Who can provide me with some information about the Athearn GP9 number 3702?
Technical data, (re)paint jobs etc, etc.
The Athearn GP9 is like the Sherman tank of HO trains. It is an old Athearn model. Back when it was first produced it used a motor that was too wide to fit in a scale-width hood, so the hood is wider than it should be. All old Athearn models were like that (the GP38-2 was the first with the scale hood.) You really dont notice the hood width on the layout unless they are next to a scale hood. Lift rings and grab irons are cast on. The mechanism is dependable but noisy. Atlas GP7s and Proto 2000 GP9s have smoother mechanisms, and finer details. The fact that they are Athearn doesnt bother me; I own 16 of them.
Close. It was the fourth.[;)]
The first Athearn hood unit with a scale-width hood was either the SW7 or the Train Master; these prototypes had wider hoods that allowed an HO model to accommodate the old “Jet” motor.
Athearn’s first scale-width EMD road switchers were the SD40-2 around 1982, and the GP38-2 in 1985-1986.
Back to the point - Athearn’s “GP9” is a model of a GP7, offered by EMD between 1949 and 1954. The Athearn model is dependable, but dated. Better-running and more accurate models of this locomotive made by Atlas and Proto 2000 can be found at similar prices to what the Athearn model retails for, although shopping the same channels (eBay, swap meets, etc.) will also usually turn up the Athearn at even lower prices.
The Athearn GP9 is much like the EMD prototype. Seems like they last forever. As noted, earlier Athearn GP9s had a wide hood to acommodate the motor in use by Athearn at the time. Lifelike(Walthers) Proto 2000 models of the GP 9 certainly are more detailed, cost more, and probably run a little better. I have two Athearn GP9s that are approaching 30 years old. Still use them for switching and local runs.
Green Spirit I have one of those Athearn GP9s numbered #3702. It is a Southern Pacific unit. To find out about the real #3702 you should check out Richard Percy’s excellent website at http://espee.railfan.net/espee.html Look under the 4-axle EMD section for GP9s. You will find that the real SP #3702 was a bit different in detail as others have explained.