Broadway Limited 6659 - HO Scale EMD F3B Santa Fe ATSF #31B Warbonnet, Powered, Paragon4 Sound/DC/DCC

The powered booster for Santa Fe's F3 passenger set #31, in the classic red-and-silver Warbonnet, with its own full Paragon4 sound system.

The Prototype

Santa Fe's Warbonnet, created by Electro-Motive stylist Leland Knickerbocker and first applied in 1937, led the railroad's premier trains, including the Super Chief and El Capitan, across the Southwest between Chicago and California. After World War II, Santa Fe bought EMD F3s to power them, running A-units and cabless B-unit boosters together to put more horsepower on the head end.

The EMD F3 was a 1,500 hp cab-unit diesel built by General Motors' Electro-Motive Division from 1945 to 1949. It was EMD's third F-unit model and the second most produced after the F7, with more than 1,100 A-units and almost 700 B-units built.

Santa Fe lettered the units in each passenger set by position: "L" for the lead cab, "A" and "B" for the boosters, and "C" for the trailing cab. #31B is the second booster of set 31.

Build the Full Set

Combine with BLI 6650 (F3 A/B set, ATSF 31L/31A) and 6658 (F3A, ATSF 31C) for a prototypical four-unit 31L-31A-31B-31C passenger lash-up. We also carry the ATSF #31C cab unit.

Unlike the unpowered B-units packed in BLI's A/B sets, this single B-unit is fully powered with its own Paragon4 sound, so it adds pulling power and a second prime mover to your consist.

Paragon4 Sound & Control

• Factory-installed Paragon4 decoder – runs on DC or DCC (use DCMaster for sound on DC)
• Rolling Thunder: pair with BLI's Rolling Thunder receiver/subwoofer for deep, room-filling prime mover rumble
• Back EMF motor control for smooth slow-speed running
• Built-in capacitance to ride through dirty or imperfect track
• Pro Lighting Mode and Switcher Mode
• Record & Play – records and plays back sounds and movements for automatic operation
• High-resolution audio; prime mover sound varies with load
• Individually adjustable volumes; EZ Reset button for factory defaults

Model Features

• ABS body on a die-cast chassis for maximum pulling power
• Precision drive with all-wheel electrical pickup
• Separately applied handrails, grab irons and etched-metal grills
• Road-specific details matched to the prototype: hatches, fans, steam generator and more
• Metal Kadee-compatible couplers
• Runs on Code 70, 83 and 100 rail; minimum radius 18"

Specs

• Scale: HO (1:87)
• Manufacturer: Broadway Limited Imports
• Item #: 6659
• Road / number: Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe #31B
• Paint: Warbonnet (red/silver/yellow)
• Model: EMD F3B booster, powered, Paragon4 Sound/DC/DCC