I JUST PURCHASED A FRONT RANGE GP-7 FROM SWAP MEET. CAN ANYONE TELL ME THE HISTORY OF THIS COMPANY? AND WHERE ARE THEY NOW? THANKS[?]
They went to the great model railroad manufacturer’s site in the sky, they went belly up, out of busness, no longer around. Long gone.
Bob Boudreau
Before there were P2K GP7’s, I used Front Range GP7’s to power my last Frisco layout. They run terrible right out of the box. Best thing to do is replace the awful Front Range trucks with Athearn trucks. I can’t recall whether I used the Athearn flywheels w/adapters or fashioned an adaptor to allow the Atheran trucks w/worm to mate to the Front Range flywheels. I seem to recall that I simply purchased an entire Athearn unit and used the trucks and flywheels w/shaft adapters for the Front Range Mashima motor.
Good luck!
Actually, Front Range was Fred Becker who is LBF right now, although he has had some health problems of late and things are a little slow.He was also E&C shops at one time
I just acquired a “Front Range” “McKean” box car kit. I not only thought it was a great kit. the finished box car is great - great detail.
Yeah! Their rolling stock is really nice. I wouldn’t give [2c] for their locomotives or track though. I could do better with Tyco.
I just won one of those McKean box car kits on EBay. I was impressed with the detail.
Not bad for $6.
ProtoPower West sells a total Front Range GP7/9 guts replacement kit for $40:
http://www.ppw-aline.com/frfrgp79.htm
You’ll be much happier with the loco performance if you do this. [swg]
After Front Range died off, an outfit called Trains Unlimited continued to sell the Front Range Geep shell and chassis.
Frankly, I love mine…at least now I do…after converting them to Athearn trucks with Jaybee wheels, and replaceing the brittle handrails with Atlas GP7 raillings (direct swap in, no holes to be drilled or relocated)
Seeee???
Especially for Kitbashing or chopnosing, they make good exacto fodder!!
What I would like to see is Athearn doing an RTR GP9 with the Front Range shell. I’ll bet the new Geeps would go flying off the hobby shops’ shelves once they hit the market.
I have a couple of freight cars ,from front range. Great detail,easy to put together and weighted. Gonna keep these cars a long time.
Patrick
DRSC