In answer to up829, the GN and NP were co-owners of the SP&S. This didn’t
mean that they were in agreement about how to operate the subsidiary. One of
the disagreements between the GN and the NP involved equalizing mileage
for GN trains being hauled over the SP&S. In 1932, GN signed an agreement
with the SP&S, with the approval of the NP, effectively giving the GN traffic rights
over the SP&S between Spokane and Wishram, Wa., and Wshram and Bend,
Oregon on the Oregon Trunk Railway (an SP&S subsidiary). This was for GN’s
“Inside Gateway” traffic to northern California and the WP connection.
Instead of running its own trains, the GN chose to have the SP&S handle them
under contract. This agreement specified that when SP&S locomotives were
used, the GN was to pay an engine rental fee based on GN car mileage. An
option to the agreement alowed the GN to furnish its own locomotives of equal
capacity to equalize the haulage fees (mileage equalization). With the purchase
by the SP&S of the Z-6 class locos, the ‘equal capacity’ clause became an
issue between the GN and NP. The GN proposed to use the then current
design of 2-8-8-0s-the N-2 class-as equalization locos. The NP, not wanting
to lose out on the engine rental fees it expected the GN to pay for using the
Z-6s, declared that the N-2s were “not equal to the Z-6 design, being about
10% less efficient”. The NP suggested that the GN purchase two Z-6s
instead. In short, for the next two years, the fur (and hot angry memos) flew,
NP continuing to reject the N-2s. Eventually, the GN gave in, and agreed to
purchase two Z-6s from the SP&S which turned out to be the 903 and 904.
The two locomotives were purchased in April of 1939.
GN operated these engines mostly between Wishram and Bend, with
occasional forays to Spokane as part of the general Z-6 pool.
After WWll, when the rebuilt N-3s again became available, they were
Sorry about the first mis post. What I really wanted to say is that Walthers has announced its HO 1955 GN Empire Builder. Links below:
Baggage-Mail
http://www.walthers.com/exec/productinfo/932-9032
Baggage-Dorm
http://www.walthers.com/exec/productinfo/932-9035
Coach
http://www.walthers.com/exec/productinfo/932-9031
Dome Coach
http://www.walthers.com/exec/productinfo/932-9039
Ranch Car
http://www.walthers.com/exec/productinfo/932-9034
Diner
http://www.walthers.com/exec/productinfo/932-9037
Full-Dome Lounge
http://www.walthers.com/exec/productinfo/932-9040
7-4-3-1 Sleeper
http://www.walthers.com/exec/productinfo/932-9033
6-5-2 Sleeper
http://www.walthers.com/exec/productinfo/932-9036
Coulee Observation
http://www.walthers.com/exec/productinfo/932-9038
F-7 locomotives to follow
PROTO 2000 GN EMD F7 DIESELS, links below:
920-40587 A-B Set w/Sound & DCC
http://www.walthers.com/exec/productinfo/920-40587
920-40589 A-B Set Standard DC
http://www.walthers.com/exec/productinfo/920-40589
920-40588 A Only w/Sound & DCC
no link, data from listing
40588 PROTO 2000 Diesel EMD F7A Unit Powered w/Sound & DCC – Great Northern (“Empire Builder”) HO 189.00 N 30-Jun-2007
920-40590 A Only Standard DC
no link, data from listing
40590 PROTO 2000 Diesel EMD F7A Unit Powered - Standard DC – Great Northern (“Empire Builder”) HO 99.00 N 30-Jun-2007
Now that the links are posted, I have a mostly Soho brass '55 Builder and then went and bought a Challenger set. The first one runs OK, but is still unpainted and no interiors. The Challenger set is beautiful, but even after tweaking, still won’t negotiate our club layout. By comparison, the Walthers set is cheap enough, I’m planning on buy another EB and hope this one will both run and look nice. Third time is the charm, right?
Ron Ferrel
Good luck, Ron. I plan to get one myself-plus maybe a couple extra flattop
coaches to upgrade my International. Great time to be a GN modeler-finally!
re: the GN ref sheet colors on line. I’ve got my GN ref sheet out and am comparing it to the screen in a separate window and a print out while I’m writing this. Of course, my descriptions are limited to my Princeton Ultra 72 monitor and HP 990 Cse printer.
- Pullman Green–not too bad on color, both the screen and print out are a bit lighter intensity than the chip.
- Omaha Orange–this is the worst rendition of any of the colors, way too red, both on screen and printed out. If everyone else is getting a similar appearance, it is almost a disservice to represent this color as Omaha Oange.
- Imitation Gold–the chip is both yellower and lighter than the screen or print out, but closer to the print out.
- Gray–the chip is lighter than either the screen or print out
- Vermillion–the chip is darker and deeper than either the screen or print out.
- Mineral Red–chip just a bit redder than the screen, about the same color as the print out, but darker in intensity
- Glacier Green–chip darker than screen, just slightly darker than print out, but similar shade.
- WFE Yellow–chip is much more lemon or canary yellow compared to screen or print out
- Big Sky Blue–chip is somewhat darker intensity and shade than screen or print out.
- G.N. Gray-- Chip is not bad compared to screen, darker in intensity than print out.
I hope this helps, but not sure. I haven’t tried scanning the sheet myself to see if I end up with the same screen and print out colors.
The GN GP-20s do have the winterization hatch in the parts bag along with the “wing” windows/rear view mirrors, but they don’t have the snow plows. My 4 non DCC units arrived last week and I think Walthers has done a great job with them.
I’ve only test run one so far, but it purrs very nicely. It will remain to be seen if they develop splitting gear problems with time, but a Walthers rep assured me they have dealt with the problem and have correcte
I know a former GN engineer.
And it’s a good time to meet you, for anyone who falls under your influence can watch his layout slowly turn green…(and orange, and possibly a bit of blue, white and black if you go for that)
Ahh, the GN. CP’s great rival in southern BC. Nothing like an American fighting for Canada with a Canadian coming in from the south side of the border!