I'm rather fond of this old girl so it looks like I'll have to try and make her. What's the box on the roof just forward of the dynamic brakes? Also, what batch was she, she doesn't look a thing like the HO BLI or Walthers SD9s. It took me forever to track the real one down, let alone a model. Thanks, Josh
It looks like the box off of a gp38. I think SP added these to some units. Aside from SP specific features, what differences do you see?
BLI has the horn in the wrong place and like any SP loco, the headlights of corse, are wrong. They also left out the window ledge on the bottom and the sunshades for some reason (BLI SD9 #2418). I'll know more when it gets here but that's a first for me, a EMD without the ledge and sunshades. Walthers even gave me shades, and a steam generator too (SD7, #1430). I'm not saying there is anything wrong with 1852, I really like it the way it is. I just have some questions about how it got to be so handsome. Why does it have a box off a GP38, and which box is it? I don't like to use photos that aren't mine, so of anyone has any of the other side you'll see this unit has an ejection seat. I would like to point out that most people don't even have cars as old as this girl, let alone still running. Is it true they rebuilt her a few years ago? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
I just noticed that the front section doesn't seem to look right. Was it in a accident at some point? the step that runs along the bottom under the coupler is gone as is are the holes for the hoses when not in use.
The box is a Farr paper air filter. Many SP SD9s and GP9s got these. Sunrise Enterprises once made a detail part of them in N-scale. Perhaps HO too.
1. That indeed is a paper air filter- looks like the mod done to the GP9s when they went into the shop for rebuild. 2. Looks like it may have hit something just above track level, and it didn't look to the shop crews to be bent back far enough to worry about. That poor old wore-out SD would make a great model. Next one would be the SD7 (1501?) they use as the yard switcher. ANd somewhere on the property, they also had some other ex-SP SD9s still in full SP colors, with leasing marks from George Lavacort (sp?). As to the headlights- I have an SP GP9 from Walthers (P2K) that I'm having to redo the headlights. Thank goodness for Details West parts! (HL-100, for those keeping score at home).
I found a pic of the other side. I also got my SD9 in today. I'll upload pics if anyone wants to see what it looks like stock. Sunrise Enterprises seems to have folded, but Details West makes a "Superdetail Kit" for the rebuilt SD9Es with SP Farr Air Filter box.
To be clear, this loco is a SD9E now right? Also why didn't they paint their orange, yellow, and black logo on it?
Alright, I got my Details West SP SD9E rebuild with Farr Air filter kit. I was just wondering, why did they rebuild them? The parts alone look like a 30% change from stock. Also, is that a GPS transponder on top of the cab? Almost forgot, the DW part # is DS-335 for HO. It has the lights, air box, Cab hump (?), and a bunch of other stuff.
The cab hump is a rounded section extending back from the cab. Essentially the roof line maintains the round profile back for some distance behind the cab. As to why they were rebuilt, because they were old and tired. They got rebuilt with I believe 645 power assemblies and I think the airfilter improved probably engine combustion or something like that. As to why PNWR never repainted her, because they have a certain love of Heritage over there in Albany At least SP heritage. Note the picture of 1801 I just posted.
Capitol rebuild programs have often been done, by many companies. When the units have well proven themselves and the costs versus newer, unproven power align, then a "CRP" is well worth doing.
Oh sure, I just mean that NS is going CRP crazy right now. Altoona and Roanoke seem to be running non-stop.
Yup. There have been some photos posted here on TB, of some NS units being turned out. Nice and shiny.
Doesn't NS own some mega shop too? I had seem something about it and how they provide services for some other RRs too. I've also seen some photos of P&W's new shop when the 4449 went in for roller bering replacement. Kinda interesting that they installed a drop table in it. If the NS shop is the one I'm thinking of, that place is huge and has some crazy features, like the locomotive lift cranes. It must be something to see a loco get lifted and go flying past.