ATSF GP7U

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
1

Good morning ,

I have a question about the GP7U cab. In MR June 2009 was a nice article " how to built it " but to my opinion the cab looks to tall. Did some measurments on prototype pics and it looks like that the GP7 Topeka cab isn’t taller than a EMD GP35 standard cab. Can anyone confirm this , or did someone made some measurments on a real cab ?

reagrds

Roland Marx

Germany

2

That was one of the first things that I noticed while reading the article! I’m not sure about the measurements, but I do agree that it looks too tall.

But what’s a few inches among friends[;)]

3

Find a prototype picture of the GP7u and compare it to say a prototype GP35 and you will see the GP7u cab is definately taller.You can also tell it is taller by looking from the rear where it definately is taller the the GP7 hood.

If you really want the comparison compare it to one of the GT GP9 rebuilds which use the standard sparton cab.It will be clearly ovious that the GP7u cab is indeed taller.[:)]

4

Hi ,

Thanks for your response ! Is it really taller ?? I have raised the cab as discribed in the article and it looks “goofy” on my S gauge Geep ! Attached a few pics of a GP7 , GP9R and GP7 from the rear side - really taller ? May be an inch…

Any comment would be helpful

Roland Marx

5

Roland,

I just checked your pictures and MR report on the rebuild. To me, it definetively looks out of proportion.

Whereabout in Germany are you?

6

Hi ,

be sure - it’s a GP7U - GP9R and a GP7U again ! GP38 has other types of fans and radiator grills , a GP18 would have a round cab roof instead of the angled - just the major differences… [:)]

Roland

7

As an active Santa Fe modeler, I did my own version of the GP7u several years ago using an Atlas base and building a new cab. Working off of drawings through the Santa Fe Modelers, my cab looks identical to the one in MR. And being around Santa Fe equipment for many years, I always noticed the prototype GP7u, “standing above the herd” around Argentine.

Bob

8

Hi Bob ,

may I ask for a scan of the drawings ? Would be very helpful for me

regards

Roland

9

Roland, look at the angled part of the roofs,the GP7u roof angle is a lot steeper making the flat part much wider.This may be throwing off the perspective for you.(possibly it may be doing the same thing for me too)

The GT unit is either an 18 or a 20 but the hood itself is still the same as the GP7.Incase your not aware of it the cabs on the GP7Us were built by Santa Fe.

The GP38 only has 2 fans at the rear over the radiators,plus one at the center of the hood if it has dynamic brakes the 4 fans that your seeing signify a GP7 or 9.

10

The ATSF GP7U cabs are a bit taller.

I think they had some extra ductwork inside for the air conditioner on the roof.

11

Hello members ,

here is a first picture of my GP7U . I am very satisfied with it , everything fits

regards

Roland Marx

12

I love it when you chime in. Here I thought WSOR was all about GP38’s and SD40’s. Did you get any good pics like these when WSOR was testing C44’s? I remember Trains had a nice article few months back about small RR’s using big power and had a little mention of WSOR trying out some Dash 9’s. They had a neat pic set in a yard with a C44-9W to the left, a WSOR hopper in the center (can’t remember if it was a standard hopper or a covered hopper), and an SD40-2 to the right. I thought it was a little funny that the C44 was dirtier, at least twice as much, as the SD.

13

Darn it, WSOR 3801 beat me to it.

14

Roland,

That looks nice! Good job, sir. [:)]