EMD GP30 Demonstrator Rides Again

 Greetings All,

EMD GP30 Demonstrator Rides Again

After the depowering of the Made in Hong Kong Bachmann Spectrum GP30s that included the EMD Demo unit #1962 I set up a search via ebay for a reasonably priced unit that I could use to repower the 1962 which belongs to my son, the BINO man.

In late March of 2025 the search bore fruit and I purchased a Spectrum Made in China BINO unit for a very reasonable price. The shell has some issues as did the power chassis which will be described below.

Prototype Info

According to the Utah Rails GP30 article (link below), when GP30 demonstrator 5629 (also its EMD order number) was completed in July 1961, it was painted in an unlettered version of Union Pacific's yellow and gray paint scheme, and headed out for road testing. Its initial testing lasted from July to September 1961, when it was returned to EMD.

The October 1961 rebuild also resulted in the GP30 demonstrator receiving a new black-and-white demonstrator paint scheme, and a new number: EMD 1962. 

Photo by John S. Ingles. Courtesy of Kalmbach Trains of the 1960s.

The unit was sold to UP in September 1962. Its earlier test and demonstration on UP resulted in an order for 75 units, to be numbered as UP 800-874. 

"Union Pacific UP 820 (GP30) (10569052074)" by Gary Todd from Xinzheng, China is marked with CC0 1.0. To view the terms, visit https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/deed.en?ref=openverse.

EMD delivered a second round of GP30s to the UP in 1963 (700-735).

"4/24/77, Union Pacific GP30 713" by OHFalcon72 is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.0/?ref=openverse.

A second demonstrator GP30, 5639, was built in March, 1962. This unit went to the Seaboard Air Line as their #1343.

"SAL GP30 519 RALEIGH, NC © WARREN CALLOWAY-img785" by wcallowayjr is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.0/?ref=openverse.

Model Info

The 1962 with a new power chassis leads Spectrum B&O GP30 6954 over the High Line. Upon arrival at the Terminal Yard engine shop the power chassis was basically dead on arrival. A thorough cleaning of all electrical parts, replacing a broken axle/wheel assembly and some much needed lubrication brought it back to life.

After getting the new power chassis to run reliably it was tested  extensively to make sure it was compatible with the B&O stablemate.

Some cosmetic and mechanical issues were addressed to get the Demo unit to look more like the prototype 1962 seen in the John S Ingles photo above. The trucks and the ends of the fuel tank were rattle can painted silver.

One chassis mounted coupler box was in bad shape and one was missing altogether. This was remedied by using Kadee Coupler boxes with #5 couplers.

A piece of strip wood cut to fit nicely into the frame pockets served as a good mounting platform for the coupler boxes.

The 1962 has been released from the paint shop with accurately painted handrails with the silver trucks and leads a three unit consist thru Empire City. The end rails on the 1:1 1962 were painted black and I did the same on the 1:87 version.

The UP GP30 is riding on the non powered former 1962 chassis. I painted the fuel tank with rattle can gray to match the prototype.

After viewing some additional UP GP30 photos I painted the trucks with gray rattle can paint to match the prototype. Should have done this before I painted the Demo trucks silver!

Perfect Timing for a Parts Sale

As luck would have it while testing the newly repowered EMD Demo GP30 in early April I received notice from Bachmann that they were having a 25% off their parts sale. Lo and behold they had the GP30/GP35 coupler boxes in stock for 98 cents apiece minus 25%. 

Back to the workbench I went. Below the new coupler boxes are installed with Kadee #5 couplers using Bachmann screws that I had on hand. 

The Demo unit gets tested once again with the UP non powered GP30 and B&O GP30 6944.

Checkout the GP30s in a transfer run. Please excuse the fact that this is definitely not a prototypical train.

Final Thoughts and Comments

At this time the GP30 fleet is pretty much set. The UP 731 and the NYC 2194 ride on non powered chassis rides which provides me with many options in motive power consists like this four unit set with three Proto 2000 NYC GP20s and the 2194.

