I am having trouble finding C&O GP7’s in HO scale for my Chesapeake and Ohio layout. If anyone knows manufacturers that make them or places to find them would be great!
[#welcome] Welcome to the Forums.
Google is your friend, although I like the Dogpile search engine.
First welcome to the forum.
Here is a link to one @ www.modeltrainstuff.com
http://www.modeltrainstuff.com/Bachmann-HO-62403-GP7-w-DCC-Chessie-System-B-O-5-p/bac-62403.htm
Hope this helps
Bob
In HO, Life-Like ran C&O GP7s in two variants of the early paint scheme with yellow stripes on a blue body and Roman-style lettering. The first version had the “doughnut” herald on a yellow circle (for the first batch of GP7s the C&O bought, without dynamic brakes). These were available as #5707 and #5711 (I don’t have manufacturers’ stock numbers, just cab numbers for all of these).
The second version had the “For Progress” logo on models with dynamic brakes, available as #5813 and #5817. A later run (under Walthers) had models numbered 5767 and 5772, w/DCC and sound.
Life-Like also produced a special run of GP9s with a slightly later scheme, that had “Chesapeake and Ohio” spelled out in Futura lettering, for the C&O Historical Society.
Atlas produced blue GP7s with the simplified post-1968/pre-Chessie System “C&O” initials on the sides in one of the last runs of GP7s they produced, several years back. They were numbered 5746 and 5750, without dynamic brakes.
None of these have been in production for at least two years (and most at least five years), so your best bet would be train shows and eBay. The Chessie System Historical Society might still have one of the Atlas models.
Watch EBay (enter “Proto GP7” or 9) Right now the 5813 and 5817 are taking bids for four more days.
Dick
Another source is the Atlas GP7 however,these are extremely hard to find.This Geep comes in the Blue/Yellow with just C&O on the side.
Thankfully C&O had several schemes including a solid Blue with Chesapeake & Ohio.This is the easiest to paint followed by the blue/yellow with just C&O on the hood.
Watch your numbers! Some of C&Os Geeps was sent to the B&O and retained their C&O numbers and looks.
The C&O Engineer has 4082 today, and he has experienced… a slight derailment!
C&O For Progress
This is my favorite Chesapeake & Ohio scheme for the GP7.
The locomotive is the venerable Athearrn build. Although, not Athearn paint.
There is always the paint and decal it yourself method.
!(http://i687.photobucket.com/albums/vv233/GrandFunkRR/Trains of Olyville/IMG_1461.jpg)
Thank-you very much everyone for your replies. They were very helpful.
Another question, do you guys know of any road switchers that would work for my layout’s setting? I am fourteen and somewhat new to the hobby so all your help is much appreciated!
BB-
The C&O covered a lot of territory, from Newport News in eastern Virginia to Washington DC, Chicago, Detroit, Northern Michigan, Buffalo, southwestern Ontario, and Louisville, Kentucky.
Do you have a rough idea of a year and an approximate location for your layout’s setting? That’ll help us make suggestions.
Try calling White Rose Hobbies. (www.dccinstalled.com) I think they had one or two in good condition there.
I would have snatched them up myself, but I’m more a steam guy and drueling over the new H-8 Alleghenies from RR.
I am modeling the new river gorge area in about 1956, although i am freelancing my layout, i would like to keep my locomotive fleet as prototypical as possible
For 1956, the dominant road switcher in the New River Gorge will be the GP7, as you’ve already worked out.
The C&O did roster some ALCO road switchers in 1956, but they were pretty much the two RS-1s used as passenger depot switchers in Huntington and the RSD-5s used in switching and transfer service at Russell Yard in Kentucky and in Toledo. The RSD-7s were just coming into use in 1956, and worked locals, mine shifters and switching jobs, so they would be visible at locations such as Peach Creek.
The Baldwins were used mainly in the yards and transfer jobs elsewhere.
Thank-you very much for your comments, they have helped immensely!
-Colin