Can anyone tell me if there are any manufacturers out there that make a TA model in HO scale. I would prefer HO at this point, but might be interested in N scale. Years ago I remember being in a hobby shop in Wichita with Charlie (E-8) and seeing a custom-made resin N scale TA and 3 car articulated set like the Rock Island put on the line in 1937 as a tool to try and leverage their way out of the depression. CRI & P had 6 of these TA's, #601 to #606. As far as I am concerned the TA is much better looking than the F and E units, and was really the beginning of the streamliner era for beginning of the diesel age. Please let me know if you have any information on a TA... or a custom builder that might make shells for the TA. Thank you!
Sorry, I wish I knew something but it does not sound like there is anything out there. I guess one would have to be really good at scratch building or kit bashing to come up with one.
In my web search I ran across a company called RocketExpress that is making resin Rock Island cars, because what he wanted was not available on the market. If nothing else, perhaps I have given him some ideas for a new product? I did run across an import that was done in brass, that was sold out and no longer available (and $750!!!!!). Not much out there! Keep your eyes open my friend! And thanks for the reply!
When you say 'much better looking than E units' I assume you're leaving out the B&O EA and EB, which are very similar in appearance (only longer)? Or do you mean the boxcab power/baggage 1000 hp custom versons of the E-6 which were custom built for the Rock as 750 and 751 and acted as a booster on the Rocky Mountain Rocket, then handled the Colorado Springs cars south from Limon? In the latter case, I agree with you. Years ago when I wanted an E-1A and E-1B I kitbashed them from E-6 shells. Now some of those early E units are being produced. One of those bodies could be shortened to fit an F chassis, though unfortunately I think I've only seen the E-1s (which have the wrong side windows, unlike the EA and EB) and I think I've only seen them in brass (which makes the body much more difficult to afford or shorten)... In any case, good luck! I, too, love the look of the TA.
Years back I saw in ad in MR that listed HO units from a customer builder-limited run. I don't know if they were resin or brass. That was all I have have noticed. I suggest a kitbash. As I have discovered, usually when I get half-way through the project, Walthers, Genysis, Bachmann or someone bring out a, "limited-run" of the prototype I was trying to build. Halfway through my Boston Hobby FM H-10-44, here comes Walthers. Halfway through my resin Ribside caboose-Walthers, again. Bulldog motorcar drawn out to start cutting-PSC makes one. Murphy's Law of Scratchbuilding. -Mark
Absolutely. Happened to me both with FTs and E1s. Never fails. Just when you think you'll have the only one in the world...
Ah, but you were not the only one with FTs. I finished scratch building an A-B-B set and had posted photos on my old AOL web site about 6 months before Microtrains and Intermountain both announced releasing the N scale FTs. Only my A was powered but they sure looked good. I will have to take some photos of them and post them again. Well, we were still the only kids on the block with them for a while.
There was a TA available in limited run in brass... they were $750 easch... then you could get them. Even then to my knowledge they did not come with the articulated coaches. I ran across a website to a guy that makes resin Rock Island car because he can t find what he wanted. I thing it was Rocketexpress.biz... yeah thats it! I emailed him... you never know. Perhaps he will make a future project out of it. But then only a RI fan would want one.
ROCK ISLAND ROCKET WOOD HO TRAIN SET MADE BY STROMBECKER IN THE LATE 30S and i will see i have seen one in plastic but can not remember were it was ....Sorry about large letters something stuck [lol] http://traintalkbloggers.wordpress.com/2009/03/09/strombecker-rock-island-rocket/
b+b ROCKET, TA+3 cars, needs TLC NPP TA+cars Kumata asis 300 101217 They have an brass set at www.thewhistlestop.com/current/catalog.htm
The latest Classic Trains from Kalmbach has a few lines about the TAs ("Twelve-hundred" h.p.) in the article about the development of the E units.
