ft two-bay hopper, which I still have around here someplace. That one sold very well for Athearn, and alerted them, and others, to the potential popularity of Frisco cars. There also was an early Roundhouse yellow plug door box car, and a Varney plastic 40-ft double door box car, but alas those two are long gone from my rails. Things Frisco have gotten a lot better since, but these "oldies" still hold a warm spot in my Frisco memories. Mainline Models and Ulrich were two other model manufacturers that offered a few Frisco kits in the 1960's. A few years ago I bought all three of the Mainline kits (a 36-ft stock car, a 50-ft outside braced DD box car, and a 40-ft double sheathed box car) but have never built them. Ken
Here's my favorite Frisco model photo, NW-2 #256 switching out the "Redbirds" from the "Kansas City-Florida Special" after their arrival in Birmingham one afternoon in 1962. Enjoy. Ken McElreath
No, not in Newburg. It is Rolla Hobby Shop in Rolla, Missouri. It's only 5 miles from Newburg. It is run by Ken Trossen. I have known Ken since 1968. His parents used to have an HO layout in the window of their hobby shop that used the old fashioned Atlas brass track. It had model airplanes and helicopters hanging from the ceiling, model cars in the display cases, slot cars, trains, and a display case filled with WWII tanks. I would always be in awe at all the neat stuff when my Dad and I would go in to visit. In fact, it was my interaction with Ken and his father that has given me a lifetime of fond memories of my childhood. George
Yeah, It used to be at 6th and Pine on the corner up from the old Powell's Lumber Yard building. It is still on Pine St, but has moved up to 11th and Pine next to the old Western Auto building and across from the old Woolworth store. Sadly, Ken hasn't the room to carry as much as his Dad did so he has to special order most of his stock for his customers. Last time I was in there he was commenting on how much the railroading hobby has died off now that RC models have became so popular. He said the internet has really hit the little guy hard and he can't compete with it anymore, so instead of a large (and COSTLY) store inventory he just carries the basics like track, rolling stock, scenery items, and a FEW locomotives. George
My favorite Frisco model, HHMM, man thats kinda like asking which kid is the favorite But if I had to choose, I would have to say this GP7 is the favorite. For one thing it is the only picture of my Grandfather pulling a throttle, and it happens to be the Frisco 517. One of my fondest memories is of riding around with him (back when you could do that kind of thing) in the cab and pulling on the whistle rope, they had to drag me kicking and screaming off that engine. Thanks Tom Holley|-|
Tom, I felt the same way about the Reader RR's little 2-6-2 when my father would take me down to the refinery when they were switching the tank cars around. BTW - That 517 that you have there is beautiful! I'd have to say that it is my favorite Frisco loco too.
Thanks Sherrel, That old Geep was great but steam! Switching with the old man, that would have been awesome. Did you get to fly your dad anywhere? Regards Tom Holley
So now we all know what REALLY happened to D.B.Cooper after he baled out of that 727. He bought a Frisco Geep! George
Thanks George, The FBI did contact my Grandpa several times, no kidding He was on a train when that "whole other thing" took place. But it was on more than one occasion, a conversation starter Thanks Tom Holley
