ALCO Quest!

Hello all,

I could subtitle this post:  "Relieving Hobby Flea Market Regret".

Last Spring I attended a Model Railroad Flea Market sale at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds and saw a table with a few Atlas Yellow Box locomotives from the early 1980's, still new in the box.    I was intrigued because the previous year I purchased an undecorated Atlas GP38 for around $30.00 that runs very nicely on my layout.  I painted it as a Penn Central unit.

Keeping this satisfaction with Atlas Yellow Box locos in mind, I looked over the selection at the Spring sale and was especially interested in an undecorated RS3.   I've always liked the styling of the RS3, by far ALCO's most successful locomotive.   I have a dummy RS3 made by AHM painted for my Kings Port & Western freelanced road and thought it would be nice to add a powered unit to the RS3 consist. 

So...I looked at the loco and the $40.00 price tag and for some reason walked away, telling myself I really didn't need it.   Of course, as soon as I got home I immediately regretted not buying the loco.  I consoled myself with the thought that the Fairgrounds also hold a Fall show where I might find another RS3 for sale.  Well, time went by and the Fall sale arrived, but after perusing dozens of tables I did'nt encounter any Yellow Box RS3s.  Arrgggh!   Obtaining one of the classic ALCOs started becominga quest!

I turned to eBay and was pleased to see a number of Atlas Yellow Box RS3s for sale!   Up until then I'd had limited experience with eBay, but had easily won both of the two auctions I had participated in.  I figured it would be a piece of cake to win an RS3 for a price similar to the Fairground vendors.  

What happened though, was after following several auctions for days, I was outbid at the last second time after time!   It seemed that all of a sudden everyone wanted Atlas Yellow Box RS3s and the selling prices started reflecting the demand.   Many sold well over the $40.00 Fairgrounds price.     

I gave up for a few weeks and then one evening randomly checked eBay again where I found an undecorated RS3 listed for less than 40.00 with only about an hour left in the auction.  I waited until the last minute and bid a couple dollars more than the last bid...and won!!!

My lucky find right out of the box.   The safety rails at the long hood end broke in the mail but I was able to repair them.  

 The new loco coupled to the AHM dummy that inspired the purchase.   I briefly flirted with making the new RS3 a Penn Central unit but decided the KP&W needed more motive power, especially for interchange and switching duties.  After procuring the Atlas loco,  I have to say I'm less satisfied with the AHM dummy by comparison. 

I found that the original spray paint color I used for my early blue and orange KP&W scheme was no longer available.   It took me a while to find a shade of blue that was a reasonable approximation.   While preparing the RS3 for painting I learned that the old Atlas RS3 shells come apart in three sections.    The base with the walk way and handrails is a separate piece, as is the main body and also the cab.  Being able to pull the cab off the hood section made it easy to paint it orange but I was surprised by the two-part assembly of hood and walkways.   The base the hood sits on is rather flexible and fragile, as are the hand rails.  Care was required in disassembly and reassembly, but it all worked out.  

The new unit with earlier versions.  Not a bad match.

I replaced the horn hook couplers with Kaydees and learned that despite the fact that the screw holding the coupler had a Phillips head, it was actually a pin that required removal by needle nose pliers.    Even though the new KP&W RS3 lacks a number and lettering I've already put it to work.   Here it sets out a company covered hopper at Empire Grain.  

I haven't attempted lettering the unit with the home made decals from white decal paper I applied to my older units.   I'm looking into having some white Kings Port & Western decals custom made.  This will be great for future locos and also for black coal hoppers I'd like to letter for my freelanced line. 

So, I'm letting this be a lesson for myself.  If I see something I really want at a Flea Market sale...I'm gonna buy it!