Well ok, maybe one or two, some lasted into the 50's. I said I could do without but if one comes along I won't say no, my line of thinking was that if a model was produced commercially a 2-8-0 or small 2-10-2 that could also be used on local freights would be more useful and cover a wider range of eras. Several were kept in reserve for switching duties almost till the end of steam to replace diesel switchers sent to California during the perishable season. 2535 was rebuilt from an ex KCM&O 2-8-0, a reasonable facsimile could be made from a Spectrum 2-8-0 with a modified tender, lasted until March '52. I'll pass on the 4-6-0s as Santa Fe's last one was retired in October 1938, a bit early for the era I'm thinking of.
Hello Westfalen, it indeed sounds as if the situation for an ATSF roster is less good than it is for the NP. I guess that most rosters will require some amount of kitbashing, changing tenders, cabs and modifying boilers to achieve an amount of "accuracy" that is satisfying to the individual modeller (goals and skills will clearly vary). The results might only be representative, again depending on goals and skills, but yet again if somebody applies better modelling skills than I posess the results might be highly accurate. My point is that today we have a better chance to get to a roster that can support a full ops session, as there is more variety in the models that we can use as starting points for kitbashes or stand-ins until time and skill materialize to do a kitbash. For example I am quite sure that some ATSF engines could be kitbashed: If I look at a picture of Pacific 1224 it appears that the Model Power is a reasonable good starting point. Changes could be made to the trailing truck and cab: this would already go a long way to make it resemble 1224. Additional changes to the boiler (height of the domes, piping) and adding the number boards on the boiler would yield a model that would be recognizable (at least at 3-feet) as an ATSF Pacific. Again, goals and skills vary: Some might only need one engine, so they could to a very detailed job. Some need a fleet to support a vast operating session, so they might decide to stay with more representative models. But without the MP Pacific as a starting point we would either have to scratchbuild (much more daunting) or live with engines that would not even be remotely close. I think that now is the best time ever to explore if the current steam offerings allows to start modelling a steam roster or a steam ops session, though the way to get there might be more difficult for some railroads than it is for others. Cheers Dirk
