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The Last of . . . The RailKing O Gauge Alco PA-1 Diesel Locomotive Passenger SetUnique Santa Fe Gold Bonnet Livery
Each of these items can be ordered through any M.T.H. Authorized Retailer or by contacting the M.T.H. Sales Dept. at 410-381-2580. About the Alco PA-1 Santa Fe Gold Bonnet Scheme The PA was Alco's glamour girl. While Electro-Motive's E-units easily beat Alco's passenger engine in terms of popularity, the PA is widely regarded as the most beautiful first-generation diesel - period. Perhaps no other locomotive looked so right at the head of the streamlined trains of the late forties and fifties that were the last hurrah of American long-distance passenger service. The 294 PA's and cabless PB's built between 1946 and 1953 powered some of America's most famous name trains, from the Pennsylvania's Broadway Limited to the New Haven's Merchants' Limited. The muscular PA profile and its elegant nose, with the characteristic grille around the headlight, were designed by Ray Patten, General Electric's head of industrial design. At the time, GE and Alco were partners in the locomotive business, with GE making the electrical equipment for all Alco diesels. Patten's design was described as "a locomotive so distinctive and so powerful looking that it actually helps railroads sell their services to passengers and shippers." Under the hood of the PA beat a 16-cylinder model 244 prime mover that developed 2000 hp. Depending on their gearing, PA's could hustle a passenger consist along at up to 100 mph. In February of 1960, General Electric had the Santa Fe repaint PA 53 in gold to assist GE in a sales promotion campaign dubbed "Golden Values" that was aimed at the Southern California market. Partnered with a baggage car and three lounge cars - similarly attired with gold trucks - the train moved between Los Angeles, Pasadena, San Bernardino, Fullerton, and San Diego during the campaign. Once the promotion concluded, the train's colors were restored to Santa Fe's classic red warbonnet. Long after all other PA's had gone to scrap, four restored ex-Santa Fe units remained in service on the Delaware & Hudson into the late 1970s. Sold to the Ferrocarriles Nacionales de Mexico (FNM) in 1978, most of the units eventually deteriorated to junk status, although one remained operational. But in April of 2000, Doyle McCormack - who also happened to be the engineer of 4449, the restored Southern Pacific Daylight - and the Smithsonian Institution repatriated two of the junked units for rebuilding. Hurry Before They're Gone, Just Five Or Fewer Of These O Gauge Items Remain In StockSeptember 9, 2020 - Each week, M.T.H. releases product lists spotlighting quantities of Five Or Fewer Premier and RailKing items that are remaining in our onhand inventory. In many cases, these items will NOT be re-run in the future and these lists could be your last chance for ordering them before they're GONE FOR GOOD. Don't miss out on these items! Click on the appropriate product line link below and then any item number in the corresponding list to purchase that item from the M.T.H. Online Store or order directly from your local M.T.H. Authorized Retailer. |
2020 Volume 2 O Gauge Catalog Now OnlineOrder items through any M.T.H. Authorized Retailer or by contacting the M.T.H. Sales Dept. at 410-381-2580. Exclusive Auctioneer Selected For M.T.H. Archive SaleM.T.H. Electric Trains has selected Cabin Fever Auctions as the auction company to liquidate select contents of M.T.H.'s 124,000 sq. ft. Maryland warehouse. The first auction is September 26, 2020, and can be previewed online by visiting the auction preview listing. Watch For More Auction Listings www.CabinFeverAuctions.com |
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