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THE LATE CAB FORWARDS WERE FIRST ANNOUNCED AT THE SCALE WEST CONVENTION
AT WHICH TIME I RECEIVED RESERVATIONS FOR OVER ONE HALF OF THE TOTAL PRODUCTION QUANTITY. PLEASE RESERVE IMMEDIATELY TO ENSURE
AVAILABILITY. THE CONTRACT QUANTITY IS FOR ONLY 40 UNITS. A NEW LEVEL OF DETAILING WILL BE ACHIEVED ON THE CAB FORWARDS AS
YOU CAN SEE FROM THE 20 VERSION POTENTIAL SELECTION. TWO (2) LARGE MOTORS WILL SUPPLY THE POWER FOR THESE MODELS. SCHEDULED
FOR THE SECOND QUARTER OF 2010. THE CAB FORWARDS HAVE BEEN IN THE WORKS SINCE SEPTEMBER OF 2007.
Please go to the next page of "SP Cab Forwards" where you will find large Beautiful Photos. MAC users can use the
"command Key" and the - or + keys to enlarge or shrink the page size if you're using the latest version of "Firefox".
Many PC user can do the same.
O SCALE SOUTHERN PACIFIC LATE CAB FORWARDS
The Southern Pacific owned 144 of the distinctive cab forward articulated steam engines in the most modern configuration with
"streamlined" cabs and large rectangular tenders. Of the 5 classes, only the AC-10, AC-11, and AC-12 have been imported
in highly detailed brass in O Scale. The AC-8 class has not been imported at all in O Scale. Detailing will take full advantage
of all the information that has surfaced on these unique engines in recent years. Most models will be painstakingly detailed
to exactly match particular prototype engines in the period of the late
1940"s to early 1950"s, the steam to diesel transition period so popular with modelers. These will have the
large Southern Pacific on the tender. Several AC-7 and AC-8models are being done "as built", since these two classes
underwent some interesting changes over their years of service.
These will have small Southern Pacific Lines on the tender. See the listings below for a description of each model"s
primary detail differences.
SP AC-7 Class 4-8-8-2 Cab Forward Articulated.
The 26 class AC-7 engines, numbered 4151-4176, were the first new articulated engines purchased by the SP after the Great
Depression. It was SP's largest purchase since 1929. The AC-7's, purchased in 1937, were the first class to have the enlarged
& "streamlined" and large rectangular tender. They were the prototypes for all the remaining cab forwards, which
all had the same dimensions and differed only in minor detailing.
The main spotting features of the AC-7's are their various pilots, unlike those used on the later classes, and the two
small rectangular vents under the cab. This class had no air horn. Also unique to this class was the backup light mounted
on top of the tender, a standard Pyle National
headlight. All the following classes had the backup light mounted on the rear face of the tender.
Most people are unaware that the AC-7's were delivered with standard McCormick boiler tube pilots identical to other,
earlier classes of AC's and most other types of SP steam power. However, the SP immediately covered the boiler tube pilot
with a couple of different configurations of sheet steel to make them better for plowing snow. First was a rather plain steel
covering. Then came a more elaborate built up snowplow. Eventually, most of the boiler tube
pilots were replaced with the stamped steel pilot commonly used on modern SP power. However, at least one engine, 4162,
kept its boiler tube pilot and even had it uncovered to reveal it as such.
The models listed below will have these various types of pilots, making them some of the most interesting of AC's.
| All Photo Copyrighted |
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This Model Has Been Canceled
Engine 4151 - First engine of the "late" articulateds in
as built configuration.
Early AC-7 type front windows, simple sheet steel pilot covering, flat sheet steel extensions to the sides of the pilot,
and small Southern Pacific Lines on the 220-R-2 tender.
Engine is all black with white driver tires and running board edges.
| AC-7 |
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| AC-7 |
Engine 4156 - Very typical "late" configuration.
Larger AC-8 type front windows, drifting valves, long rectangular blowdown spreaders, stamped steel pilot, flat sheet
steel extensions to the sides of the pilot, and large Southern Pacific on the 220-R-2 tender.
Engine is black and graphite with a silver front.
| AC-7 |
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| AC-7 |
Engine 4162 - Unusual "late" configuration.
Larger AC-8 type front windows, no drifting valves, short rectangular blowdown spreaders, boiler tube pilot with shield
under coupler, flat sheet steel extensions to the sides of the pilot, very unusual visor over headlight, and large Southern
Pacific on the 220-R-2 tender.
Engine is black and graphite with a silver front.
| AC-7 |
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| AC-7 |
Engine 4167 - Another version of the "as built"configuration.
Late AC-7 type front windows, built up snowplow pilot, flat sheet steel extensions to the sides of the pilot, and small
Southern Pacific Lines on the 220-R-2 tender.
Engine is all black.
This Model Has Been Canceled
Engine 4175 - Next to the last cab forward set up at Sacramento.
All cab forwards after #4176 were set up at El Paso.
