Fixing the Stupidest HO Santa Fe Locomotive Ever Made

Back in November 2021 I had a pile of scrap parts I was about to throw away when I got the idea to connect the shells and make a "Super Santa Fe" locomotive out of them.
The project was overall successful however there was one main flaw being that it could only go backwards or forwards on the layout and not through any curves.
Today I try to fix this by adding an AHM drive and some other modified parts in order to turn this into a much more useful ho locomotive.

[@PeterAnthonyHolder-StuphFile]

You knowledge in working on the locomotive as actually beginning to frighten me! It's like Dr. Frankenstein creating his railroad monster. Watching you actually repair the undercarriage of this engine makes me think that, when it comes to trains, Young Sheldon is a wuse! I have no idea what you're doing, but it is fascinating to watch (and looking at the baggie of spare parts that you have and comprehending what's inside it, would be akin to me trying to read Latin). By the way, is there actually anything out in the real world that has this long of a body or is this something that just comes out of the deep, dark recesses of your mind?🙂

[@SMTMainline]

Thanks Peter. The most similar diesel locomotive in the real world in terms of length would be Union Pacific's dda40x, which is 98 feet long. If this locomotive was built at 1:1 scale it would be around 150 feet long so its certainly hard to compare to anything else around. It's not realistic but it sure makes for a fun project.

[@stevelittle1885]

Ha Ha . I was thinking how Jealous Young Sheldon would be of SMT too!

[@kcgrailgilbert8466]

@@SMTMainline hey do u want some F units

[@johnjon1823]

Abby Normal

[@jonathanhegge6207]

​@@SMTMainline now you need to make a bunch of custom cars for it to haul

[@davidstrainsandlego]

Oh no, it's back

[@JeffUr7]

😰

[@joshbanks8897]

Lol What do you mean it’s amazing

[@slushyyt5590]

Oh yeah it’s back!!!

[@Oliver_11_the_little_western]

Union Pacific would have bought over 1000 if this was a real locomotive released by emd during the days when the f7 was still in production

[@BIG_RED_PRODUCTIONS_official]

Finally the Baldwin Caterpillar has an opponent outside of the big boy

[@amtrakp4242]

LOL

[@hechigaming9920]

lol

[@thetrainloverdk]

OMG you are right

[@Engine1988]

I don't mean to be nitpicky, but TECHNICALLY it is the Baldwin Centipede. Doesn't matter much; it isn't even the real name.

[@joshuadykes3347]

​@@Engine1988 centipede,looks like a big stiff worm to me 😂

[@maxorus9]

Ah yes, the super duper chief.

[@spencercorby4571]

Big hoss

[@challengerpat9810]

Sunny: why are you called the super duper chief The engine: take a look at me bunny Sunny then runs alongside the chief and gasps at what he sees. Right behind the chief was another locomotive without a cab and then another locomotive with cab and they were connected together in a articulated frame Sunny: OH MY GOODNESS what happened to you The engine facing the wall: we were a victim of Chernobyl The front engine: no this was one of many experiments the railroad wanted to try out The chickens: fainted

[@tracynation2820]

The Superior Super Duper Chief, powered by the mighty EMD Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe Railway triple diesel powered 4,500 horsepower streamlined dual cab extended body model F-777ABA-3DP-2MAC locomotive #4015, affectionally known to the crew as the "Wandering Drifter." 💙 T.E.N.

[@AnimalsVehiclesAndMore]

I think a more fitting name for this very, very bizarre-looking locomotive would be "The Stuper Chief (or The Stooper Chief) due to how insanely weird and "impossible to exist in real life" it is.

[@hexazalea1793]

The Super Duper Chief may not be real but the thought of it Can and does hurt me.

[@johnbeck3270]

The only locomotive on earth that has the capability to move two trains on parallel tracks at the same time! Wow what a concept!

[@alexhajnal107]

At least since poling pockets were banned.

