I think it was a rare loco, the Long Island and the NYC had them. The A-1-A truck was cause of weight from the steam boiler in the rear. Odd looking loco, I had some UP ones in N-scale back in the day, and yeah, horrible runners! True to life, I guess....
Kurt is correct, regarding the A1A truck on the rear. The New Haven also owned some. Personally, I think it's a good looking locomotive (the prototype, that is). Sadly, the only models of it available in N Scale were made by Atlas/Rivarossi, and as others have mentioned, they are poor runners. As a teen, I was tricked into buying one at a swap meet. Lesson learned! What I HAVE done is buy a couple, cheap, online recently. My plan is to recreate the F-M Demonstrator paint scheme for these, and remotor the chassis if possible. That way, I can have them pull whatever train I choose, on the layout. That's why I like the demonstrator paint schemes. Example: Even if the Rock Island never had F-M Trainmasters, I can say "they are testing them here". My railroad, my rules (as should be the same rule #1 for all fellow model railroaders).
I forgot to mention...and you guys probably already know this...but the official designation for the B-A1A version of the Fairbanks Morse C-Liner was CPA24-5. Consolidation line, passenger unit, A unit, 2400 HP, 5 axles. I have a t-shirt with one on it, in the demonstrator scheme. Occasionally people will comment on it at train shows. "Hey, that locomotive has 2 axles up front, and 3 in the back. What gives?"
You like that color? True. But the CLC built some five axle C-Liners under license that had 1600 horses, and half of them lacked cabs. CPA16-5 and CPB16-5 http://www.railpictures.ca/wp-conte...ill-Thomson-IMG-930es-despec-ctrst-shrpr1.jpg
I DO like that color, acptulsa! Almost reminiscent of the NP Loewy scheme...almost. It seems that F-M went with a lot of color variations on their demonstrators over the years. As for the CPA16-5 and CPB16-5 versions, thank you for the information! I always learn something in these forums.
The large cabinets where our military computer main frames were housed, some fifty years ago, were painted the same color. We used to call it "Institutional Green". I even had the pleasure of applying a few coats to those and other things around the base. Also, it was used in many a civilian application. Such as the grade school I attended, where the restrooms and lunch room were that shade of bleh. I have also seen that color inside many, many depots.
In the news yesterday: https://railfan.com/milwaukee-road-bicentennial-sd40-2-saved-in-oklahoma/ MILW 156, the Bicentennial unit, is saved and will be restored!
This is excellent news! Saw this on Ebay awhile back, and my heart just sank! That's awesome it'll be saved!!
"California-based Dieselmotive saved the locomotive from being scrapped in 2019 and it was moved to the Oklahoma Railway Museum in Oklahoma City in 2022. It has since been renumbered 156 and has BUGX reporting marks. ORM President Eric Dilbeck tells Railfan & Railroad that the museum has struck a deal with Dieselmotive to repaint it back into the red, white, and blue scheme by next year. The museum also plans on restoring the locomotive to operating condition, meaning it could soon be pressed into service on the museum’s excursions. Dieselmotive will retain ownership of the unit." This article was posted on: April 4, 2023 From the R&R article, maybe ORM?