Larger AC-8 type front windows, no drifting valves, long rectangular blowdown spreaders, stamped steel pilot, flat sheet
steel extensions to the sides of the pilot, and large Southern Pacific on the 220-R-2 tender.
Engine is black and graphite with a silver front.
SP AC-8 Class 4-8-8-2 Cab Forward Articulated.
The 28 engines of the AC-8 class were purchased in 1939 and followed the pattern set by the AC-7's. The main spotting features
of the AC-8's are the air horn placed in the middle of the two small vents under the cab and the snowplow pilot, the first
application of this feature to the AC's.
Engine 4177 - First of the AC-8 class in "as built" configuration.
No drifting valves, continuous blowdown with small round spreader, and small Southern Pacific Lines on the 220-R-3 tender.
Engine is all black with white driver tires and running board edges.
Engine 4179 - A typical "late" configuration.
Drifting valves, short rectangular blowdown spreaders, and large Southern Pacific on the 220-R- 3 tender.
Engine is black and graphite with a silver front.
Engine 4186 - According to Robert Church in "Cab-Forward", this was the "Queen of the Sacramento Division".
It seemed to give a little more power and could be worked a little harder than any other AC on the division. Drifting valves,
long rectangular blowdown spreaders, and large Southern Pacific on the 220-R-3 tender.
Engine is black and graphite with a silver front.
| All Photos Copyrighted |
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Engine 4188 - This is one of the AC's that tried to rescue the "City of San Francisco", train 101, after it was
trapped by an avalanche on Donner Pass in the famous 1952 incident. It wound up trapped along with the streamliner. No drifting
valves, short rectangular blowdown spreaders, and large Southern Pacific on the 220- R-3 tender.
Engine is black and graphite with a silver front.
This Model has Been Canceled
Engine 4203 - Another "as built" configuration.
No drifting valves, continuous blowdown with small round spreader, and small Southern Pacific Lines on the 220-R-3 tender.
Engine is all black with white driver tires and running board edges.
SP AC-10 Class 4-8-8-2 Cab Forward Articulated.
The largest class of cab forwards was the AC-10 class with 40 engines purchased in 1942. These engines had 3 vents under the
cab with the air horn positioned above them, the standard design for all remaining cab forwards.
Engine 4211 - This engine made the very last revenue trip of an AC type on 11/30/56. Drifting valves, long rectangular blowdown
spreaders, and large Southern Pacific on the 220-R-4
tender.
Engine is black and graphite with a silver front.
Engine 4225 - In "as delivered" wartime configuration.
No drifting valves, continuous blowdown with small round spreader, wartime headlight shield, and small Southern Pacific
Lines on the 220-R-4 tender.
Engine is all black with white driver tires and running board edges.
Engine 4233 - This engine was honored to be on the cover of "Trains" magazine in February, 1950. No drifting valves,
long rectangular blowdown spreaders, and large Southern Pacific on the 220- R-4 tender.
Engine is black and graphite with a silver front.
Engine 4243 - This AC-10 occasionally powered the San Joaquin Daylight on heavy days. Drifting valves, long rectangular blowdown
spreaders, and large Southern Pacific on the 220-R-4
tender.
Engine is black and graphite with a silver front.
SP AC-11 Class 4-8-8-2 Cab Forward Articulated.
The 30 engines of this class were very near duplicates of the AC-10’s. The main difference was the slanted journals
on the tender. They were built in 1942-1943.
This Model Has Been Canceled
Engine 4247 - Unusual in having short blowdown spreaders.
Drifting valves, short rectangular blowdown spreaders, and large Southern Pacific on the 220-R- 5 tender.
Engine is black and graphite with a silver front.
Engine 4252 - This engine really loved the camera. There are a huge number of photos of it. No drifting valves, long rectangular
blowdown spreaders, and large Southern Pacific on the 220- R-5 tender.
Engine is black and graphite with a silver front.
Engine 4274 - This is the famous star of the last trip of a cab Forward over Donner Summit. Drifting valves, long rectangular
blowdown spreaders, and large Southern Pacific on the 220-R-5 tender.
Engine is black and graphite with a silver front.
SP AC-12 Class 4-8-8-2 Cab Forward Articulated.
The 20 engines in this class were identical copies of the AC-11's, and were purchased in 1943- 1944.
Engine 4284 - This is another of the AC-s that tried to rescue the "City of San Francisco" on Donner Pass in 1952.
It also wound up trapped along with the streamliner.
No drifting valves, long rectangular blowdown spreaders, and large Southern Pacific on the 220- R-6 tender.
Engine is black and graphite with a silver front.
| All Photos Copyrighted |
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Engine 4286 - This is was the last AC to actually run under its own power. Drifting valves, short rectangular blowdown spreaders,
and large Southern Pacific on the 220-R- 6 tender. Engine is black and graphite with a silver front.
Engine 4294 - Of course the only surviving AC has to be represented. 4294 is the star attraction at the California Railroad
Museum. Drifting valves, long rectangular blowdown spreaders, and large Southern Pacific on the 220-R-6 tender.
Engine is black and graphite with a silver front.
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