[@datguymiller]

​@@alexhajnal107poling pockets were banned but not poling. Also TVRM 4501 still has her pockets, i got pics

[@andrewferguson5653]

I can't help feeling surprised seeing it go around the corners! Gave me a good laugh to see it drifting.

[@canadianbehaviour8280]

“Deja Vu” starts playing in the background

[@93gamrx]

Glad I'm not the only one whose' head that song invaded when that rear truck switched over 🤣🤣🤣

[@Eliot935k3]

@@93gamrx I feel the same way LOL

[@kylederry5031]

RUNNIN IN THE 90'S

[@CedarLakeRailfanner]

This is the funniest thing I've seen all day and the drifting in peak

[@arthurhucksake2665]

"MULTI-TRACK DRIFTING!?"

[@chris_c09]

No need for the UP big boy, we have the Santa Fe long boy

[@carstrainsandcrossings8639]

Lol 💀

[@carstrainsandcrossings8639]

Lol 💀

[@user-biggest1]

the santa fe long chief

[@daviddryer7130]

😅😅😅

[@KcTitanicboytrainlover]

What long boy time

[@keithanddianevanhorn241]

The villagers are coming with pitch forks and torches. They fear this monster that you have created.

[@murphsmodels8853]

Now that you've given Union Pacific more ideas we need a super duper stretch boxcar, flat car and caboose.

[@habbyguys]

Was thinking the same thing

[@Penn_Senseless]

Yes, absolutely a caboose. That would be quite a sight

[@murphsmodels8853]

@@Penn_Senseless with extra cupolas.

[@fallen_saint6939]

Flatcar with like, a 747 fuselage as cargo.

[@Penn_Senseless]

@@murphsmodels8853 even just one ridiculously long cupola, great detail could be the stairs on the end being like 4 feet wide

[@normancoreyBuildingTrains]

I could not stop laughing at the drifting. It will be the most requested next live stream. Great job making it corner.

[@SMTMainline]

I don't doubt that, I'm amazed it can drift over 5 lanes of track.

[@kcgrailgilbert8466]

​@@SMTMainlineI have some old F units that I don't won't wondering if you want them

[@kcgrailgilbert8466]

@@SMTMainline would you like to have some f units

[@dexterdog62]

Parts Bin= Organized Chaos.

[@Trainguy.5771]

Oh no. It’s going to terrorize the layout.

[@SMTMainline]

They'll be fine lol.

[@legogonegaming]

Don’t worry the Santa Fe Long Chief can’t hurt you it’s only a model. Santa Fe Long Chief: Aggressively drifting towards you.

[@WWIIREBEL]

@SMT Mainline - Hmm...Now all you need is an extended length box car and gondola, a double length flat car w/load, extended coal hopper and an extended length caboose with two cupolas on each end and you'll be golden,lol.

[@SMTMainline]

Great idea!

[@railfanmusicboi]

@@SMTMainline Try breaking the record for the LONGEST toy train by making like a HUNDRED of those long-ified cars and slapping them together lol

[@AlleghenyRailProductions]

Hey SMT! It’s me again. This time I’m here to say that your videos with the TYCO locos has helped me restore my dad’s spirit of 76 loco! It hasn’t ran in about 20-30 years. It was in pretty rough shape and had very few operable parts. After the eBay purchase arrived with parts, she ran the rails again! Thanks so much for your insight on these locomotives!

[@SMTMainline]

That's fantastic to hear. Nothing like getting something that's been in the family for a while going again.

[@JerseyBill-x9r]

What fun! That was defiantly worth the time you spent on it just to see it run and run well. Great video.

[@SMTMainline]

Thanks, it was fun to put together.

[@brentpodoll5848]

Great video. I was a Lil proud to see my tanker showed on yur channel. A great honor. The drifting was just the icing on the cake

[@SMTMainline]

Thanks, it was fun making it.

[@johnheinzl8771]

Frankenloco lives again! Very creative Harrison! Great job - thanks again for sharing with us.

