Athearn Western Pacific in UP colors

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
1

Hi i found on ebay a western pacific U28B in UP colors i know it isnt a true loco for them but i got it anyway to go with my Athearn Mopac Canaries cant find info on the year it was made any thoughts on this

2

I’m not aware of any WP units painted in UP colors, such as the Mopac units you mention.

While Don Strack’s UtahRails isn’t absolutely definitive, it comes darn close. His “UP Diesel Lomotive Roster, Early Merger” page (http://utahrails.net/all-time/early-merger-index.php) doesn’t list any U-boats other than U30Cs, which appear to have been from UP to begin with.

Interestingly, WIkipedia (which we ALL know is 100% accurate, right? [}:)]) says that WP never had U28Bs:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GE_U28B

Although WP did have U30Bs. Close, but no cigar, either to the WP side or UP side of what you described.

The following page talks about MP/UP colors, and does briefly mention WP as being involved in the redesign of paint schemes (late 1983), but doesn’t talk about WP locomotives actually being painted Armor Yellow.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Missouri_Pacific_Railroad#Equipment_Colors_and_Painting

Perfect time of the year for this, I guess, with Halloween coming up… it’s a mystery!

3

[:-^]

Hi Guys,

I’m not at home right now, but this is what I have to add to this conversation from memory.

WP had a GP40 #3532 (I think) and an RS-1, #746 that were in Uncle Pete’s colors.

#746 ran on the tidewater Southern, one of WP’s other operations.

I would go thru Rail Pix and you could find them there most likely.

Johnboy out…

4

The GP40 was painted in UP yellow by the UP after the merger.

Tidewater Southern RS1’s #746 and #747 were purchased from Chrome Crankshaft in 1970. They were former Spokane International (an UP subsidiary) locomotives. In 1972 they were repainted green with orange lettering and stripes. #747 was scraped in 1975. #746 became Central California Traction #80 in 1976 where it repainted bright red.

5

Gidday, Hope this is of interest. On the Athearn site, http://www.athearn.com/About/, I see that they introduced the U28B in 1971, and presumably the "fly wheel drive " was added in 1973.

Hoseeker, http://hoseeker.net/athearn.htm , has diagrams for the 1971 and 1975 releases.

Some more information. http://www.ho-scaletrains.net/athearnlocomotives/id121.html

As to when yours was actually made ???

Cheers, the Bear.

6

http://cs.trains.com/mrr/m/mrr-layouts/2288240.aspx this is the one i bought

7

Here is a picture of it it is athearn that i do know dont know when it was released i love it

8

That’s a bogus paint scheme somebody’s having fun with. It’s not a U28B despite it apparently being labeled as such per your earlier post; it appears to be a U30B. WP did have early U30Bs in U28 carbodies, and Athearn did offer some in the initial silver and orange scheme, but that’s an Athearn U30B shell. Walthers is also producing the U28 carbody variation, and Atlas released a later style U30B in WP silver and orange.

I detailed an Athearn U30B into a WP unit, starting with the same model as yours but modified quite a bit. It still need final Dullcote and weathering, plus cab glass.

Note that the prototypes had EMD trucks, and a lot of cast-on detail was removed from the shell, while I added separate grabs, new handrails, 5-chime horn, and various other things.

9

Thanks for the info i am going to keep it in that scheme though i like it with my Missouri Pacific Canaries i just like it i dont know why