I recently purchased an Atlas N-scale GP-9TT locomotive. I’ve been trying to figure out what the “TT” is all about. Any suggestions?
I believe those are the Geeps with the air tanks on top. They were called “torpedo tubes” for reasons that should be obvious. Unfortunately, I forgot why they built them this way. I believe the C&NW had some in commuter service.
The torpedo boats had train heat boilers under the high short hoods, and needed space under the frame for a water tank. That was provided by moving the air tanks to the top of the long hood.
I remember seeing a couple of Santa Fe torpedo boats at the Grand Canyon when I first visited in 1955. If the green weenies presently running the GCRR want to be historically accurate, they could convert a couple of reclaimed GP9s to run on bacon grease (or whatever green wonderfuel is ‘in’ today) and paint them in that black and zebra stripe scheme…
Chuck (Modeling Central Japan in September, 1964)
That would certainly explain why these locomotives went straight to commuter service on the C&NW.
[(-D] [bow]
SP purchased 4 to dieselize the Del Monte, equipped with duel cab controls they permitted retirement of turning facalities as well, long lived, they survived the privatization of SP commute operations in 1984 and were retired by UP in 1997. One was was subsquently purchased by a private party and restored to as built condition.
Dave
Some, but not all. For example, most, but not all, of NP’s GP9’s that didn’t have dynamic brakes and did not have boilers DID have torpedo tubes so as to allow larger fuel tanks (2200 gal. instead of 1600 gal.)
Ed