[@jhrstudios.87546]

Suddenly, I have two shark noses and inspiration brewing I might be making something cursed

[@THE-OUT-SIDE-FRAME-PORTER]

87546 DONT YOU F$%#ING DO IT

[@93gamrx]

[Old raspy authoritative voice] Do It

[@rushylvania.northern]

**rubs hands together** I simply must see where this goes

[@THE-OUT-SIDE-FRAME-PORTER]

@@93gamrx Sir thank about the kids

[@THE-OUT-SIDE-FRAME-PORTER]

It will cause an imbalance in the universe AND GOD WOULD NOT BE HAPPY

[@gordonlong3095]

Oh boy was that ever wild! When you triggered the switch after the first truck went over, I had a crazy flashback to watching slot cars go through a crossover with a neighboring track. A real drift there… I love that long tank you used in consist with the loco and wish I could find my own copy of it. It’s one of my favorite pieces of your rolling stock. I wonder… thinking about the cool layout you made for a family friend last year. I don’t think you could run super loco on the inside loop of that layout (or the outside tunnel section), but it would be cool to see briefly drift through the crossover section. Thanks for the wonderful madness! This is how you have fun with trains!

[@Fxe4014]

This is the most bizarre thing I've seen in years Ngl

[@basicallyarobloxian4533]

Finally, an F7 C unit.

[@spencercorby4571]

F7 alphabet unit

[@railfanmusicboi]

F7 QWERTYUIOPSADFGHJKLZXCVBNM unit.

[@tracynation2820]

EMD F-777ABA-3DP-2MAC dual cab streamlined Superior Super Chief passenger locomotive with three diesel engines and 4,500 horsepower, known fondly by the crews as the wandering drifter. 💙 T.E.N.

[@ultimateventus712]

This is one of the coolest things I've seen in this hobby. The fact it can drift just tickles me

[@danacampbell-vu2ut]

The " Frankenloco " is alive!!!! It even runs on two tracks at the same time! 👍❤️📹😃

[@jackswallowell7790]

Seeing that thing drift through sidings and curves looks so dang slick, well done man

[@wilfriedwerner7690]

This thing is going to make you popular and turn into a meam

[@carstrainsandcrossings8639]

*meme

[@cilli5866]

@@carstrainsandcrossings8639 mïïm

[@carstrainsandcrossings8639]

@@cilli5866 huh?

[@atlas1924]

@@carstrainsandcrossings8639 mema

[@JJ-el8li]

That is awesome. I love seeing someone have fun with non-traditional techniques.

[@joeblow5214]

That thing is so cursed, I love it.

[@radducku]

This will go viral on YT and not only! The drifting is in bleedin sane! Congrats Harrison! Make more XXL cars for a whole XXL train, please!

[@williammcgeehan3424]

3:05 That's a drive for the very first F40PH in ho scale plastic by Life-Like. It had an unusual diecast metal weight.

[@SMTMainline]

I bet it had decent pulling capacity. It must have been quite a workout for that motor.

[@BiggsHobbies]

Amazing seeing the Suuuuuuuper Chief running laps! Especially with that tanker behind it. Congrats on getting it to take corners, I never thought it would be able to!

[@brandongaines1731]

Harrison, you are my kind of modeler! An eye for realism, accompanied by an appreciation for the abstract, even absurd, and with a good sense of humor accompanying it all! And kudos to whoever made that overlong tank car for the Super Super Chief to pull! Well done, good sir!

[@SMTMainline]

Thank you, it's nice to hear that.

[@JeffHanna-f3d]

Fantastic video Harrison! The anticipation the last few weeks was worth it. You can tell when the beast soldering iron comes out the outcome is going to be good! Take care, Jeff.

[@jetegtmeier71]

Looks like a TRUE Australian Road Train train LOL

[@ginaklein8964]

Loved the last minute of your video.....your crazy Santa Fe running on two tracks!!!!!!! Loved your ingenuity!!!!

[@SMTMainline]

Thank you, I want to test its limits.

[@terencecobain]

I was thinking, "Man, those turns are so wide that it looks like the train's drifting" Then, you actually had it drift. Great custom!

