Nostalgia & History > Warbonnet Wednesday: #7 Edition

Last week, santafe 199 posted a wonderful shot of PA's leading "The Fast Mail," ATSF #7, out of Hutchinson, KS.
He accompanied that post with the usual slobbering over the PA's. Now, when talking about these Alco monsters,
we need to remember the words of David P. Morgan: "In spite of our oft expressed affection for the PA, deep in
our hearts, we know nothing beats the clean lines of an E." (This probably isn't exact, but it's pretty close.)
And while the PA's were often seen leading #7 and #8, as often as not, there was a quartet of F's on the point.
Witness these scenes from 1967 at Trinidad, CO, as #7 arrives for a station stop. I was particularly glad to
get these because it was the only "pure" ABBA set I got in the four hours and five trains I saw. Now, F's aren't E's,
but they still look as good as PA's. That's my story and I'm sticking to it!!!

As an extra, I'm including a shot of the coach that you could ride, according to accounts I've read, on this
unique train.


Nick Tharalson,
Marion, IA

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ntharalson Wrote:
> ...the usual slobbering over the PA's...

I certainly didn't originate the slobbering over PAs, and no way will I be the last to slobber over PAs. But my slobber should have sounded more like it was about #7 & #8 WITH the accompanying PAs. Wait a sec... Come to think of it, I'll slobber over just about ANYTHING Red & Silver. It's a sickness I highly recommend!

BTW: I'm also slobbering over your 2nd shot! The "away" composition of the A-B-B-B*-A consist, punctuated with the giant circle-cross on the express box is absolutely killer! [drool, slurp-slurp]

(anybody got a napkin?)

*is this better, Alex?



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/23/14 10:46 by santafe199.

everybody loves the PA's but you won't have to sell me on passenger F's

In the 1966-1967 years, the power we "pooled" with PAs on #7 and #4 and the F3-F7s on #3 and #8. wag216

































34a

santafe199 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> ntharalson Wrote:
> > ...the usual slobbering over the PA's...
>
> I certainly didn't originate the slobbering over
> PAs, and no way will I be the last to slobber over
> PAs. But my slobber should have sounded more like
> it was about #7 & #8 WITH the accompanying PAs.
> Wait a sec... Come to think of it, I'll slobber
> over just about ANYTHING Red & Silver. It's a
> sickness I highly recommend!
>
> BTW: I'm also slobbering over your 2nd shot! The
> "away" composition of the A-B-B-A consist,
> punctuated with the giant circle-cross on the
> express box is absolutely killer!

Looks like an A-B-B-B-A consist. Even better. Most loco consists were 5 or even 6 F units by this time.
>
> (anybody got a napkin?)

ATSF3751 Wrote:
> Looks like an A-B-B-B-A consist...

After a closer look, you're right. I was going off of Nick's dialog...

Lance

santafe199 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> ATSF3751 Wrote:
> > Looks like an A-B-B-B-A consist...
>
> After a closer look, you're right. I was going off
> of Nick's dialog...
>
> Lance


I remember four, but looking at the photo, it could well be five.
Either way, it was the only "pure" consist I got in the four
passenger trains I saw.

Nick Tharalson,
Marion, IA