Large Scale Central

Amtrak Southwest Chief

Prototypes
#1

Put the wife on the Southwest Chief for Chicago and on to Rochester NY. today. I can’t get the video of her coming into Albuquerque to play right now. On the point was P42DC #45, and #46 helping,

#45 looks like she’s been rode hard and put away wet to many times. In really big need of at least a new coat of paint. Here is the builders plate…

I looked her up in a roster and she is a 1996 build with # 49583 #46 helping her looks fresh out of overhaul with a new builders plate. She’s a 1997 build with the next build number #49584

16 years latter there back together again by chance, almost like when they left the factory. One shinny new again, the other well used. BTW. #45 run much quieter then #46 and gave off a lot less smoke. Maybe #46 was still breaking in after a major overhaul?

#2

Nice photo.

Always enjoy seeing the Chief.

#45 looks interesting. New “bolt-o-nose”, but old style headlight surround. It looks like they just removed the headlight shield, but did not give the new headlight shroud.

Just a guess as to why #46 smoked more, but it is possible this loco was providing Head End Power (HEP). I don’t know why, but P42s seem to smoke more upon start ups when providing HEP.

#3

Matt, you back in CO. yet?

#4

Yep, I’m back in CO. We’re out at Vallecito lake (north east of Durango). Today I finished setting up the outdoor layout. The weather has been very cooperative for rehabilitating the layout. But we sure could use some rain as things as super dry. We’re always worried about a fire when conditions get like this. And although the Missionary Ridge fire burned through our property ten years ago, the risk is still there for fire. The smoke from the Little Sand Creek (Pagosa Springs) fire lingers here in the early morning but the daily southwest winds clears the smoke. This evening I saw thick smoke coming from the new Mancos fire. That one looks really bad, but there isn’t much news out on it so I’m not sure how big it is at this point. Here’s a picture I took of the smoke from the Mancos fire (eerily beautiful) :

(http://img515.imageshack.us/img515/2521/firewh.jpg)

#5

Good to have ya back home. Will you get to go to the Large Scalers meet Sun. ? I’ll be there. Hope to see ya. I don’t know why, but I though that you lived in Forest Lakes, but you’re on the East side of the lake proper.