[@callingalltrainfans9891]

Haven't seen multi track drifting for a while on the channel. It's nice to see you still do fun things with trains and haven't become over serious. Great video!

[@SMTMainline]

The centennial ruled the day drifting back then. My goal is to improve the channel without removing it from its roots of working on junky locomotives.

[@minxracing5817]

Clever the way you designed it enjoy watching these

[@SMTMainline]

Thanks, I sure had fun making it.

[@michaelbriody1376]

It not stupid it is amazing. This locomotive is the Best and smartest locomotive out there.

[@Kanikalion]

Dude. I never expected to see that monster doing full laps. Nice work! It was just a funny goofy project to start, but now it actually 'works.' *Clears throat.* Errr..... well. Runs.

[@Morganstein-Railroad]

In all fairness, I thought the loco was a crazy idea back when you first made it and thought you were crazy. Now I know you're crazy, and we all love that. What a MAD loco. Imagine if this was real. It would probably have some real power.

[@SMTMainline]

It's crazy but at least it works

[@kurtstrains]

This is why I love this channel, you don'[t get this with Model Railroader...

[@SMTMainline]

I don't know if they would like this one 😂

[@RamblingModelRailroader]

It's completely ridiculous and I love it!

[@drosera88]

When you've retired and scrapped all your F units in favor of Geeps and now you have to face the final boss.

[@ricardlupus]

There are a lot of nice model railway videos out there, but this is by far the most fun one I've seen in a long time! It's such a crazy idea, but excellently executed!

[@SMTMainline]

Thanks, I had a lot of fun putting it together.

[@tony791999]

This is what makes your channel so great!! Love this loco

[@PhotographerPhilosophy]

Thought I'd check in, you are doing a wonderful job Harrison! Glad you are continuing to make content!

[@SMTMainline]

Thanks. I'm glad to see you still stopping by after all these years

[@PhotographerPhilosophy]

@@SMTMainline Brother, life goes by very quicly. Working full time now, but I still work some weekends at the local train shop here in PA. Keep doing what you're doing!

[@mercuryoak2]

That locomotive is the weirdest longest Diesel. Looks hilarious doing the drift etc. Good work

[@BrianKunkler-c4d]

Harrison just saw the video and the only thing I can say is wow. Those rotating trucks was the key to getting it to go around the layout. Big congratulations on getting the super chief and super tanker on the rails

[@SMTMainline]

Thanks, I'm glad it worked out.

[@williamackerman6574]

I like the F series because of its shorter wheelbase compared to later models, so I can use 15 in radius track. But have fun, that's what model railroadin is all about.

[@petershepherd53]

You bring the fun into the hobby, keep it going,pete

[@MMRails]

Dude! LOL. That is so awesome. After a few laps I was thinking, you should run it on the inner track, then the drift move, laughed out loud. So cool. Well done. Also, I’m liking the transitions. Very Star Wars.

[@SMTMainline]

Thanks. I was really hoping that would work and I think it did pretty well.

[@Peter_Morris]

So much of model railroading is very serious. This was very refreshing and fun to watch!

[@billintex001]

Santa Fe FFS Fast & Furious Special. First there was the Chief. Then came the Super Chief. Now get ready for the Super Commander-in-Chief!

[@yambo59]

You never cease to both humor and amaze me, what a one of a kind kit bash as they say---LOL

[@SMTMainline]

Thank you! I had a lot of fun putting this one together.

[@Xpyburnt_ndz]

Drifting loco....HILARIOUS!!! GR8 job Harrison!

[@davidztog9011]

Drifting on the mainline, Harrison... You haven't done that in quite awhile. That's definitely a beast of a loco, and that tanker -- oof. Now you need an extended, extended vision caboose. Thanks for sharing. 👍🐾👍

[@SMTMainline]

I like that idea, an entire oversized train.

[@daniellewis1789]

​@@SMTMainline HO in width and height, O in length

[@Engine1988]

@@daniellewis1789 More like G.

