PROTOTYPE SPECIFIC INFORMATION

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 tube” air tanks mounted on the roof.

Many railroads chose to rebuild their GP7s and GP9s for continued service. Often times, it was cheaper to do this rather than purchasing brand-new locomotives.

 

GP9 SERIES LOCOMOTIVE FEATURES:

• Full cab interior

• Coupler cut levers

• Flexible rubber trainline hose

• Drop steps unless noted

• Lift rings

• Windshield wipers

• Wire grab irons

• See-through cab windows

• Flexible rubber MU hoses

• “Nub” style walkway tread

• Sander lines

• MU stands

• See-through cab windows

• Bell placement & type per prototype

• Etched metal radiator intake grilles and fan grilles

• Air tanks mounted below sill unless noted

• Blomberg-B trucks with appropriate bearing caps

• Speed recorder unless noted

• Body-mounted McHenry operating scale knuckle couplers

• DCC-ready features Quick Plug plug-and-play technology with 21-pin NEM connector

• Fine-scale Celcon handrails for scale appearance

• Detailed fuel tank with fuel fillers, fuel gauges, breather pipes, and retention tanks

• Genesis driveline with 5-pole skew wound motor, precision machined flywheels, and multi-link drivetrain

• All-wheel drive with precision gears for smooth & quiet operation

• All-wheel electrical pickup provides reliable current flow

• Wheels with RP25 contours operate on all popular brands of track

• Bidirectional constant LED lighting so headlight brightness remains constant

• Heavy die-cast frame for greater traction and more pulling power

• Scaled from prototype resources including drawings, field measurements, photographs, and more

• Accurately-painted and –printed paint schemes

• Fully-assembled and ready-to-run

• Packaging securely holds model for safe storage

• Minimum radius: 18” — Recommended radius: 22”

 

SOUND-EQUIPPED MODELS ALSO FEATURE

• Onboard DCC decoder with SoundTraxx Tsunami2 sound

• Dual cube speakers for optimal sound quality

• 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

• Precision slow speed control

• 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 in the box

 

 

Union Pacific

During the late 1960’s, UP modified some of their GP9 fleet with large snow plows from retired steam locomotives. UP called these “Pilot Snow Plows” but because of where they served, railfans simply referred to these as Branchline Plows. To combat areas with high snow fall during winter months, UP would run these GP9’s to help clear out snow on some of their branch lines where lighter weight power was needed.

 

UP FEATURES:

• Newly tooled “Branchline” front plow and cut levers

• Early “pipe” style handrails with newly tooled correct front end rail

• Beacon (effect in DCC)

• Phase II UP body

• Roof cab vent

• 1200 Gallon Fuel Tank

• Hood-mounted horn

• Winterization hatch

 

ROAD NUMBER SPECIFIC FEATURES:

• #146 Western Cullen beacon, small numbers on ends and number boards, whip antenna

• #149 Xenon strobe beacon, larger numbers on ends and number boards, firecracker antenna

• #165 Western Cullen beacon, small numbers on ends and larger number board font, whip antenna

 

 

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