FP4-A coming from Prairie Shadows

[Mark5]

Interesting ...

I most recently bugged Walthers about re-running the excellent Lifelike FA2 tooling in August (the response was "we have no plans ...").

If anyone else is interested in seeing the FA2 produced again, I suggest emailing Walthers at custserv@walthers.com

I am skeptical about Walthers and N scale (aside from the structures, which are mostly great), but it can't hurt to let them know these are wanted.

Mark

[JSL]

The scoop on FPA4 is that it is a hand painted prototype by Jeff at Prairie Shadows. If all goes well there will also be a FA2 down the line.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Oh man. So, I'm actually surprisingly excited about this, because these things had 9 lives, living on for tourist roads.

[JSL]

Picture of the VIA painted with pics of the B units are on my blog if anyone wants to take a look at it.

[Spikre]

 
   FPA-4 was the last model in the line started by the FA-1 in 1946.
  it was offered for sale to U.S. roads by Alco,but was only purchased
  by CN.it was powered by an 1800HP 251-B engine,and was quite
  successful for CN.they still sounded fine in the 70s when personally
  seen running at Spadina.
    But,,,there was 1 FA-2 powered by a 251,Alco apparently gave NYC
  a 251B that was used as a Test unit for repowering some of NYCs 197
  FA/FB fleet.the unit ran at least 2 years,then NYC pulled it out and
  re-installed a 244G/250 in the unit,and it stayed that way until retired.
   reports of 251s in Katy locos are WRONG !!,they put 250s into them.
   be hard to repower a unit Before a 12 Cylinder 251 was actually built.
   Edit - Diesel Era had a Typo with the NYC loco,it was actually an FA-2
  was repowered for awhile,not an FA-1.
  of course didn't check that, so am Correcting it now.
      Spikre
       

[sizemore]

Not to be the Debbie Downer or Negative Nancy, something is just off about that locomotive. The details look soft, it might be paint build-up, but it could also be tooling.

The S.

[lock4244]

   FPA-4 was the last model in the line started by the FA-1 in 1946.
  it was offered for sale to U.S. roads by Alco,but was only purchased
  by CN.it was powered by an 1800HP 251-B engine,and was quite
  successful for CN.they still sounded fine in the 70s when personally
  seen running at Spadina.
    But,,,there was 1 FA-1 powered by a 251,Alco apparently gave NYC
  a 251B that was used as a Test unit for repowering some of NYCs 197
  FA/FB fleet.the unit ran at least 2 years,then NYC pulled it out and
  re-installed a 244G/250 in the unit,and it stayed that way until retired.
   reports of 251s in Katy locos are WRONG !!,they put 250s into them.
   be hard to repower a unit Before a 12 Cylinder 251 was actually built.
      Spikre
       

Two FPA-2's (6758-6759) and two FPB-2's (6858-6859) were re-powered by CN/MLW with 251B's making them equivalent to the FPA/B-4's, and they all went to VIA.

[lock4244]

The scoop on FPA4 is that it is a hand painted prototype by Jeff at Prairie Shadows. If all goes well there will also be a FA2 down the line.

An FA-2 I'd love... CP had them back in the 70's and I have equipment from that era. Multimark and Script please.

[CNR5529]

http://rapidotrains.com/n-mlw-fpa-4-and-fpb-4-canada/

[rapidotrains]

Anyone else catch the different number on the body verses the number board? 

D'oh!

I didn't notice until now, and I took the photos!!!!

[basementcalling]

Those HO prices are far out of my range for sound or Plain Jane DC control.

Always good to get confirmation that another manufacturer sees opportunity in offering a high quality N scale product, though this one has very limited appeal for me personally.

[Chris333]

Introducing 30 year model railroad mortgages.

[reinhardtjh]

So if these are special runs for Prairie Shadows will there be any discount off the MSRP prices?

Introducing 30 year model railroad mortgages.

[lock4244]

So if these are special runs for Prairie Shadows will there be any discount off the MSRP prices?

I think the MSRP is the price. Looks like they only come as an A-B set (except the Napa Valley which is an A-A set), which is irksome... I was looking to get an A-B-A of the CN zebras.

[Missaberoad]

I think the MSRP is the price. Looks like they only come as an A-B set (except the Napa Valley which is an A-A set), which is irksome... I was looking to get an A-B-A of the CN zebras.

Yeah thats more or less the price, If these are like the gondolas/cabooses margins are pretty tight.