One of our members has asked about producing decals for ACL and SAL steam locomotives. The only problem is there's not much out there on which to put the decals. With the "re-discovery" of steam by the model world(N-scale Kato 2-8-2/HO-scale Athearn 2-8-2/Bachmann 4-8-2), I'd like to conduct an informal poll to determine the level of interest in: 1)modelling ACL/SAL steam, 2) particular steam class desired, and 3) your willingness to kitbash a given prototype using after market kits were they available.

The last category is a neccessary evil. Although we'd all like our steam RTR, short of brass ($$$) or the rare USRA based models mentioned above, a RTR model of an ACL/SAL prototype is not very likely. Again, this is just an informal poll to guage the level of interest and to possibly generate the exchange of ideas.

My initial picks for models/conversion kits would be:

Atlantic Coast Line

K-5,K-6,K-14,K-15 class 4-6-0 (Shared common boiler) Ps,P-1,P-2,P-3 class 4-6-2 (Shared common boiler) E-10,E-11,E-12 class 0-6-0 (Shared common boiler) L class 2-8-0 Q-1 class 2-10-2 (Design copied by CG)

Seaboard Air Line M class 4-8-2 (Boiler design also used by CG,Sou,WofA,and NYO&W) Q/Q2 class 2-8-2 Q3 class 2-8-2 H-1 class 2-8-0 L5? class 0-6-0 (Similar to Sou/CG O-6-0's except for cylinders) F-7 class 0-6-0 D2,D3 class 2-10-0 (sports model decapod)

Hopefully, additional USRA models (0-6-0 ACL E-9/13 class, 0-8-0 ACL E-14 class, and Lt.USRA 4-6-2-ACL P-5a/b class) as well as a Russian decapod are being considered by the industry. Comments?

-- Buddy Hill (palmettoLTD@hotmail.com), October 10, 1999

Answers

Yes. I would like to see ACL 1500 class Pacifics and 1800 class Northerns....needs to be plastic/metal for my budget.

-- Mark Huband (mhuband@guarantec.com), October 13, 1999.

Yes, Yes, Yes. ACL and SAL steam models would be a super idea. Count me in.

-- Merrill Crissey, Sr. (mdcrissey@juno.com), October 12, 1999.

From: John Golden >To: palmettoLTD@hotmail.com Subject: Interest in HO models of ACL /SAL steam Date: Sun, 10 Oct 1999 17:37:52 -0700 (PDT)>>Buddy (and All),

Yes, I'm very interested in HO ACL/SAL steam models! I have done some minor re-working of USRA 2-8-2s (SAL Q-1), brass 4-6-2s (ACL P class), and most recently the Bachmann 2-8-0 (which is pretty close to one of the SAL 2-8-0s...I think #917). My first choice is for standard smaller power since most of us probably have smaller layout with tighter curves. Therefore, the ACL K class 4-6-0s and the SAL L class 4-6-0s would be ideal. A good Russian Decapod would be a wonderful addition and I've heard for years that "someone" is working on a new model. On another note, I think if we could encourage a builder to produce the SAL's Vanderbilt, Semi-Vanderbilt and Hicken tenders, we could reasonably model all classes of SAL Mountains as well as SAL Q-2s and B-1s (using current locomotive models already available on the market). What's the next step?

-- Johnny Golden (Golden1014@yahoo.com), October 12, 1999.