PROTOTYPE INFO: 

In 1949, EMD introduced the GP7. The basic design followed most diesel switchers with the addition of a short hood instead of an end-cab. The hoods were also full height to better accommodate the diesel engine and mechanical and electrical components. 

In 1954 EMD upgraded the GP7 to become the 1,750 horsepower GP9. Externally, the first GP9s were virtually unchanged from the last GP7s. Later versions would include different louver arrangements and the last ones would come without the frame skirting. The GP9 was available with all of the fuel tank, steam generator, and dynamic brake options as the GP7, including “torpedo boats.” 

LOCOMOTIVE FEATURES:

• Front and rear MU catch boxes with footboard 
• Trainline and MU hoses 
• Coupler cut levers 
• Drop steps unless noted 
• MU stands 
• “Nub” style walkway tread 
• Bell placement & type per prototype 
• Fine-scale handrails for scale appearance 
• Wire grab irons 
• Lift rings 
• Windshield wipers 
• See through cab windows and full cab interior 
• Etched metal radiator intake grilles and fan grilles 
• Air tanks mounted below sill unless noted 
• Detailed fuel tank with fuel fillers, fuel gauges, breather pipes, and retention tanks 
• Blomberg-B trucks with appropriate bearing caps 
• Sander lines 
• Speed recorder unless noted 
• Fully-assembled and ready-to-run 
• DCC-ready features Quick Plug™ plug-and-play technology with both 8- and 9-pin connector 
• Scaled from prototype resources including drawings, field measurements, photographs, and more 
• Accurately-painted and printed paint schemes 
• Body mounted McHenry operating scale knuckle couplers 
• Genesis driveline with 5-pole skew wound motor, precision machined flywheels, and multi-link drivetrain for trouble free operation 
• All-wheel drive with precision gears for smooth and quiet operation 
• All-wheel electrical pickup provides reliable current flow 
• Wheels with RP25 contours operate on all popular brands of track 
• Incandescent bulbs for realistic appearance 
• Bidirectional constant lighting so headlight brightness remains constant 
• Heavy die-cast frame for greater traction and more pulling power 
• Packaging securely holds for the model for safe storage 
• Replacement parts available 
• Minimum radius: 18” 

SOUND EQUIPPED MODELS ALSO FEATURE: 

• Onboard DCC decoder with SoundTraxx Tsunami2 sound 
• Sound units operate in both DC and DCC 
• Full DCC functions available when operated in DCC mode 
• Engine, horn, and bell sounds work in DC 
• All functions NMRA compatible in DCC mode 
• Excellent Slow speed control 
• Operating lighting functions with F5 and/or F6 
• Program a multiple unit (MU) lashup with lead unit only horn, bell, and lights 
• Many functions can be altered via Configuration Value (CV) changes 
• CV chart included

N&W FEATURES: 

History shows us that the Norfolk and Western tried their hardest to keep the steam era alive. Because of that one fact, they didn’t buy any new F-units and they used GP9s for their crack passenger trains. As a matter of fact, the NW had twenty-two late Phase 3 geep 9s with steam generators. The first six units had the typical four 36” fans on the roof while the others wore two 48 inchers. 

All of these units were unusual for a GP9 as they had a GP20 style fuel tank and walkway with slotted inspection holes. These good looking engines were delivered in a metallic tuscan with yellow lettering to match their 50s era passenger cars. Sometime after 1964 they were painted in the handsome and conservative N&W #23 dark blue with yellow trim. 

ALL UNITS: 

• Cab roof mounted Leslie S5 horn 
• Long hood forward operation 
• Phase III details with forward fuel fill 
• Canvas style sunshades 
• 502 & 508 Blue 
• 514 & 521 Tuscan 

#502: 

• 36” fans 
• Full louver on battery box 

#508, #514, & #521: 

• 48” fans 
• Two small louvers on battery box