?????????????????? “Lake Cities Express”
???????????????? Of the ERIE Railroad
?????????????????? HObbyline set #451
? Historic Note: One of our model train magazine’s the Railroad Model Craftsman in the past published Builders Plates, which are Photos and information on scale and toy train locomotives made back then in a post card like format. Occasionally doing Classic locomotives from 10 to 20 years back before the publishing date of the magazine and labeled them Classic. In the August addition of 1963 on page 30 and 31 builder plates 84 to 89 were published. For RMC this was not typical but special for usually three were done on one page. Plate 86, page 30 was a HObbyline Alco FA-1 and the model photo chosen was this Eire FA-1. In the descriptive text an important bit of information was a part of it. From information RMC had on this particular locomotive they knew it to be scarce (rare). This set is listed on the HOseeker site’s online 1955 catalog on page 5. There is a drawing of the set and a list of what the set contained.
? Important information from the builder’s plate is that these plastic models were first made in 1953 and ceased in 1957, also that the Erie FA-1 and passenger cars were scarce back then in 1963, I would say that now even more scarce. The models were issued as ready to run with a Polyethylene plastic body and nylon power trucks. And a Pittman DC-62A 12 volt DC motor powered the eight wheel drive that connected the two trucks by a flexible shaft. HObbyline plastic split knuckles were used. Post War John A. English “B” units that were made of Zamac metal castings were not converted to plastic. 1954 list price for a powered “A” unit was $12.95, the dummy “A” unit was $5.95. The Lake City Express set was listed at $41.50. These plastic locos cars, and sets were sold under the HObbyline trademark.
