I was looking at my BN SD7, the one I never run because BN does not have SD7's for my time period (1995'ish) and I realized I do not even know what the differance between a SD7 and 9 is but because I know there is I can not run it. Deos anyone else have this problem, is there a cure? Kevin D Mumaw
Difference between SD-7's vs. SD-9's. Seems to me that I read somewhere and saw photos showing the primary spotting distance between SD-7's/9's was the location of the classification lights, centered over the numberboard on the 7's, at the edge of the hood on the SD-9's.
Years ago before there were any decent GP7's, I took an old Atlas GP9 and repainted it in the original issue C&O GP7 paint scheme - put the correct numbers on for the GP7 - never had any one notice.
Much like the SD7/SD9 at issue, they look the same and only rivet counters care. I remember maybe 5-10 years ago an MR article on painting up the RPP SD60 shells in DRGW with no modification to the shell, because it was close e-frickin-nuff
a rivet-counter's delight If I recall correctly, the only cosmetic differences between the SD-7 and the SD-9 are the handrails and the marker lights. SD-7's as delivered had round handrail stanchions, and SD-9's had U-channel stanchions. Marker lamps on the SD-7 are pretty much centered between the headlight and the edge of the hood, and on the SD-9 they are contained in a sort of teardrop-shaped fixture near the edge of the hood. I'd agree with the folks who say renumber 'em and run 'em. Ray
Oh I know that I should just renumber it and no one will notice but me, but there is a nagging voice in my head that screms no. I just remember the days when I could run whatever I wanted and not care, sometimes I wish I still did that..... Kevin
Well the differences are minimal as pointed out and BN inherited units from the GN and the CB&Q, and units got chop nosed and rebuilt, and not to mention that the different orders as they came in would sometimes have some differences and its your railroad. So I would just renumber to reflect the SD-9 series and run it.
Quick, call a medic. Kevin's becoming a rivit counter!!! If they get to him quick enough he might have a chance. LOL!!!
Hello, I don't pay too much attention to strict time lines. Remember that in 1989 and 1990, BN bought some ex B&O and DM&IR SD9s, some of which were actually upgraded SD7s. If I were you, I would not even renumber your SD7s, I would just run them. They look and run great with the SD24s that I also have. When the SD9s came out, I raised a few eyebrows at the railroad club by running a GN-BNSF-GN set on one of my trains. After all the BNSF unit is a former GN unit and the paint jobs are close enough for me. (I'm not a purist, I just want to have fun running trains) Above all, have fun. Mark
I miss those days of Tyco F units of questionable lineage, and all those RTR trains with horn hook couplers. Life was so much simpler then. Even MR magazine was less obsessive about things. I just run what I like. To worry about some kind of train police coming over to check on you is silly and possibly unhealthy.
Hey, It's your RR,have fun with them.I run SD-70's with steam. Who cares.Enjoying your trains !!!!! That's the name of the game.:teeth: :thumbs_up:
I concur, I have a similar problem with SP's GS-3's and GS-4's. can only find a GS-4 (there's brass GS-3's, but they're really expensive) in N-Scale, but a GS-4 is slightly out of my era and the only visible difference between a 3 and a 4 is the 3 has an open cab, where-as the 4 is a closed cab. the solution, I run the 4 as a 3 that's a proto-type 4, or modified for a colder climite.
Kevin, I know what you mean. I go back and forth into that realm of "rivet-counter dimensia" myself. Overall my mantra is "model railroading is fun" and I don't want to get so serious about it that I can't even run something I like....but by the same token, "fun" to me is reproducing, as accurately as possible, a certain railroading scene at a point in time with appropriate structures, locos, rolling stock, vehicles, etc. So there's the rub. I say, if you already have one just run it. Most of my "picking of nits" is an internal thing designed only to slow down purchases...so I wouldn't buy an SD7 because I know (modeling the same basic timeframe you do) that it doesn't fit. And even an SD9, while appropriate for the era, was not a common visitor to the region I model. So while I might get an SD7 as a fill in for an SD9 if it was a key part of my "scheme", I definitely would not buy one to represent what is a "fringe" locomotive in the first place. But if somebody gave me one as a gift, or I won it as a raffle, or already had one from a past era layout or something...then yes, I'd run the wheels off of it. From 3-feet away it goes from being an SD7 to "umm, looks like 6 axles so it must be an SD-something...has a high hood so unless it's some kind of shopped creation it's probably an SD7 or SD9." Then it would be "what's the unit's number and maybe they'd know off the top of their head, but doubtful. There aren't as many TRUE rivet counters as you would imagine, and most wouldn't give you grief over that, as a courtesy, unless prompted as part of a conversation or question. Now if you invited the FOBNR over you might be asking for it just because they're BN nuts, but mostly people just don't know everything about every railroad to the point where they would start calling you out. (and if they did you could show them the door!) Still, I know part of the enjoyment for some in model railroading (myself included) is to try and make the best effort to have everything be "appropriate". Just don't beat yourself up over it. I find myself being more and more leniant about things as time goes by...like for example I bought one each of the Athearn John Deer tractor-loaded flats in TTX and BNSF, just because I thought they looked cool and something different for a freight train, even though the cars (if not the tractors) aren't necessarily appropriate for my era.
When we agree on something that is not protypicaly correct like running n SD7 for a SD9 should we not say, "I Concor" instead of "I concur"? After all did not Concor take prototypically correctness to a low surpassed only by the belly of a rattlesnake in a wagonwheel rut in Death Valley? Next time you hear that voice telling you it is not protypically correct tell it to shut up!
Ok, heres my final decision maker. On the end of the Life-Like box the description reads SD7/9. So it is a 9.
hey...it's your railroad. run what you like ! before kato produced the ac-4400 for cp rail i custom painted more than two dozens c44-9w in ac-4400 road numbers. you won't notice the error if looked at from more than 3 ft away.
