Lionel NYC GP-9 Shell on a Milwaukee Road GP-9 Frame

Classic Toy Trains Forum
1

I recently purchased a uncatalogued Lionel NYC GP-9 shell (6-8477) and want to mate it to a Milwaukee Road GP-9 w/ TMCC frame (6-18565). I see that the NYC shell has the holes in the noses for screws, but the Milwaukee Road Shell does not.

Will I be able to make this switch?

Are the frames the same for TMCC and non-TMCC exquipped loco?

Was there a design change that will prevent me from doing this?

How do I transfer the strobe light from the Milw shell to the NYC shell?

I know theres a lot of questions, but these weren’t cheap.

Thanks so much, Mario…

2

You must have a different NYC shell than my locomotive has. Mine has four screws on the bottom, probably the same as your Milwaukee Road locomotive. I don’t know how you can get around that issue, but the shells should fit all right if you can mount them to the frame. If your NYC shell has the hole in the cab roof, you can just stick the bulb and lens into it, with maybe a little tape underneath to hold the lightbulb in. If not, you’ll have to drill a hole the size of the lens.

3

Does your frame have the tabs on the front and rear sticking up for the front/rear screws or are they gone?

I’ve seen pictures of the frames with the tabs, but can’t tell if they are on all the frames or just the non-TMCC.

4

By the way, if you look at the exploded drawing of the GP-7/9’s the frame assembly has both the holes for the bottom screws and the tabs.

http://www.lionel.com/media/servicedocuments/36610-8562-001Complete.pdf

Hopefully, it will work.

Thanks, Mario

5

I’m pretty sure mine has the tabs, whether they are drilled for screws or not I couldn’t tell you without taking it apart. If the tabs are there, you shouldn’t have a problem drilling them to accept a screw. My shell doesn’t have holes for end screws, just the bottom ones. BTW mine is NYC cab #2380 if that makes a difference.

6

I think the tabs are also there to keep the body centered on the frame and to reduce the stress on the screws. This locomotive is a recent purchase of mine too, so I’m still learning about it.

7

You got a good engine there I have one also if you want a manual on it let me know and I can send you a digital copy that I got from Lionel befor they changed there website last year.

these engines are the first TMCC that Lionel made along with 2380 SP they also made a 2380 CP but that was in 1997 ours was made in 1996 and actual stock number is 6-18563

Love mine. In fact its part of what got me collecting NYC road name.

8
9

The shells themselves are very similar, if not the same as the postwar locomotives, the frames are a little different. Nothing’s impossible (or so they say) so you can probably figure it out with a little work.