Model Train Journal

I started in O scale with an interest in the Milwaukee Road and Great Northern "lines west" electric operations. This led me to learn about the Great Northern's Fast Mail, which was the primary mail train between Chicago and Seattle. At some point Pete mentioned that the Santa Fe also had a Fast Mail, which was the equivalent train between Chicago and Los Angeles. Years went by and modeling interests expanded, such that I one day found myself in possession of enough Santa head-end equipment to imagine putting together a decent ATSF Fast Mail. A lot of mail storage cars are needed, for which a mix of baggage cars and express boxcars will fill the bill. Beyond that, two cars are essential: an RPO (at least one) and a rider car. Those landed on the interchange track not too long ago. So here at last is the first revenue run of the consist:


https://dl.dropbox.com/scl/fi/bwif8gnizbk47xp71gcsd/On-the-Highline.jpg?rlkey=o8g6svf9n3yx48qyl4tg2cpqs

The maiden run started out with eighteen cars behind the big 4-8-4, but three refused to cooperate and were set out. These three plus additional cars will all eventually be brought into service, which will bring the train length to over twenty. Not bad for O-scale, perhaps, but I have read that at one point the Fast Mail time-table showed thirty-three cars regularly in the consist, at least for part of the journey.

More later
Jim

Being a locomotive nut, my first question is:

The locomotive was custom-built by the late Bob Hall and finished by Richard Garberson, both of the Seattle area:


https://dl.dropbox.com/scl/fi/7m6m38dpf9hw50fh9pexv/Bob-Hall-4-8-4-ATSF-3780.jpg?rlkey=6yeungwlap3gjdobvbxn8fz18

Records indicate that Bob built the model in 1992. At the time, he was completing about three models per year.

Jim

Great looking train Jim. Back when express mailing and shipping was handled by RR's. The trackwork in the loco closeup is beautiful, all the tie plates are there.

One of my favorite trains, this is very nice!

For years now I’ve been harvesting cars for a ATSF Fast Mail, I took these videos on the old Colorado Midland at Denver Union Station nearly 15 years ago of some of my equipment running.

https://youtu.be/dY68eNP0UQ0?si=xzXHQA6fg8BtHgSo

This was our version of the “high line” above Granite.
https://youtu.be/7OqxSTNtRkY?si=-rsasiVOpWPRgZ85

A more contemporary version with my Key Model PAs from 2011

[url][url=https://flic.kr/p/2s97jRb][/url]AT&SF Fast Mail by Erik C Lindgren Fine Art, on Flickr[/url]

[url][url=https://flic.kr/p/2s97qyy][/url]ATSF Fast Mail 1/4 scale by Erik C Lindgren Fine Art, on Flickr[/url]

[url][url=https://flic.kr/p/2s98p7f][/url]ATSF Mail Train by Erik C Lindgren Fine Art, on Flickr[/url]

How about some reefers while trackside!
[url][url=https://flic.kr/p/2s98zQz][/url]IMG_3162 by Erik C Lindgren Fine Art, on Flickr[/url]

The videos are great, and evocative!~ I have struggled up that pass from Trinidad to Raton a whole bunch of times in Cubs and Champs, and the scenery was captured well in your high line (I suspect you were modeling elsewhere, but Colorado mountains have similar vegetation until you get above 7,000 feet).

Are the next set of photos actually videos? I assume they are on Jeff's fine layout.

R.K. Maroon wrote:...........showed thirty-three cars regularly in the consist, at least for part of the journey.

Looking forward to the 33 car consist on YouTube!

My full consist is 21 cars and I’ve ran it at the old club layout at Denver Union Station. My Samhongsa Key PA’s pulled it no sweat even with factory trucks, not all bearing upgraded.

This video shows most of that train: (16 cars), I swore I had one of the entire train but I can’t find it.

https://youtu.be/UuPI0tPDnfk?si=ZcSVMaqzVJ3av6_K

14 car Chief

https://youtu.be/2a7TcRUL1Fs?si=JhEaahFKnlb80uw0

16 again. Haha

Oh well.
https://youtu.be/H9EStpfFDAQ?si=ZURnUuHTmXaeOg4N

14 cars and 6 f units , … no biggie in n scale, HO gets a little tuff, 1/4 scale? And run em 65mph?

Combined Super Chief, El Capitan 1/4 scale by Erik C Lindgren Fine Art, on Flickr

Thanks to Erik for posting the video and photos of his Fast Mail. I am glad others are interested in this train -- It is a cool operation. I don't have any historical information on how the consist looked from inception to last run, but most of the photos of the ATSF Fast Mail look more like Erik's consist than mine, in that PAs were often seen on the head end and there were a good number of streamlined cars. I have a set of CLW cast PAs in Warbonnet which will pick up the assignment once I have them ready for revenue service. I will do another photo shoot at that time, but in the meantime here is a short video showing the train in action on Michael Ross's Virginian:

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/5wkq4sfnn1bh6ia568yjn/ATSF-Fast-Mail.mp4?rlkey=66feoonqqa1iscq59fgw52wgd

Per Butch's comment, Michael hand-laid his track with tie plates and four spikes at every tie. The thought of the time and tedium involved scares me off, but the result is impressive (to put it mildly). As you might imagine (or at least would hope), derailments are rare.

Jim