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Review by Justin Sobeck/model photos by Tony Cook

Atlas rolls out an all new locomotive that further complements its N scale General Electric (GE) four-axle line. The new 1:160 Master Line U33B/U36B release will fill some late 1960s and 1970s era gaps for many hobbyists. Atlas has offered GE’s U23B for two decades in the Master Line, and U25B as a Classic-branded release since the late 1990s. This N scale debut from Atlas provides three U33B road names and two U36B road names. The assembled U-boat reproductions are offered in a $274.95 Gold edition (DCC-sound) and $159.95 Silver edition (DC with EC24 connector and factory-installed speaker).

Let’s learn about the prototype, Penn Central (PC) 2937, and have a look at this new Master Line locomotive model and its enhanced features.

GE’s Universal series, with a “U” designation leading the labeling, U33B and U36B, might represent the biggest leap for the builder in the early second generation diesel era horsepower race, jumping from 2,500-hp of the debut U25B model up to 3,000-hp for the U33B and 3,600-hp for the U36B. Only four roads rostered the 137 U33Bs built between 1967 and 1970, which spawned the familiar winged rear radiator design appearance that continues to this day on GE units. Weighing in at 270,000 pounds and 60’2” long, U33B and U36B locomotives rode on AAR Type-B and traded-in Blomberg trucks (depending on the buyer). The Electro-Motive Blomberg trucks were modified to accept GE’s 752-type traction motors.

ABOVE: Penn Central 2916 in October 1970. General Electric’s four-axle U33B found its stronghold on Penn Central roster. New York Central started the collection with two units delivered ahead of the 1968 Penn Central startup. Penn Central’s more than 80-unit fleet dwarfed rival collections operating for Rock Island and Seaboard Coast Line. —Photographer unknown, Jason Quinn Collection 

Penn Central (and successor Conrail) rostered most of the U33Bs (including two delivered to New York Central before the 1968 Penn Central merger). Those New York Central U33Bs received 2858 and 2859 road numbers, while units arriving after the merger were PC 2890–2970. Rock Island bought 25 (wearing their maroon and yellow scheme with white speed lettering), and Seaboard Coast Line (SCL) purchased 29 units. Three roads rostered GE’s output of 125 externally similarly appearing U36B (built between 1969 and 1975). They were largely sequestered to the East Coast region of the U.S., split between Auto-Train Corporation, Conrail, and Seaboard Coast Line.

The brightest of this U-boat bunch was SCL U36B 1776 in its bold Bicentennial colors, followed by Auto-Train’s distinctively 1970s scheme with white, red, and unique shade of fuchsia (purple trucks were all the rage back then), and some of the Rock Island units made it to the bankruptcy blue and white scheme. Secondhand owners included Conrail, Boston & Maine (later Guilford Transportation), and Reading & Northern, a regional railroad in northeastern Pennsylvania. CSX 7764 is assumed to be the last remaining U36B (built as SCL 1776), and it was fortuitously set aside as a first responder training aid, used as part of the Massachusetts Call Volunteer trainset. It is preserved among a diverse and unique collection of other GE products at the Lake Shore Railway Museum in North East, Pa., not far from the Erie complex where many GE locomotives were built for decades.

Penn Central 2937 was built in December 1968 (serial number 36950 and part of order 1411), delivered in the scheme Atlas portrays on its model. This basic, but sharp look, con-trasted yellow step edges and handrails against a solid dark carbody color with white lettering and PC logo. There is quite a bit of controversy about Penn Central locomotive colors – Brunswick Green, Dark Green Locomotive Enamel (DGLE), or shoe polish black. Having not seen anything but NS 1073 (PC Heritage unit) in person myself, this is a fun topic, and I consider myself to have a good color judgement and film or color corrected digital photos may shift and not provide a true basis…

Atlas Model Railroad Co.
N-scale Master Line Silver
U33B diesel locomotive standard DC

Penn Central 2937
40 005 942, $159.95
Atlas Model Railroad Co. 

The post A New N Scale U-Boat from Atlas Model Railroad Co. appeared first on Model Railroad News.

Review by Joe Bohannon/model photos by Tony Cook

Roka Prototype Models released their 16,000-gallon GATC tank cars in an assortment of fascinating paint schemes and services. Roka has been dedicated to producing accurate, well researched products and these tank cars are no different.

What is interesting about this run of cars originally built in 1949 for Santa Fe; Northern Pacific; and Spokane, Portland & Pacific is Roka examples of these cars lasting into more modern times. These cars had a service life that extended into railroad company service, such as providing locomotive shop needs like lubricating oils, solvents, and diesel fuel. Some found service in maintenance-of-way, providing water or herbicides for vegetation and weed spraying. But the truly unique addition to this release is the water fire protection cars with included hose reel and pump detail.