Empire Belt GP30 2160 remains non powered and can lead or be in consist with other EBRR engines like the GP18s.

The EBRR 2161 shell remains in its box for now as a surplus shell. Should a power chassis become available at a reasonable price I may consider repowering it but right now there is really no need to do so.

Additional Reading, Links and Photos

Utah Rails GP30s.

Kalmbach (now Fire Crown) Trains of the 1960s.

Union Pacific GP30 #801.

Engines Stored repairs deferred

Thanks for reading and watching!!!

See you soon!!!

Penn Central Car Movements #111 Part 8 / The Finale

 Greetings All,

Welcome Back to Penn Central Car Movements #111

Our three layout virtual op with my NYCTL interchanging freight traffic with PC Ralph's Kings Port Division and Sir Neal's Atlantic Pacific Railroad concludes today with the final movements of more PCCM trains.

We open our final installment in the cozy confines of the Bedford Park Yard with engineer Robert R reporting to work the Bedford Park Yard Job.

RS11s 7600 and 7604 have been assigned to Bedford Park due to the heavy tonnage being moved in and out of the Ford Plant in this virtual op.

Empty 86' boxcars get pulled from the Ford Plant.

The big empties are slowly shoved into the small Bedford Park Yard.

Five empty 86' boxcars have filled up the yard. They will be moving towards their next PCCM loads in a future virtual op.

Back at the plant two APRR and two EBRR boxcars loaded with auto parts from IDEAL Auto Parts are shoved into the Ford Plant siding.

Engineer Robert R ties down the Alcos completing his PCCM 111 work.

A short time later in the Terminal Yard engine terminal we find a very happy Alco Joe called for Train MR-1 being greeted by engine hostler Wet Willie and a four engine set of Alco Centuries. 

The Centuries are coupled onto the MR-1 freight car consist which consists of empty hoppers from the APRR Rock Ridge Yard that arrived yesterday in Extra 2417 East.

 The MR-1 departs for Hudson Coal and T&R Gravel.

The Alcos have stopped on "the slide" to access T&R Gravel.

Being pulled from T&R Gravel are KPW and PC PS 2 covered hoppers loaded with lime to be sent to Port Owen Brick in Port Owen, NY in a future PCCM.

The KP&W and PC covered hoppers are placed temporarily at Hudson Coal.

Four empty APRR ballast hoppers are spotted at T&R Gravel for their next PCCM loads.

Four empty PC PS2 covered hoppers are also spotted at T&R for their next PCCM loads of locomotive sand.

The MR-1 power has coupled back up to the rest of its train as heads towards Bedford to clear the Hudson Coal switch.

The KP&W and PC covered hoppers get pulled from Hudson Coal along with the loaded coal hoppers.

The last of the loaded hoppers get pulled out.

The MR-1 makes the long pull out of Hudson Coal.

The last of the empties are shoved into Hudson Coal for their next PCCM loads.

The Centuries have coupled onto the loaded hoppers for movement back to Terminal Yard.

The MR-2 holds for LIRR Train MA-3 before heading back to Terminal Yard.

Alco Joe returns the Alco consist to the engine terminal.

Meanwhile over in Empire City LIRR Train MA-3 arrives in North Side Yard.

LIRR engineer checks in with the EBRR trainmen and explains about the off layout track issues that cancelled the MA-3 / MA-4 yesterday.

The caboose is reclaimed and LIRR Train MA-4 heads back to Fresh Pond Yard.

The MA-4 is cleared past Bedford Tower.

Train MA-4 rolls towards Fresh Pond Yard.

Next stop Fresh Pond Yard. Put it in the books!!! Finally!!!

This concludes PCCM 111 on the NYCTL. Be sure to catch all the action on PC Ralph's Kings Port Division and Sir Neal's Atlantic Pacific RR.

What a virtual op this was!!!!

Thanks for watching!!!

See you soon!!!

Penn Central Car Movements #111 Part 7 / A Day with the Empire Belt RR

 Greetings All,

Welcome Back to Penn Central Car Movements #111

Our three layout virtual op with my NYCTL interchanging freight traffic with PC Ralph's Kings Port Division and Sir Neal's Atlantic Pacific Railroad continues today with the arrival of more of our inbound trains.

