I recently acquired a Proto SD7 which I want to detail as a C&S SD7 “BlackBird”(circa 1959). Can anyone provide me with the appropriate details that should be added to “Burlington-ize” this unit?
I know that it needs at least a set of raaised mars lights and a winterization hatch - any others? Any help is much appreciated.
RicZ
BRHS “Burlington Bulletin” number 47 is all about SD class locomotive on the Q. It is available from the society for 30 bucks or i could LEND you my copy if you wish. PM me if you want me to mail it to you.
grizlump
Biggest single thing is the extra light. CB&Q added a Mars light to their SD7’s, 9’s and 24’s and this applied to the C&S/FW&D as well. The addition of the Mars light forced the headlight to be mounted lower than normal. The upper lens of the Mars light was red.
The Q also had an extra heater on the SD’s that had a stack that showed up near the radiators on the left side. Otherwise use single-chime air horns and you are pretty much ready to go. I don’t believe that the C&S had any of the SD7’s or 9’s with single fuel tank like the parent road did, so you won’t have to face milling the frame 
I have 3 SD7’s and 3 SD9’s by Proto 2000.
I added the extra headlights, radio antennas, and spark arrestors. I plan to add the small exhaust stack for the heaters at a later date.
The BLI Blue Line SD’s for the Q have appropriate details already.
CB&Q, C&S, and FW&D operated a large fleet of SD7’s and SD9’s. The details are not consitant on all units. Burlington Bulletin Number 47 by BRHS is a great referance. There are other books out there, too. Also, you can find images on the internet of Q SD’s.
Here are 3 of my SD’s.
Garry, nice. Two questions about the detailing. Where is teh small exhaust stack place near the radiators? Do you have a phot of teh roof of a CB&Q (C&S) SD7? Last, I read in another post that the steam generator stack is taller on these units. where would I find the appropriate sized stack?
Thanks in advance,
RicZ
didn’t the c&s and fw&d sd7’s have dynamic brakes while the Q engines did not?
grizlump
I have photos of all of the C&S SD7s and all have dynamic black blisters. However, not all seem to have steam generators. I am looking for a photo of the top of one of these engines that shows the details and locations.
RicZ
RicZ
Although you already have pictures here are links to two more. These are SD9’s, but I wanted to show the location of the extra headlights is not the same. Most extra headlights were mounted above the normal headlights but not all.
http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=1143344
http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=1134625
Most CB&Q SD9’s had steam generators, dynamic brakes, and dual controls. The dual controls allowed either end of the locomotive to be the front. Normally, the SD’s did not operate long end forward, but there were many exceptions.
Burlington did purchase a number of light weight SD’s for branch line service, and these had the small fuel tanks.
Some units did not have the dynamic brakes, did not have steam generators, and did not have the dual controls.
At least two styles of spark arrestors were installed on the SD’s.
Perhaps you should contact BRHS http://www.burlingtonroute.com/ for information about being a member. They should have availabe the recent publciation with information on Burlington SD’s.
I did not change my steam generator details on my SD’s. I will consider that when I have time to add the heater exhaust. Lately, I have been focussing on layout construction and locomotive detailing is on teh back burner.
Happy Model Rairloading.
the engines that lacked dual controls did not have the extra headligfhts on the long hood end since they were only operated short hood first, which was considered the front end by most railroads.
grzilump
For your viewing pleasure, here are some additional web sites containing photos of C&S SD7s.
Can you give me the specific details for C&S #818 or 819?
RicZ