The locomotive is the last of nine FP45s purchased by AT&SF which are six-axle cowl units that once led the hot Super C freight and various streamlined passenger trains.
The engine was renumbered No. 5948 and went into freight service when Amtrak assumed passenger duties. It wore various freight colors and numbers until 1989, when it emerged as red and silver No. 102 for the “Super Fleet” marketing campaign. BNSF Railway donated the faded warbonnet (then re-numbered to No. 98) to the museum in January 1998. The restoration team began work in 2012, rebuilding the unit inside and out.
No. 108 is expected to make a public debut in November.
CORRECTION: An earlier version of this story incorrectly indicated that No. 108 operated with Amtrak. It remained with the Santa Fe and successor railroads. Oct. 17, 2017. 10:31 p.m. Central time.
Such a tease! We need to see it out in the sunlight without the plastic.
Simply beautiful!
Jim Jones– The “Santa Fe” logo and cigar band on the nose was painted using an original EMD spec sheet. EMD identified the nose logo as the “medallion”. 🙂
Harold, there was a new sloped pilot beside 108 waiting to be attached; I don’t have my notes handy about the source. I can’t wait to see your FP45 when she’s complete … as much as I love the thought of two warbonnet 100s back in action, it would be equally cool for this 50-year old fan to see a pinstripe blue and yellow 5942!
Excellent piece, Elrond. Looking forward to seeing her on my next trip to Perris!
Absolutely stunning! Kudos to all involved!
Question: the 108/98 was the only FP45 that I know of to lose its original sloped pilot in favor of a snowplow. Were you able to source a replacement?
I can only hope the restoration our group at Illinois Railway Museum is doing on the ATSF 92 comes out this good, although the current thought is to do another era in its career as it would be tough to match this!
NICE WORK!!!
Jim Jones, There are no decals or lettering and cigar band on the pilot. That is the nose of the unit that has them painted on. The pilot is the part that the coupler box, hose fittings and steps are attached to and is painted silver.
Question – were decals used for the lettering and cigar band on the pilot?
Saw this back in 2001 & 2002 when we were there
Troy– yes, it will be operational.
Very nice, would like to know if it is operational.
Magnificent.
Wooo Hoooo!!!!
Still the best locomotive colors.