Empire Belt GP30s

Empire Belt GP30s
The EBRR GP30s round a curve on the Empire City Belt Line.

Sunday, December 1, 2019

A Tale Of Two Geeps

Greetings all,

 EMD Chief Engineer Richard Dilworth is quoted as stating one of his design objectives for what became EMDs line of General Purpose (GP) road-switchers, popularly called "Geeps" was to make a locomotive so ugly that no railroad would want to keep it on the mainline or anywhere near headquarters. The first attempt was the poor selling NW-3. Ten years later the EMD GP7 yielded completely different results, a practical and efficient locomotive that was a mechanical masterpiece and one of EMD's most successful products ever. 

 The New York Central purchased 169, Peoria & Eastern(NYC) 14 , Pittsburgh & Lake Erie(NYC) 35 and the Pennsy 66. The 284 units went to the Penn Central numbered from 5600 to 5959. 

 This tale of two Geeps focuses on the adding of two home painted Penn Central GP7s to my fleet. 

 Penn Central GP7s 5692 and 5693 are out of the paint shop and getting ready for revenue service. Both units are maintenance based at Elkhart as indicated by the small lettering under the numbers.
 PC 5692 is a stock Athearn BB shell and reflects ex NYC 5692. The NYC received an order of 27 GP7s with dynamic brakes in March and April 1952 numbered 5686 - 5712.
PC 5693 is ex NYC 5693 and is a slightly modified Athearn BB shell. The boiler stack protrusions and horns were removed from the short hood after some paint issues. A thin piece of styrene was added to the short hood and the horns relocated per the NYC.  
 The boys from Elkhart gather in Terminal Yard.
My four home painted Athearn BB GP7s. PC 5699, ex NYC 5699 was added to the roster on December 13, 2018.
PC GP7 #5870 is ex PRR #8570 that was added to the roster on February 27, 2019.
PC GP9 #7412 is ex NYC 6012 and rounds out my home painted EMD high hood fleet.
PC 5693 does the honors leading a six engine consist of iconic PC GP7, GP9 and GP38 engines on the head end of a steel products train crossing the High Line.
In addition to the 284 GP7s the Penn Central rostered 464 GP9s and 493 GP38s. Iconic engines indeed!

 Special thanks to John Bruce and Sir Neal for their contributions to my GP7 and GP9 fleet. Thanks guys!

 Decals by Microscale and K4.
Thanks for reading!!!
See Ya Soon!!! 
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10 comments:

  1. John BruceDecember 1, 2019 at 11:07 AM

    Really glad some of the projects I'll never get to are finished and in use!

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    Replies
    1. John R.December 2, 2019 at 9:18 AM

      Thanks for the generosity John!! I really appreciate the models you have sent my way.

      Delete
  2. PCRalphDecember 1, 2019 at 2:12 PM

    Interesting comment by Richard Dilworth about the attractiveness of the Geeps! As you know, I'm a big fan of those utilitarian four axle units! Great job on the pair from Elkhart! I especially liked your fleet shot of five locomotives in the second to the last pic! After having completed those five you have only 743 to go! :)

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    1. John R.December 2, 2019 at 9:20 AM

      Thanks Ralph! The KPD Geeps have turned me into a big GP7/GP9 fan! You're right only 743 to go, but I'm getting closer!

      Delete
  3. Neal M.December 2, 2019 at 11:59 AM

    The Patti-O Paint shop has done it again! Glad that you put the models to good use. The back stories that go along with your work are very enjoyable and informative. A PR masterpiece the Penn Central would have been proud of. Nice touch adding the GP38's to the consist. The train on the High Line looks great!

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    Replies
    1. John R.December 2, 2019 at 5:26 PM

      Thank you for the compliments 1:1 Sir Neal!!! Glad you enjoyed the backstory and info. Thank you again for the GP9, much appreciated!

      Delete
  4. ATJOE1972December 7, 2019 at 3:39 PM

    Great looking Geeps from Elkhart!!! The Patti-O shops did a great job with the "black dip" paint and decals. Were all of the PC GP7's and 9's set up to run long hood forward? Just curious. Some nice additions to the roster!

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    1. John R.December 7, 2019 at 5:28 PM

      Thanks Brian!!! The ex NYC and PRR GP7s and GP9s were set up to run long hood forward. The Ex NH GP9s were set up to run short hood forward.

      Delete
  5. Jade FogDecember 11, 2019 at 12:54 PM

    Looking good John. I am always pleased to see so much jade and flat black- railroading's finest colors! Keep up the excellent modelling and storytelling.

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    Replies
    1. John R.December 11, 2019 at 5:13 PM

      Thank you for the compliments Jade Fog! Very much appreciated!

      Delete

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