Roka provided an assortment of these various cars with all samples including interesting labeling applied, some with unique color bands for their intended service, and a few included FRA 224 regulation stripes, making these cars suitable for use after 2005.

Burlington Northern 973371 is a former Northern Pacific car that found its way onto BN’s roster through the 1970 merger. A striking feature of this car is the all-white body and red lettering indicating its operating base and use as a Seattle Fire Car. The inclusion of the fire hose, pump, and battery detail further proves its intended use. The model also features roller bearings and FRA stripes.

Montana Rail Link 100011 is an example of a car that was built for Northern Pacific. A neat detail included is the previous NP number of 102011 on the frame, a reporting mark Montana Rail Link missed when they patched the car. There is labeling on the dome indicating this car is in locomotive lube oil service. Lube oil is what most would think of as motor oil, but has higher viscosity and additives to serve it better in heavy duty diesel engines. The model features metal walkway and friction bearing trucks. The faded blue MRL patch and FRA stripes make it a nice car for contemporary models to add.

Santa Fe 98195 is an example of a solvent car. Solvents are strong parts cleaners used in locomotive shops. Santa Fe applied a yellow dome and a yellow band outlined in red for such a service. The model features metal walkways, friction bearing trucks, and a nice addition of “flammable” placards already installed. Santa Fe 189238 represents a car transferred to maintenance-of-way service in the 1980s. The sample is painted silver and features a label for domestic water. Water has many uses in MOW operations, including cleaning, cooking, and drinking by track gangs in remote areas. The model features removed walkways and roller bearing trucks.

Santa Fe 209886 is another silver car found in MOW use. The car’s labeling shows its use as providing vegetation control. Railroads constantly battle mother nature as she attempts to reclaim the railroad right of way and as a result, railroads spray herbicides along the tracks to prevent the growth of weeds. The model also features removed walkways and roller bearing trucks.

Santa Fe 189238 is an exciting addition to the release. It also uses the color band markings Santa Fe adopted. The gray banding indicates the car is used for domestic water, but more importantly, the large white panel on the car side clears up any confusion of what this water is used for. Written in large red font “Water Car Fire Service.” Such a car would have served with rail grinders, which throw sparks and potentially start fires as it works. However, more often, BNSF stages these types of cars in areas prone to forest fires and are deployed to protect the track from such blazes. The model features an all-new detail addition of a fire hose reel, pump, and battery box mounted on one side of the car. It has roller bearing trucks and FRA stripes.

The 16,000-gallon GATC cars were an all-welded body that has stood the test of time and has provided railroads with years of service. These tank cars often helped keep locomotives rolling and tracks open for business. This group of HO-scale Roka Prototype Models arrived intact, with no detail loss, protected in a snug clam shell in a distinctive yellow outer box. These 1:87 models are very well detailed, meticulously researched for accurate appearance, and feature crisp, legible lettering on smooth paint.

Roka’s tank car miniatures feature roller bearing trucks and possess spinning bearing caps, with spare caps included in the packaging. Their weight (near 7 oz.), metal wheels, and Kadee metal couplers make them strong runners on your layout; while their unique paint and lettering make them conversation pieces. Check Roka’s website or a participating hobby dealer for more information.

Roka Prototype Models
HO Scale General American Tank Car

Burlington Northern
Seattle Fire Car with hose
RPM 192, $69.95

Montana Rail Link 100011
Lube Oil Car
RPM 162, $64.95

Santa Fe 98195
LIX 239 Solvent Car
RPM 146, $64.95

Santa Fe 189238
MOW Service Car – silver
RPM 152, $64.95

Santa Fe 209886
Vegetation Control Car
RPM 160, $64.95

Santa Fe 189238
Water Fire Service with hose
RPM 186, $64.95

Roka Prototype Models

The post Service Tank Cars from Roka Prototype Models appeared first on Model Railroad News.

Amtrak celebrated the topping out of the steel structure for its new maintenance and inspection facility in Seattle, marking the placement of the final steel beam and an important construction milestone at King Street Yard. The new facility will be used to maintain the Airo trainsets due to debut this year.

In South Carolina, Amtrak has completed improvements at both Camden and Denmark, both of which are served by the Chicago–Miami Floridian. In Camden, improvements include a new 600-foot concrete boarding platform, as well as new walkways, ramps, lighting, and signage. In Denmark, passengers will enjoy a new 240-foot platform, as well as new lighting, walkways, and signage. The station upgrades are part of the ADA Stations Program that covers 134 stations and 66 construction projects across the country. The program will wrap up in 2029. 

—Bob Gallegos

The post Construction Projects Keep Moving on Amtrak appeared first on Railfan & Railroad Magazine.