CN sweep locomotive

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
1

Hello all,

This locomotive ,has been on my to do list for quite some time. I’m looking for a switch engine that will stand out in the mill, a sweep is it.
I also realize ,that no sweeps,have ever ran in a steel mill,that’s fine,one will soon run on mine.

It’s just a really neat looking locomotive and this unit would stand out very well.
Have you kit-bashed or scratch built one of these odd locomotives ? I’m thinking on useing a old athrean GP-9 and a SW -1200 to start. I’ll have to find a picture to post, for those of you who have never seen a sweep.

Patrick
Beaufort,SC
Dragon River Steel Corp {DRSC}
Making HO scale steel by the ton!!!

2

Found a picture of a sweep for those of you ,folks who care.

3

What is a sweep locomotive, as in what does it do?

4

Road switcher…if I’m right…if I’m wrong,I’m sure one of are northern friends will correct me.

Patrick

5

A SWEEP was a real-world kitbash of an SW1200RS (road switcher) and a GEEP (GP9) as mentionned by dragonriversteel. I believe CN built them to recycle parts from engines no longer in their prime. As you can see in the photo, this one rode on Flexicoil (lightweight) road trucks.

6

I had an article in RMC many years ago on kitbashing the SWeep (SWitcher + gEEP). Check MR’ s list of magazine articles to help you find the issue, as I don’t recall off the top of my head. As suggested, I used a hood from an Athearn GP-9 on an SW-7 body (Athearn used to call it an SW1200).

Here are a few shots of my model:

(Click on photo to enlarge)

Bob Boudreau

7

Oh Good! I have a spare SD7 or 9 body, anSD45 short nose and some C30-7 handrails… all I need now is a cab, running gear and some glue . [^]

Being insane, I’m serious [:p] I’ve seen various pics of hybrids over the years (this has just reminded me)… way back there was a picture article called “Horrible Heffalumps” about locos with engine swaps that gave them odd bulges (mostly in the long hood) [sounds painful].

Any suggestions (polite) what cab and running gear I should look for?

That’s a nice model by the way.[:)]

8

Great Pictures Bob. As a CN modeller I love seeing excellent work like this.

trevor

9

How slick is a sweep, never heard of one, glad to see a photo, it really is a great looking engine, how many were made??? any around or preserved??

10

ah yes good old CN Sweeps, too bad CANAC bought em all. not hsure where they are now. Always wanted to model one of these… get’s me thinking again!

11

Trackside Guide says that 9 of the 7300 series SW1200RM are still on CN’s roster. The 7100s are still listed on the CANAC roster, along with locations.

12

yes the 9 7300 SW1200RSM look like the regular CN SW1200RS’s with the normail straight stacks on em.