where could i find a good deal on a SP U-boat of any kind (U33C U23B B30-7) powerd or dummy even a slug thanks
Why not Atlas? They make a nice U-boat series, for example U30C: http://www.atlasrr.com/Images/HOLocomotives/hou30c/7343.jpg B23-7: http://www.atlasrr.com/Images/HOLocomotives/hob237/72406/8061TQ.jpg or even (Cotton Belt): http://www.atlasrr.com/Images/HOLocomotives/hob237/72406/8059TQ.jpg Cheers, Colin
If you're looking for "classic" GE U-Boat styling (not counting the later Dash-8s, 9s, and ACs SP bought later on), SP had U25Bs, U28Bs, U28Cs, U30Cs, U33Cs, U50s, B23-7s, B30-7s, and B36-7s (they did not buy U23Bs). All of the U-series models were off the roster by the mid-80s at the latest (specifically some U33Cs that lingered on when all the rest had long since gone to scrap), but the later Dash-7s lasted on past the UP takeover. As for HO scale models, Atlas recently did nice models of the U30C in SP, and did a U33C for SP a few years ago that you might be able to find. They recently did models of the B30-7 for SP and SSW (SSW had some early B36-7s in B30-7 carbodies, which Atlas is also doing), and have an SP B23-7 about to hit the market, if not already. Stewart did the U25B, and have just recently released a model of one in SP's Bicentennial paint. SP's U28Bs were early units in U25B carbodies, so the Stewart model would work fine for one of these with some minor tweaks. For the monster U50, none have been done in plastic; brass is your only option.
One minor clarification; those links are for SP/SSW B30-7s, not B23-7s.:tb-wink: Quick way to tell them apart, aside from the engine compartment doors, are the number series - SP's B23s are in the 51xx-series, while the SP/SSW B30/36-7s are in the 77xx-78xx number series.
Espee U-Boats As mentioned Espee had several different U-boats. Some details will be needed such as headlights in the low nose and the red signal light on the cab roof. The C-boats had snowplows mounted on the fron and in some cases on both ends. Check Richard Percy's site "My Espee Modelers Homepage"(Espee.railfan.net) for some information and photos. John Barnhill has his site Nor-Cal Espee Connection (ncespee.railfan.net) with excellent photos as well. Both sites will provide photos for adding the correct details to your models.
i have 4-5 Atlas U-boats and 5-6 Athearns already and i have checked out Espee.railfan.net and it is pretty cool i will try the trainshows and look on Ebay and the train shoppe (you never know they had a dummy NYC PA1B slug athearn BBox one time)
I notice that at many of the shows, dealers still have the Atlas U33 and 36Cs. These were the first of the Atlas's made in China. They are fairly inexpesive now, about $25 to $40 Flee market or white elephant. I have two U33C's in Family Lines, they run quite well. Now these aren't anything as great as the newest runs but they're a good loco.
there is a trainshow coming up in a little wile and i will be scanning it for hard to find stuff and i might come back with something very rare so i need a site on stuff that is rare and i might come back with a U-boat
The Stewart U25Bs I have are made with the Athearn drive (first run), and work well with my other Athearn U-boats. Since SP had 'em, you may be able to find one somewhere, either at train shows or even on eBay (have your folks do the bidding). The Athearn Uboats have the wider-than-scale hoods (to fit an old style motor once used by Athearn), but are still good runners. Were I an Espee modeler, I'd be looking for a "blue box" model in SP colors. Again, check out the swap meets, eBay, or some of TB's advertisers.
More U-Boats via Athearn There are ten BB U-Boats on the Oregon Central & Pacific 2 U28B's 5 U30B's and 3 U33B's as well as several in BN and Espee here.
I was puzzled by this thread at first as it said BB, but then talked about U33C. A later post then mentioned 'Blue Box' at which point it all became clear. Was it just me?
IIRC, one of them did; offhand I don't remember the number. I'll have to crack open some of my SP books when I get home. For the most part, the U33C fleet was pretty much rusting in deadlines by the mid-80s, with that odd straggler or two lingering on in active service a little longer. And there were a couple assigned to West Colton as emergency generators; they never moved, and had SPMW numbers applied. IIRC, they may have stuck around the longest (early 90s?) before being hauled off to scrap. Of all the models SP rostered, those big boats were some of the ones SP didn't get their moneys worth. As Joe Strapac pointed out in SPHD Vol. 5, SP was taking delivery of new U33Cs at the same time it was deadlining some of its earlier U33Cs.:tb-wacky:
i miss the Reading and Northern U-boats this is them in action http://www.readingnorthern.com/photos/photo28.jpg and this is them now http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.geocities.com/smeghead_751495/trains/rn2399.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.geocities.com/smeghead_751495/locograveyard.html&h=427&w=748&sz=229&hl=en&start=1&um=1&tbnid=lD5IpN5e5i_l6M:&tbnh=80&tbnw=141&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dreading%2Band%2Bnorthern%2BU23B%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DG sad isnt it they are hiding slugs NJ transit U34CHs there SP and SF and conrail U-boats i want my dad to call and see if we can get a tour of the yard
