I would like to add a few GP40 variants to my Rio Grande roster, and while custom painting is not hard, especially for this scheme, knowing what units to look for would be helpful. What special spotting features made D&RGW's Geep 40's different from the other orders? Mars lites will be added, but making them work (richmond controls?) would come later. I know they had some form Conrail, and a pair of these are planned. Rio Grande owned dozens of Geep 40 variants, and I plan on rostering a good sampling of them on my next layout. Atlas' Geep 40 series is a nice unit, and stripping them is simple, with 91% alky. What roads do I look for? Almost any unit with DB would work, in my experience, as I don't recall Atlas making several phases for different prototypes, as they did with the SD24's. [ 05. November 2004, 12:32: Message edited by: HemiAdda2d ]
Hemi: Are you doing these in HO scale? Than the GP40 by Atlas with the dynamic is correct. You'll need to add the mars light to the nose 137 or 138 DW part, (I'm at work and don't have the notes infront of me.) The ex-Conrail units don't have the mars light (making it easier to model) the Microscale decals 1128 or 28 whcih ever is darker for those. http://www.drgw.org/data/ The numbers are: 3051-3093 exConrail: 3131-3153 There are some great notes on the site mentioned above. Such as 3081-3093 delivered with the Large Rio Grande on the flanks, and the fact the the blower housing has the ribs, prior units do not. Email me off list and I'll send you the parts list to detail these. lizzard_45@yahoo.com
Paul L, check the forum this thread is in... I'm doing them in N, of course! I just want a decent representation, not exact replicas. That'd require cutting, bashing, etc. Someting I'm not adept at yet.
I'm so embarassed! Right, N scale. Right. The Atlas is a good starting point. Did they make a -2? The decal numbers should be the same, just 160 vice 87. 3051-3093 are pretty much stock GP40s with a three chime horn above the cab center, sinclair antennae and nose lights. 3094-3028 are GP40-2s, 3129 and 3130 have a straight side sill, and Q fans and are GP40-2s also. I haave some photos if you need them. Paul [ 05. November 2004, 21:49: Message edited by: Paul Liddiard ]
Atlas does a straight 40 and -2 variant, Jerry and Paul. What phases they represent I'm not aware of (never needed to find out! ) but I'm sure you can sort that from photos that Paul L can source of DRGW units. I can take a shot or two of an undecorated GP40-2 shell later, if you like.
The two Rio Grande numbers (#3131 and #3141) done by Atlas in the most recent release of the GP40's represent the Ex-Conrail units - they have a different style of lettering on the road numbers. Check out http://espee.railfan.net/drgw.html for some photos. You'll have to watch some of the GP40-2 prototypes though. I'd love to do something like: but I don't think any of the Atlas models match the later version of the GP40-2, which I think was built in 1983 or so. For my mind, the main spotting features on these DRGW GP40-2's are the extended range dynamic brake blister, the angular (laundry shute) blower duct and the later style vertical radiator screens (refered to as corrugated????). I've got one of the first run Atlas loco's which does have the extended range DB's and the later radiator screens, but the earlier rounded blower duct. Having a quick look at the photos at the above site, I was struggling to find one that matched the Atlas model...but #3122 may do. Most of the Rio Grande units seemed to have the earlier chicken mesh style of radiator screens. I'd love to see Atlas offer this 'phase' of the GP40-2 as well, I know I could use some SP versions as well as DRGW ones. There was an article in RMC not that long ago which dealt with modelling Rio Grande GP40's or GP40-2 in N Scale with the Atlas models. Hope this helps!
I appreciate the info guys! I have a BN GP40 (-2?) upstairs, I may look it over, and see which phase it fits. That has helped a bunch!
Hemi, I think the BN are just 40's.I don't think Atlas did a -2 BN.I may be wrong and is I am it's just 2 more engines I need then.Please let me know too. Thanks
I checked my Geep 40 at home, and it has chicken wire rad. grilles, and normal dynamic brakes; rather than the vertical louvered radiators, and extended range dynamics, and engineers side sight glass. I would say it too is a Geep 40.
There were only two GP40-2 units like this, 3129 and 3130, built in 1983 (the only GP40-2s that were built that year. 3094-3128 had the regular blower housing and non corrigated rad. grills. GP40s 3051-3093 were straight from EMD, 3131-3153 were second hand from conrail.
Minatures by Eric has (had?) an angled blower lost wax brass casting. You could always scavenge one off an SD60 body...
OK, folks, thanks for the info on the Geep 40's.... Next up for bid: Geep35's! Atlas made several phases of these, 1A and 1B. Which is most correct for D&RGW? Same goes for Geep 30's. Thanks for all your help!
On the GP-30 I think you need the version with the nose light to get closest. DRGW had the nose (mars or gyra)light until they decided to drop that feature which I think didn't happen till after the SP purchase. GP35 I can't help. I can't personally tell the difference. Of course I haven't taken the time to put two units side by side with a 'loop' . From my perspective I hope Atlas will do more Rio Grande GP7's 30's & 35's. I really need a GP-7 in the no-stripe scheme to model the ex DRGW units on the RI. I'd also like to get some more GP-30's to model the Pueblo-Alamosa train. Atlas has some of the tank cars. DI has the wood-chip cars. RC has the Mech reefers. RC, Atlas & IMRC have the covered hoppers. I need the 3002 to go with the 3131 & 3141. We'll have the 3154 soon (yes it only came to the valley on a rare basis but I don't care).
GP30s: they came to the Grande in two lots, 3001-3013 had the phase one cab (same length on both sides). 3014-3028 had the "crew cab" which was extended on the firemans side. GP35s were numbered 3029-3038 pahse 1, and 3039-3050. They, as well as the GP30s, had mars lights on the nose. The phase 1, with 6 louvers on the battery boxes, the phase two had 2 louvers on the battery boxes. They 30s and 35s were delivered without plows, but received them later. In HO the DW 286 is correct for these units, while the DW 155 is correct for the 40s and 40-2s. I don't know if there is a comperable one in N scale. Once again I suggest the Yahoo Groups D&RGW list and http://www.drgw.org that link has some very good info. Also the esspe photos and fallenflags for photos of the units. I'm still working on the eight P2Ks GP30s in HO that I have, and the six kato 35s! Paul H. Liddiard [ 05. November 2004, 16:46: Message edited by: Paul Liddiard ]
All GP30s and GP35s were delivered with the small Rio Grande logo on the long hood. GP35 3048 was the ONLY GP35 to receive the Large stacked Rio Grande after a wreck repair. GP30s 3001, 3002, 3014 and 3027 received the large stacked Rio Grande logo, after wreck repairs. 3005, 3009 and 3025 were all destroyed in wrecks.
Need more prototype photos? Here's some: DRGW GP40s and DRGW GP40-2s Also, might want to pay close attention to the Microscale decal sets. Some come in the regular bright DRGW orange and some come in a later darker orange that was used on the ex Conrail units. AFAIK there is no designation to differentiate the two. And just to add: DRGW GP30s and DRGW GP35s [ 08. November 2004, 04:05: Message edited by: John Barnhill ]
I'm a little late to the party, but I decided to do #3129 (pictured above). The Atlas radiators are correct, but I decided against the surgery required for the blower duct. (I still have to blank out the nose headlight.) By the way, I've noted that even today the units have no visible cab air conditioners...
