I am trying to confirm and have not been able to find evidence that does or refutes so I am asking here: Did ATSF's small fleet of GP-9's with Steam Generators also have Torpedo Tubes?
I don't think they did but can not find any proof. #726-731 were delivered with steam generators but there is no mention in any of the documents I have that they had roof mounted air tanks like many of the passenger GP-7s did. I will keep looking for a photo of one of these elusive beasts.
OK, found a photo of GP-9 731 in the new First Quarter 2006 Warbonnet. On page 11, with steam generator lit, it leads a freight train. No roof tanks. It was sent as relief steam for the Grand Canyon that was stuck in Williams Junction with no opperating steam generators on December 22, 1968.
I just got a call and Cinthia Priest's book confirms that. CRUD I had a great deal lined up for some Atlas TT GP-9's. HMMMMmmmmm maybe SP.... They had them
Wig-Wag, One of the orginal TT Boats in here in the west at the Pacific locomotive Assn. Nile canyou RR. The number is 5623 and there are several pictures of it all over the modle railroad books. Shannon ATSF LIVES WP LIVES
Except the 5623 is too well documented to do. I am not a rivet counter and would be eaten alive if I did a unit that could be critiqued as much as that one.
I may be a day late and dollar short. Me thinks I can help. I can't swear to any GP9's. One unit I have a picture of (not mine) is #2650 a GP7 dressed up in zebra stripe livery. About to pull a short hop headed east out of San Bernardino. I would be happy to share the picture with you however by e-mail, only. Send me your e-mail address and I will forward the picture, for reference use only. I am not allowed by the owner to post it publicly. hpwrick@yahoo.com I need to add that it would take a well trained eye to note the difference between a GP9 or GP7. Virtually the same unit except for the prime mover and other minor details. More to come need to do some research for you. [ April 02, 2006, 11:49 AM: Message edited by: BarstowRick ]
Further information: As I begin to look at the unit pictured, with a critical eye. The GP7 did not have the dynamic break bulge, at the top. It was a straight edged unit from the cab back. It had the full or high nose and was dressed in the ATSF black zebra stripe. You would be safe to buy the GP9's if they match this description. I have two Atlas N Scale models that all but precisely match the picture. One of them is numbered 2652 and came as a GP7 TT Ph 1. If N scale is the subject being modeled. Can't help you with HO. Dr. Cinthia Priest in her book The Santa Fe Diesel documents with pictures the #2951 and #2952 TT. She goes on to mention these units differed only in the battery door access and prime mover... from the GP9's. With some minor handrail details. I concur. Again my two cents. Hope this helps. [ April 02, 2006, 11:51 AM: Message edited by: BarstowRick ]
Hi, all, I believe that Santa Fe GP9s 726 thru 731 were equipped with steam generators. However, none of the GP9s were Torpedo Tubes, as these had dynamic brakes, and carried their air tanks in the conventional location under the frame next to the fuel tanks. I believe that the Santa Fe's Geeps that were Torpedo Tube + steam generator, were GP7s. There were a few early ones (numbers 2650-2654), and there was one late one (number 2848). This info is from: http://members.aol.com/JFuhrtrain/ATSF_GP7.htm as well as from 'Santa Fe Diesel Vol. 1' by Cinthia Priest. These sources say that Torpedo Tube rooftop air tanks & steam generators were on GP7s 2650-2654 and 2848. The book goes on to say that GP7s 2879 thru 2893 also had steam generators on board, but from the URL above, it states these were equipped with dynamic brakes. The GP-9 info is also based on my recollection of various readings and pictures from the Morning Sun Santa Fe books, and various other Santa Fe web sites. Happy to be corrected if I've not remembered or transcribed any of the info above correctly. BTW, here's a link to a whole bunch of Santa Fe diesel roster info: http://rosters.gcrossett.com/atsf/intro.htm Enjoy, all.
I know it may seem crazy. I have no qualms about doing a ATSF AC-4400 in Zebra stripe. That's because the ATSF was merged into BNSF before these were ordered. One can guess but nobody can say for certain they would not have ordered them that way. I even have an F-40PH in Rock. However for my models that existed when the railroad did I just can't do that. My ATSF GP9's need to have DB as they actually did. Now to get Atlas to do more S/G equipped units and more TT units.
This is one of my first train pictures. It was taken in June 1964 at Grand Canyon Village and shows the passenger GP9 that was used on the passenger train from Grand Canyon to Williams Jct.
