American Z Line now has back in stock their popular Union Pacific GP7s. These amazing four axle locomotive's feature a powerful 8mm Faulhauber motor, dual flywheels, traction tires, directional controlled LED lighting, optional snap in pilots with body mount couplers, prototype accurate printing as well as prototype correct details such as the winterization hatch. The AZL UP GP7s are model number 6205. Three roadnumbers are available. These are 102, 113 and 122. All Ztrack subscriber and dealer backorders will be shipped this week. Please contact your authorized AZL dealer for pricing and to order. Rob Kluz
I bought a AZL U.P. geep when they first came out, ran great and the colors are right on U.P. Love that Orangeish yellow. Superb paint job.
I was doing research on the GP7s, and came across this photo of a UP GP7. You can see the winterization hatch on the prototype which is on the ALZ release. The photo looks like a Tom Mann/Jurg locomotive waiting to happen! The photo is from Railroad Picture Archives.NET. This site is a great resource! Rob
I have the privilege of watching UP locos roll through my town in the western suburbs of Chicago nearly every day. While these are nice - don't get me wrong - I'd love to see modern UP locos with their new brighter yellow coloring and bolder "UNION PACIFIC" lettering. Are they available from any of the reputable z-scale manufacturers? Thanks, bob PS - I'm also seeing more and more semi containers loaded on trains and fewer boxcars per train.
Bob, The following ones are brass. Most are no longer available, but you might like seeing some of the modern UP power that was on market for Z. The SD70Ms shown above are from American Z Line. They are injection and still available. The brass below is also from American Z Line and show a history of releases going back to 2000. SD45 SD40-2 (still available) SD40-2 snoot nose SD40T-2 You can find more information at: http://www.ztrack.com/AZL/amerzlines.html As for intermodal, this is a growing area in Z scale. MTL, FR, EDM Models, and Ztrack Intermodal all offer intermodal cars. Here is a sampling of Thralls that we offer: Ztrack Center: Ztrack Intermodal Rob Kluz
Here are two more classic brass AZL UPs - C44-9W. Both the winged UP and regular version: C44-9w - winged herald C44-9W Rob
C44's already in my UP family !! Hook up anything you want behind it an run a long train. They are the truly classic big engine ! And thanks Rob for the weathering pix !!! When I get my airbrush, I'd toss in a Gp shell and go for it. Perfect for the new end module industrial. (ah, the things that chemicals can do to local metal . . . . .
OK, here is the most-frequently spotted UP engine I see plying the tracks around Chicago: Based on the photos you included in your post Rob (thanks for that), it "looks" like a straight-up SD40T-2. And from your note, it also appears to be "out of production". Rats! What's a fellow to do when the prototypical loco you see every day isn't for sale? bob
Bob, there isnt one in z scale. The closest one is the C44-9W, which is still the only GE in z scale. Still, a SD40 is a good substitude for the Dash8, and I suspect in the future, you will see more of the Dash 9s as the Dash 8s are retire.
I just received my May issue of Scale Rails. On page 70, the show Western Pacific GP7 704. The locomotive was delivered in 1952. It was part of an 8 loco order for the WP (roadnumbers 701 - 709). They were the first diesel road switchers purchased by the road. The loco came in the WP orange and aluminum paint scheme. Later is was repainted into the Perlman green scheme with orange lettering. This locomotive was destined to become Union Pacific roadnumber 102. This is the same roadnumber released by AZL and is shown on page 1 of this thread! The loco stayed with the UP until July of 1987. Rob
It depends on what you mean: if you mean power - tractive effort, the closest EMD product should be an SD60. Translated in Z scale, the closest should be the AZL SD70M, provided the SD70 with standard cab (ie "non safety") are due sooner or later (with NS or IC paintscheme, as far as I've understood). If you mean the general shape, that's true Tunnels Motors are not that far and could be a good basis for kitbashing (starting from the chassis). Otherwise, if you speak about the manufacturer, not a great choice: the only Z scale GE sample is indeed the C44-9: a good modeller could scratchbuild a "standard cab" in order to reproduce a C40-9 "standard cab" (that has been delivered only for NS), or approximatively sized C40-8. Hope this helps, Dom
Dom, to kitbash a C40-8, it need almost a completely new shell. Maybe we can get David do one his masterpiece. The cab is significantly different from the EMDs, and the truck are different too. I dont think we even have that kind of truck in z scale. One of the easiest way to tell the difference between the Dash8 and a Dash9 is by the trucks. The Dash9 has HiAd trucks. The Dash 8 also has a thinner wing radiator because it doesnt have the split cooling. Its too bad they are so different, otherwise I would have build one myself. I would love to have a Dash8 in YN2 scheme.