[@jamesfitch6431]

Great imagination and Ingenuity. I enjoyed the video. Thanks for sharing.

[@reyesfrank2796]

Nice to see it finally taking turns on the layout

[@lytmoplayzz]

OH GOD IT RETURNED AAAHHHHHH

[@astein7035]

Love the creativity and can-do spirit! I was forced to be like that during my NAVY career! Serves me well to this day. Great job buddy! 👍👍👍

[@SMTMainline]

Thanks, I do try to make these things work.

[@varus5596]

Harrison, you deserve a medal for this … .

[@adamspender6595]

Oh mate, I did not, wow. That's so amazing, and the tank car too. Drifting..... Oh I've never seen anything like it. That's amazing and it goes all the way. Most entertaining. Thanks again SMT.

[@SMTMainline]

It was an unusual but successful one.

[@adamspender6595]

I love it mate. More joy to the hobby. Your layout, your rules.

[@mattaustin2128]

This is the greatest thing in model railway history! It’s a national treasure!

[@lexluthermiester]

@SMTMainline Harrison, that is one crazy, janky engine! I love it! It's the only engine I've ever seen that can travel on two separate track line at once! Well done indeed!!

[@misterflibble6601]

Frankenloco. "IT'S ALIVE!"

[@SwordlordRoy]

There's just something fun about taking an absolutely ridiculous idea and seeing it through to completion!

[@SMTMainline]

For sure!

[@BernieLomax-g8j]

I made a locomotive like this way back in 1994 I call it a DDDDPF45 as it uses the Canadian Pacific Wide style cab and uses 2 real engines to power the unit, all 4 trucks on my unit work as one giving the loco a lot of power, thanks for reminding me about it totally forgot about it, may remake it now seeing yours making it better than what it was from 94.

[@SMTMainline]

I wish I could have seen that, it sounds awesome.

[@DoodleOnMyRails]

Love this planning on making some stupid steam loco with 20 drivers

[@ServantOfBoron]

Strong "Densha De D" drifting vibes here. It's great :)

[@moonytheloony6516]

This is THE best locomotive on the channel, but that's just me. The Santa Fe Super Chief XL deserves its own track layout.

[@colekrueger52]

Now we just need a whole fleet of long railcars to make it complete. Maybe a caboose next?

[@SMTMainline]

I like that idea.

[@claytonhargreaves913]

Absolutely amazing thats very cool actually inspiring

[@johnnysgaragecarsgaming6841]

Now we need a whole Train of commedically long cars.

[@Rebecca_The_Dragon]

*when it goes around the corner* "Deja Vu! I've Been in this place before!"

[@naeemahmed6494]

this locomotive is honestly one of the greatest things ive ever seen. The EMD21

[@ovalwingnut]

That is the 2nd longest engine & rail car combo I've ever seen..

[@bobm3919]

Maxwell Smart?

[@gregsdesigns3923]

This has been my favourite one yet! Terrific job, well done very funny!!!

[@williamduncan1435]

That is the wildest, coolest locomotive I’ve ever seen, I love it!

[@BadgerlandRailVideos]

That ending scene of it "drifting" across both tracks. 😂

[@w.rustylane5650]

Serenity, we have a runner! Cheers from eastern TN

[@stevelittle1885]

This is a Great Project. I remember watching you build the SuperDuperChief. I Loved this Locomotive right away . The 2.0 Upgrade Version is beyond impressive. This is now 100 Percent my favorite of your collection. Maybe more XL cars built by your fans will arrive. I'd love to see more Crazy- fun Channel content like this. Best Wishes, SantaFeSteve

[@stevelittle1885]

I'm glad you don't let the Negative Comments from Snobby Scale Modelers get to you. Trains should be Fun. Most important part of any type of Model Railroading Endeavor. " FUN FIRST" I might decal that on a Caboose😊Cheers SantaFeSteve

[@SMTMainline]

People can say what they want about it. My goal was never to build something precise, it was just to make something for fun and it did so successfully 👍

[@SMTMainline]

Thanks. I'm glad this turned out to be possible - I can't wait to see everyones reactions at train clubs, shows etc 😂

[@Cape_Cod_Steve]

👍👍 Beach Boys nailed it - Fun , Fun , Fun . Pretty sure they also said , " It's my railway and I'll run what I want " , maybe that was Ozzy...

