Greetings All,
As I wrote about in my "Preparing NYC & PRR Locomotives for the Merger" two weeks ago 1966 was a pivotal year for both fleets to be incorporated into one large fleet. New locomotive classifications were suggested and new road numbers came into being as both the NYC and PRR began their renumbering of locomotives in earnest.
Since that post two weeks ago I uncovered a few more locomotives in my own fleet that would benefit from a renumbering project to match their post 1966 1:1 counterparts and for use in our Penn Central Car Movements virtual ops.
1:1 NYC EMD GP20 #6103 was renumbered to #2103 pursuant to the PRR-NYC agreement. I renumbered a duplicate model #6109. The issue I had with this renumbering is that I used PC style numbers which are way to big for a pre merger 1966 NYC engine when compared to GP20 #6107.
I rubbed the large 2103 off with Solvaset and an eraser. Cleaned that up and then masked the locomotive to repaint the cab number area with rattle can gloss black.NYC GP20 #2103 is back in service with a proper sized road number from the Microscale Decal set 87-88. The NYC purchased a total of fifteen GP20s numbered 6100-6114. Two units, the 6106 and 6109, were wrecked and removed from service prior to 1966.
The 2103 is one of thirteen GP20s to be conveyed to Penn Central that were numbered 2100-2112. These units would go from NYC class DRS11 to PC class EF20 on February 1st, 1968. Under PC ownership the GP 20s would undergo turbo lobotomies.
The next locomotive to be renumbered is this NYC F7B unit #2423. The 1966 renumbering plan grouped the NYC and PRR F7B units into the 3423-3563 series. The 2416-2446 series was assigned to PRR C425s of the same road number.
The NYC F7B is now #3426 which was part of a seven engine order in 1949. A neat trick to protect the porthole "glass" from the dullcote is to use the holes from a hole puncher.
NYC #3426 is ready for the merger and will go from NYC class DFB2 to PC class EF15.
Two Baldwin S12s that I renumbered a long time ago without the benefit of accurate road number information were next on the project list.
S12s #8092 and #8110 now wearing accurate merger numbers. The PC S12s would later be renumbered into the 8300 series to make room for the armada of GP38s.
Last but not least is PRR S12 #8195, ex #8745. The NYC S12s would join the 8195 in the PC class BS12 or BS12m if multiple unit equipped.
Right now I think I have my roster situated for both the lightning stripe era and the post 1966 era. All of the above units can now be accurately displayed in the Penn Central Car Movements virtual operations which was the goal of this project.
Sources: Penn Central System Bi-Annual by Robert H. Reid.
Thanks for reading!!!
See ya soon!!
An example of not being able to "unknow" some interesting modeling information once we encounter it and feeling motivated to have models more accurately reflect the prototype! :) Actually, its a reflection of your increased interest in the Penn Central pre-merger decisions and another example of your great work bringing your locomotive roster up to your standards for satisfying operation. Nice work on the research and completion of these projects!
ReplyDeleteThank you very much Ralph! Over the years you and I have both been effected by the "being able to unknow syndrome"! What didn't bother me 10 years ago started to annoy me 5 years ago to the point that it was either box the units or correct them. So I mulled that decision for a few years and finally bit the bullet.
DeleteVery nice work on bringing your models to match the prototype. We can see the time and effort, along with the research you've put into these projects. It has to be satisfying to see your railroad run as the prototypes did back in the day. I like the large numbers on the S12 #8195. Reminds me of what CSX did when they teamed up with NS to form the Conrail Shared Assets. That same large type cab numbers.
ReplyDeleteThe Penn Central management would have been proud!
Thank you very much Sir Neal!! The research is both fun and part of the problem! Once you know something about the prototype engine you can't unknow it! The PRR used the much larger numbers that looked much better than the tiny numbers they used before. The large numbers carried over to the PC.
DeleteSome nicely done renumbering! Your attention to the prototype history and premerger details reflect well on your models. 👍 I’ve done some of the same with my BN locomotives. However I can’t bring myself to patch a Burlington unit, only GN and NP. 😉 I can appreciate how hard it was for you to repaint your NYC FM units. 👍🚂
ReplyDeleteThanks Brian!!! You're right some models are just untouchable. At least for now!
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