N scalers were very much pioneers back then. I remember the staff at Model Railroader "Americanizing" a Japanese 2-6-0 for their Enfield and Ohio project layout as there wasn't any American steam power available. It actually looked pretty good when they were done.
I found the old Arnold Rapido bridge that I salvaged off that layout. A little beat up but I can use it on my photo diorama.
The earlier GP7 was also very similar. I'll admit to not being able to tell the difference without reference photos. In fact, I remember reading that even Athearn was a bit confused in that their GP9 was actually a GP7? I think the biggest visual difference involves counting louvers.
The roof fans are different too, older GP7's have smaller fans, and 4 on the roof (without dynamic brakes), later models of GP9's had two bigger fans.
The easiest is checking out the louvers on the access door under the cab. The GP7 has a pair, and the GP9 has none. The GP7 also has one on the battery box just ahead (or behind, for long-hood forward ops), which may or may not be on the GP9. On the GP7 engine hood, below the radiators farthest from the cab, there are two columns of louvers in access doors, while the GP9 has only one column half the size of the GP7's on the access door at the extreme end of the long hood. Radiator fans, all GP7s and most GP9s have two groups of two 36" fans, while late-production GP9s have two large 48" fans - like the GP18 - replacing the two groups of 36" ones. GP18s are recognized by metal grills over the radiators instead of the chicken wire. Proto goofed on that one on a late GP9 I have which is painted and lettered for CN's Great Slave Lake Division, in yellow and red. Two large radiator fans, but grills instead of chicken wire. We're all human!
It's nice to see such interesting information about that engine. I don't recall ever seeing any of them in my neck of the woods. And when in the southern states while in the army, I was more interested in what I was going to fly in.
I never saw trains on Army bases. Ft. Campbell, Ft. Polk, Ft. Benning and back to Ft. Polk as a Drill Sgt. Assistant. None in Viet Nam. Only the airports in Japan and Anchorage.
I wish JBLM here in Washington used Army locos, but BNSF does all they're switching for military moves.
Can't go with the two 48" fans on the GP18's, the C&NW reused the 36" fans from their F3's on their GP18's, so they have 4 36" fans, which have been confused with GP9's over the years. Remember E(very) M(odel) D(ifferent). Rick Jesionowski
Still, the grids over the radiators should make it clear. The 36" fans were not standard stock items on GP18s. No more than Alco trucks on GP30s! Trade-ins...grrrr....
I have never seen a military switcher in use at Fort Lewis. But they did have a few two foot gauge engines for switching the ordnance bunkers. There used to be one on display at their military museum over by Camp Murray. Perhaps still is there?
I still gotta' get in there one day! My Dad went in there a few times, (ex-Army), and said it was awesome!
The Claiborne- Polk Military Railroad only lasted from September of 1941 until the end of WWII. Then it was dismantled. Long before our time. While I was at Fort Polk, I don't recall seeing any remnant of it, although supposedly bits and pieces of the right of way still can be found. I do have these items in my collection: https://train-orders.com/TOUR/M/MRS/MRS.html
