Can someone please tell me which “end” of the Athearn GP-9 Milwaukee Road engine is the front? Both ends have headlights and couplers. Is the front the longer end or the shorter end from the cab? I realize that the real engine probably worked just as well in one direction as the other but I’ve seen pictures of the Athearn HO engine facing in both directions and I’m just curious as to which is the real front end. Can anyone help me? Thanks so much
Hi
According to photos at fallenflags.org the short end is the front. There is a small F on the frame which indicates the front. Here in Canada CNR GP7s & GP9s the long end was front. Onthe CPR it was the short end. Each railway has its own preference I guess.
Jim
The Milwaukee road ran there GPs shorthood forward. But by looking at some of the pictures of the Milwaukee road you would have never guessed that they were run short hood forward. They had as many GPs running trains long hood forward. but if you look closely at a photo of a Milwaukee GP, you will see a small “F” (As dieselsmoke had pointed out) which indicates “Front” or forward.
Happy railroading[(-D]
James
All of the Milw GP9’s were delivered set up to be run short hood first. The original Alco RS1/RS2/RSC2 engines were delivered set up to the Alco standard of long hood forward. The latter SD7/SD9 and RS3/RSD5 engines were setup for short hood forward operation.
As a general note, most builders will setup an engine for operation for either direction per the customer order.
Jim
Thank you to everyone who answered my question. We couldn’t find an F on my husband’s HO engine. We’ve gone over it with a magnifying glass. Perhaps it is too old (it is from the early 60’s when he was about 10 years old.) Anyway, thank you.
Most of the Mid-west railroads Milw,CNW, and the best Soo line ran their gp9’s & 7’s short hood forward. Soo line 555 had duel controls for running passenger service into Chicago, I think 2555 also was set-up like this.
GN ran their gp 9s&7’s long hood forward.