We open the action today with Penn Central Train Extra 2417 East from Selkirk crossing the Empire City Viaduct.

Extra 2417 East heads to Terminal Yard.

The Extra 2417 Alcos couple up to the TE-16 Alcos at the Fuel Rack creating a nice four Century lash up that Alco Joe can only watch and lament as he reports for Train EC-1.

Alcos to the left, Alcos to the right and here I am stuck in the middle with you EMDs!!! A not so well kept secret about Alco Joe is that his second favorite locomotives are EMD GP20s. 

The all EMD lash up is coupled up to the EC-1 LIRR block.

The Empire Belt Block is coupled onto.

Train EC-1 is on the move!!!

After delivering the EC-1 to North Side Yard GP20 Joe checks in with the EBRR trainmen as he reclaims the EC-1 caboose.

Train EC-2 heads back to Terminal Yard caboose lite.

A little while later conductor John has the waybills in order for the guys to get the freight moving.

PC Ralph will be running today's Belt Job and Sir Neal will be running Trains HH-1 / HH-2.

Freight traffic for train HH-1 is placed in track #2.

The Belt Job that serves the rest of Empire City is ready to depart.

The Belt Job departs North Side Yard.

The first stop is Neal's Lumber and Hardware to deliver PC boxcar #77047 loaded with bagged landscape rock from Hedberg Aggregates in Marion, NY and NYC boxcar #47062 loaded with bricks from Port Owen Brick.

Must be getting late!!! 1:87 Emery is using flash photography to capture the Belt Job pulling a trio of freight cars from Empire Produce.

Being spotted at Empire Produce are BAR boxcar 5226 loaded with blueberries from Circle B Farms in Caribou, Maine and LV reefer 7120 loaded with produce from Tarentino Foods in Buffalo, NY.

The Belt Job gets ready to head to the Hohman Ave. Industrial Park.

The Belt Job heads to Hohman Ave.

The Belt Job is working the Drywell Inks siding delivering LV boxcar #66392 and NYC boxcar #80755 loaded with new 55 gallon drums from ACCO in Mayfield NY.

Next move for the Belt Job is to deliver TP&W boxcar #627 to Walsh Steel Wool Products loaded with cutting oil from GULF in West Mill, NY.

PC Ralph has the Belt Job back together and gets ready to return to North Side Yard.

The Belt Job heads home.

After uncoupling from the Belt Job freight consist PC Ralph sets up the traffic going to the Quaker Plant for easy pick up by Train HH-2.

The Belt Job power and freight train are tied down on track #3.

A short time later senior engineer Sir Neal and conductor John head to the Haydon Heights lead to start up the H16-44s. Is this anyway to treat senior men?!!!

Train HH-1 pulls a cut of cars from the Quaker Plant.

Train HH-1 heads to North Side Yard.

Sir Neal has coupled up to the Quaker traffic and confers with PC Ralph. The very camera friendly Morton Salt covered hopper is delivering salt from the Morton Salt facility in Rock Ridge, NJ.

Train HH-2 heads back to Haydon Heights.

Senior engineer Sir Neal and conductor John have tied the H16-44s down on the Haydon Heights lead and head for the office.

PC Ralph sets up the non PCCM freight traffic going to Terminal Yard in a pending Train EB-2.

The EBRR guys get together expecting the afternoon arrival of LIRR Train MA-3 only to learn that todays MA-3 is being held at Fresh Pond Yard due to track problems. Ugh... That's it for today.

We'll pick it tomorrow at the Terminal Yard engine terminal with Alco Joe getting called for Train MR-1 to be powered by the four Alco Centuries he was admiring yesterday. And all is well in this 1:87 world!!!

This concludes part 7 on the NYCTL. One more to go!!! Be sure to catch all the action on PC Ralph's Kings Port Division and Sir Neal's Atlantic Pacific RR.

Thanks for watching!!!

See you tomorrow!!!