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Post by ztrack on Jan 15, 2021 8:28:36 GMT -5
AMERICAN Z LINE January 2021 New Releases Part 2 ALCO RS3 - SSW ‘Cotton Belt’  The SSW’s prototype details include: Phase I body, body mounted number boards, ALCO AAR trucks, dual bulb headlight, three chime airhorn, lengthwise smokestack and 1400 gallon fuel tank. 63313-1 SSW RS3 308 63313-2 SSW RS3 309 Gunderson MAXI-I Sets – BNSF (Herald) – Re-release!  For January, we have rereleased our BNSF MAXIs. We paired these sets with GENSTAR 40’ containers. Four road numbers are being offering with containers! Supplies are limited. 906509-1GE BNSF MAXI-I Set 5x GENSTAR containers 237330 Herald 906509-2GE BNSF MAXI-I Set 5x GENSTAR containers 237438 Herald 906509-3GE BNSF MAXI-I Set 5x GENSTAR containers 237540 Herald 906509-4GE BNSF MAXI-I Set 5x GENSTAR containers 237545 Herald The cars feature metal chassis with etched metal details and add-on parts. The cars also feature AZL’s Auto-Latch couplers and roller bearing trucks. The packaging includes slots for ten 40’ containers. See the American Z Line site for more information on these and other AZL products. www.azldirect.comRob Kluz Ztrack Distribution |
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Post by sjl on Jan 15, 2021 9:41:41 GMT -5
Nice! I think this is the first Cotton Belt loco AZL has done, no?
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Post by ztrack on Jan 15, 2021 10:19:10 GMT -5
We did a Cotton Belt GP30. It was a Ztrack Magazine exclusive.  We sold it with Cotton Belt ACF 3-Bay hoppers and a bay window caboose (still available separately). AZL also offers a Cotton Belt wide vision caboose which is still available. Other SSW equipment we offer includes 2420 Waffle gondola sets and PCF beer reefers. Rob |
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Post by sjl on Jan 15, 2021 12:00:17 GMT -5
Interesting that the Cotton Belt did the paint job so that either end could be the "front," while SP only painted the short front (wonder if that reflects the two roads' relative geographical positions – but then why don't we see it in the bloody nose paint scheme?).
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Post by markm on Jan 15, 2021 13:03:43 GMT -5
Interesting that the Cotton Belt did the paint job so that either end could be the "front," while SP only painted the short front (wonder if that reflects the two roads' relative geographical positions – but then why don't we see it in the bloody nose paint scheme?). The front of the SP units were based on the locomotive assignments. Short hood forward were helpers and long hood forward for switchers. SSW paint schemes were similar but unique to SP. SSW doesn’t seem to have painted any RS3s in bloody nose. |
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Post by ztrack on Jan 15, 2021 18:26:03 GMT -5
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Post by sjl on Jan 15, 2021 19:23:41 GMT -5
Cool picture – interesting that this one says Cotton Belt vs. SSW on the side.
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Post by bloodynose on Jan 15, 2021 22:08:56 GMT -5
Cool picture – interesting that this one says Cotton Belt vs. SSW on the side. Good catch! I followed the link and looked at the photos but didn't zoom in and according to the caption it is the 308... What's up Rob? |
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Post by ztrack on Jan 15, 2021 22:59:22 GMT -5
Check out this link. It has the history of thees units. Nice detail on the history, lettering and use for passenger and freight. www.elvastower.com/forums/index.php?/files/file/1337-cotton-belt-alco-rs-3s-18-pack/Here is what it says about 308 and 309: Another 4 units arrived in mid 1952, #308-310 were built with all the requirements for passenger service, as well as signal lights and came painted in a variation of the Black Widow scheme, although still lettered St. L.S-W. The other unit was numbered #356 and built as a freight unit, probably painted in switcher black and orange. St. L.S.-W. Lettering was dropped in the mid 50's, and Cotton Belt lettering applied. None were painted in Bloody Nose, although they lasted until 1968. |
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Post by markm on Jan 16, 2021 10:59:15 GMT -5
Rob, Thanks for posting the details,I was rather rushed on yesterday’s post. Something to realize is that SPs. operating units where suprisingly independent, which must be a real pain for model makers. Since SP didn’t have any RS3s, we’ll never know how they might have painted them. If you compare the Cotton Belt to SP Black Widow there are significant differences: the STL scheme doesn’t run the silver to the top of theface, but angles it to a point at the roof. They also run a bead of silver along the sides of the hoods. As to never having a Bloody Nose, I have to take that back. There seems to have been a Cotton Belt version: espee.railfan.net/nonindex/rs03_photos/0352_ssw-rs3-jeff_mitchell.jpgThe RSs were not a big interest to me as they were rare in my modeling interests: Northern California. However since AZL produced the helper paint, I have, using it to model the San Joaquin Daylight. |
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Post by Commodore on Jan 25, 2021 18:55:57 GMT -5
AAA++++ The BNSF herald set sure is SWEET!!!
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Post by DAZed on Jan 26, 2021 0:38:52 GMT -5
AAA++++ The BNSF herald set sure is SWEET!!! Love the BNSF Circle-Cross Logo, and doubly so on these cars. (no pun intended). Hopefully the success of the Maxi-I's will lead AZL to development of the Maxi-IV's which will give us even more BNSF "Heralds". (and Swooshes too) |
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We sold it with Cotton Belt ACF 3-Bay hoppers and a bay window caboose (still available separately). AZL also offers a Cotton Belt wide vision caboose which is still available. Other SSW equipment we offer includes 2420 Waffle gondola sets and PCF beer reefers. 
