Model Forum / General / Railroads / November 2004

What you're looking for are the F7's in the later-years AT&SF paint
schemes known as the Blue Warbonnet or the Yellow Warbonnet.

If you are into HO scale, I believe (but my be wrong) that Athearn had
produced both in their blue-box line.

Nope, you're in the right place.

Cool!  Daddy likes trains too, I hope...

When you say yellow, d'you mean blue and yellow?  Or silver and
yellow?  Have a look at this:
<http://www.carrtracks.com/txcf7ndx.htm>  and this
<http://www.atsfrr.net/resources/funits/alb19.htm> and tell us if
that's the style of thing you're looking for.

You're welcome, and Welcome!

You've come to the right place.

....

Sounds like a Union Pacific E or F type engine. E types were used for
passenger trains (with cool yellow and grey cars), F types were used for
both passenger and freight. Santa Fe and about a hundr4d other railroads
had these. They have rounded noses, the first models had square windows
on the sides, the later ones had round ones.

Sounds like a Delaware and Hudson PA type engine, used for passenger
trains. Santa Fe had this type, too, but AFAIK used only red and silver
on theirs. But D&H did imitate the Santa Fe paint job in blue and
silver, which IMO looks even better - I compliment your son on  his
taste. :-) I have a set made by Athearn, they are very nice. IIRC, Proto
2000 (a brand of LifeLike trains) is offering these. Google "Proto 2000"
to get to their website. Street price ahould be about 20-30% below
listed price.

For a wider search, google "Union Pacific diesel HO" and "Delaware and
Hudson Diesel HO", and you should find what you're looking for.

However, I _strongly_ advise you to look for a hobby shop nearby - even
if "nearby" turns out to be a 1 to 2 hour drive. Seeing what's
available, and getting advice from a knowledgable staff person is very
valuable. And if the shop ius located in or near a decent mall, your
wife should find the excursion worthwhile too. :-)

Also, if you tell us your home town, and ask for contacts, I'm sure that
someone will get in touch with you. You'll also get advice on the hobby
shops in your area. Model railroading is not only a family hobby, it's
(for most people) a very sociable hobby. Model railroaders generally
love to help newbies. Personal contact is much better than the 'net,
trust me.

And I suggest you look for Model Railroader and Railroad Model Craftsman
on the more comprehensive magazine racks in your area. Loads of ads,
including website addresses.

Since your son is so young, you will have to build the layout for him,
but he is not too young to turn the knob and make the trains go. My
grandsons and -daughters were willing and able to do that at about 2-1/2
years of age. (Only one was bit hard by the bug, though.) The younger
you get them active, the more careful they are with the trains. Around 4
years of age, they can learn to put a car on the track.

Have fun!

You can search many manufacturers at the Walthers site:
http://www.walthers.com/exec/page/search
-- Bill McC.