Review by Tony Cook/Model photos by the author
Athearn Trains transports model railroad enthusiasts into its dimension of “what if?” offerings with a “Legendary Liveries” Chicago, Burlington & Quincy (CB&Q) FP45 diesel locomotive model for the hobby manufacturer’s Genesis series.
CB&Q was a solid supporter of its passenger business in the 1960s. Seeing the public relations value, Burlington ran steam excursions in addition to operating a healthy menu of passenger trains for people to enjoy, including the beloved California Zephyr. This positive passenger attitude dissolved in the mid-1960s with the arrival of Louis Menk as the road’s new leader.
What if Mr. Menk had not left his position with Frisco and CB&Q remained a passenger stalwart? That might be a path that would find the railroad in the market for new passenger motive power in the late 1960s. Burlington’s streamlined diesels go back to the famous Pioneer Zephyr and continued in the E-units series with E5s through E9s. The road’s new freight power in the 1960s included Electro-Motive’s SD45s; this helps legitimize the idea of Burlington FP45 coming on the roster after 1967.
Would CB&Q have stayed with the Zephyr silver livery or would the new-image Cascade Green with white hockey stick stripe and black top have been employed? Staying traditional for its effort, Athearn’s Genesis HO scale FP45 decorated for CB&Q presents the shiny silver finish with red stripes and black lettering. This is an eye-catching example of Athearn’s popular Legendary Liveries collection. The production provides CB&Q 9997 and 9999, which place these “what if?” FP45s in the numbering series with Burlington’s E-units.
The coverage of the silver presents a solid finish on this model with a metallic look, while not being subject to appearing grainy. The use of Burlington’s passenger scheme red nose stripes and pinstripe along the upper body and along the frame look authentic on this six-axle locomotive miniature. The nose of an FP45 prohibits the application of the road’s herald and instead the red-border “Burlington Route” herald is placed below the cab windows and above the road number. Athearn includes a herald on the tail, which I would have been tempted to skip. Athearn includes ACI labels in a part bag with this release.
Athearn’s next N scale FP45 production will include a 1:160 version in the same road numbers for this CB&Q release. This is a fun example of what might have been. A pair of these hauling the road’s Empire Builder, California Zephyr, or other services would make for an eye-catching late 1960s/early 1970s passenger train.
Athearn Genesis HO-scale
FP45 diesel locomotive with DCC-sound
Legendary Liveries Chicago, Burlington & Quincy 9997
ATHG-18388, MSRP $319.99