[@ARockRaider]

this has got to be the silliest thing i have ever seen on a model railroad! totally sending this to my dad!

[@SMTMainline]

Thanks, I had fun putting it together.

[@fastoutnotforkids7192]

All you need now is a caboose and all the other cars like that tanker. Man thinking of all the crazy things for this train needs to be its own video series. Heck even a playlist! Also more train drifting! But this time with a full train set full of long whatever cars. Because why not?

[@SMTMainline]

I already have a couple long box car kits which would probably look great behind it.

[@fastoutnotforkids7192]

@@SMTMainline that would be awesome to see. Lol

[@gabemiller4882]

I never seen a Santa Fe Super Chief locomotive diesel like that before that's pretty cool! Good job in fixing it and getting it running it's really cool!! Good job, Harrison 👍👍👏👏👏❤❤ Great video !! I love how it goes around the track pulling the big tanker😊😊👍👍😊😊😍😍

[@SMTMainline]

Thanks!

[@thrillscience]

This was hilarious, but also very imrpessive that it stayed on the tracks. Good work!

[@SMTMainline]

Thank you!

[@DennisLora2001]

Very outstanding fix and repair video

[@Dappdude]

One more thing I'd like to see: a drifting locomotive pulling a drifting tanker!

[@johncloar1692]

How much fun. Thanks Harrison for the video.

[@jasper_saberwolf]

Definitely the best engine in your roster, SMT, you’re truly a mad scientist…or in this case, engineer haha seeing that thing go around the corners was almost mesmerizing. The double track drifting was equal parts Fast & Furious and something akin to a twirling move from a marine rifle drill team lol

[@Jigoku_Samurai]

you mad genius, you've gone and made the worlds first true drifting engine, it looks great! you should've tried attaching the tanker behind the locomotive and see if it was able to do the same thing (if possible cause of the couplers). can't wait to see what creation you come up with next time from some scrap pieces.

[@SMTMainline]

I might have to modify the couplers to do that but yeah.

[@kyleshepard3139]

Boss, the foreman told you, you can’t drift the tra- Conductor: *BEAT OF THE RISING SUN INTENSIFIES*

[@Trainfan1055Janathan]

I legit thought this was manufactured and was so scared.

[@theundeadsqwerl8017]

Now we need to get a full train together.

[@theundeadsqwerl8017]

Add more rolling stock that is the same length.

[@jdenm8]

Tenshodo's T-Evolution Power Trucks can rotate a full 360° due to their self-contained nature. That is, if they clear the body and you don't use the terminals on the top to collect power from a trailer bogie. They're basically entire N-Gauge locomotive drivetrains fully enclosed inside a HO bogie. Designed to motorise static models. You're not likely to find one rattling around in a parts bin though.

[@SMTMainline]

I'm sure it would perform better but as you mentioned finding something for free is an unbeatable price.

[@stevenbryant3055]

I don’t know what unholy spirit possessed you to take one look at the parts and come up with the idea in the first place but I have to admit this is majestic

[@SMTMainline]

I've been wanting to make something like this for a while now and since the parts were worthless I decided why not.

[@stevenbryant3055]

@@SMTMainline well now it’s a masterpiece and a one of one, so those previously worthless parts have at least some value now

[@TapeCity]

Now you need a triple boxcar, triple hopper, triple gondola, triple caboose

[@DummyModder]

Idea if you ever expand the layout again: Actual water filled river? All that really has to happen is add some supports to the bottom, seal the ends and make sure the rest is sealed, add a recirculating system and bam working river!

[@SMTMainline]

That would be cool but putting it together without leaks might be a challenge.

[@ATI556]

This is so funny seeing it clear 2 tracks on the turn!