I'll start with the pics: Here's what I know about this engine. It's an Atlas, and I got it for $40. I also haven't applied any of the detail parts yet. Here's my question- is the rear part of this model correct? It looks like it's a B23-7, but on every prototype photo I've seen, in the rear of the engine (and you're gonna have to excuse my complete lack of technical words describing what I'm talking about), up on the top where it gets wider, the width of the middle-part of the engine (yellow) is NOT wider- it's the same width the whole way back. It looks like it's supposed to only get wide and flare out at the top of the rear, but this model is wide all the way down, which causes the rear of the train to look very wide (check the middle picture above). Am I on crack or is this just a bad model? It doesn't bother me all that much, and it's the best running engine I have. Anybody know what I'm talking about? thanks- Dave
Definitely a GE U-boat, predecessors to the "Dash" line. If it is a U23B or U25B, I am unsure, but it looks just like that photo - not really sure how different externally the U23 and 25s were. I do know Atlas made a U25B, so...? [ 10. February 2003, 18:05: Message edited by: Harron ]
Corey, the U25B's had a different carbody with the step-up at the rear of the frame walkway. Bill compare: U25B - RI
Thanks for the ID guys. Yeah, it's just like the U23B in that photo you linked, wabash. I was starting to think it was just a poor modeling job and that I was going to have to hack up the rear end and make it completely different! That would be no fun. Now I've gotta put some numbers on it, put the handrails & details on it, and weather it up like the dinosaur it is. Dave
If you wanted to you could call it a U30-B. You have to count the doors in the long hood to tell them from the 23 . You'd expect the 30 to be longer than the 23 (bigger engine), but they say the 23 was a 30 with a smaller engine dropped in, so maybe not. I've never managed to find dimensions for them. There were also 28, 33 and 36 models (they are all 100s of hp), but they had more distinct visual differences. The U25-B is different again because as well as the step-up near the rear that Wabash mentioned, it had a longer short hood than the later models (the cab was a couple of feet further back). (I know this because I bashed a largescale U25-B into a U23/30 a few years ago.) "like the dinosaur it is" How rude! (in the manner of JJBinks). The 23 was about the last of the U-boat classes to be built. Conrail ran 23s well into the 90s (not sure if they made the millenium) and Mexico got a lot, of which some may still be extant. Mike
Ex MP U23B as far as I know. I feature a pic on my site and will be adding another in my next update.
First of all, where did you pick up an Atlas U23B for 40 bones?! I have a couple high short hood kits waiting for a deal like that! Second, I don't believe Atlas made a U25B. That was Stewart. But hopefully Atlas will make a B23-7 to go along with this U boat... RC Harris
I got it for $40 at the Great Midwest Train Show this past weekend in Illinois. From the same vendor I also picked up a LifeLike Proto 2000 GP30 with Illinois Central Gulf's white & orange scheme. He cut me a deal from the sticker price because I was buying 2, so I only paid 40 for each. If I had a larger layout I would have bought more- he had at least 2 each of the engines above, same quality and price. Neither engine is brand new, but they were only used for displays, and they run great. I'll post some pics when I finish applying the details and weathering and what not. Thanks for the helpful posts- Dave
Hey Dave! I was at the GMTS this past weekend as well! It was the first time I had been and my take is it's just GATS on steroids. (which is not really a good thing) There were some good deals to be had, though. I was on a strict budget but I picked up 4 BNSF blk/slvr coalporters (I am in N-Scale, btw) for $8 each which accomodated my "no unit train cars over $10" rule. There was also some serious GOUGING going on as well. One guy was selling Atlas HO coalveyors for $27.95!!!! (MSRP-$18.95) I was looking at them to see how they compared to the N-scale version, and the guy said it was a "Collector's Edition". Whatever.
Doug- You're right on about the show. It was crazy! I thought I had seen everything there by the time I had made my way around the first building, then I saw a sign saying there were more buildings! It was nuts. One building was shut down for a bit for some reason so I didn't even get to see that. You're right, the prices were all over the place. I got an HO Proto 2000 hopper kit for $8, which is good. I've paid $13 for the same kit elsewhere. But I saw some regular Athearn blue box rolling stock for over $10! At my LHS they're between 6 and 8 dollars. You could always tell those tables, because they'd have more items than other tables, yet there wouldn't be many people looking at things. Besides the prices, there were so many people there it was hard to really look at everything. I can't believe they do that every month. Here's a panorama I pasted together of the show: [ 11. February 2003, 17:35: Message edited by: daveheinzel333 ]
That is definitely a U23b. The club I belong to bought several of these for our private road. Atlas makes them. As for a B23-7, Bachman makes those . Stewart makes a good U25b.
Yep, that's a U23B. The prototype was built for Missouri Pacific, with FB-2 trucks. Between you, me and the fencepost, this model would look tons better in MP blue
Sorry Bob, this is one time I gotta disagree with ya! Here's comes another opinion. The best paint livery ever on a U23B was Lehigh Valley's (new) Cornell Red with the billboard lettering !!! Bill Check it out: Link: Cool Units !
Well, I've gotten most of the details on, and I've done some weathering, so here are some pics: What I have left to add are the small loco numbers at the top of the cab (I should know what these are called by now huh?) and MU hoses (maybe). I also haven't finished the rocks in the top photo. I need to add some more shades of color and apply some weeds and what not. I've also decided that my little optical cable posts (the white & orange posts) are too wide. I might make some more with skinnier styrene posts. Anyway, here I go off the topic rambling about things. Talk to you guys later
Of course it was a collector's edition- at those prices, it's a sure thing he'll never sell his collection! That joker wouldn't last very long at either the Ft. Worth or Plano shows with his shenanigans.
Yep, can't argue too much with ya there.....but if ya don't mind a bit of nitpicking, the FB-2 trucks would have to go (he said before he ducked behind a caboose ) 'Course, looking at Dave's work, he's got a nice-looking model of an oil-spittin' U23B at work. [ 12. February 2003, 16:01: Message edited by: friscobob ]
Dave, You're proving that the worst critic of all is the guy who built it. What you have in the way of scenery looks way awesome!! I can't see anything wrong with what you've built at all! By all means, keep us posted- your pics are treats for us weary modelers!
Well ain't life full of surprises . Just reading the March edition of Model Railroader and on p90 there is an article on redoing an Atlas HO U23B from LV into 'early Conrail'. (Don't think Wabash_one will like it somehow )
