Need help Identifying a Wabash GP7

Classic Toy Trains Forum
1

Picked up a supposed 2337 Wabash GP7 today. The inside of the shell is grey; Postwar trains Library.com says the shell should be blue. The inside of the shell is stamped 2328 - 5. That’s the no. of a Burlington GP7. Was I sold a redecorated Burlington??

Thanks for any help,

Runtime

2

Hello runtime!

2328-3 would be correct for the number that is on the inside of your Wabash GP-7 Shell. That was the number designated for the GP-7/9 Shells in those days & the practice continued into the Modern Era. Lionel also used grey plastic for molding the Diesel Engine shells so that the Light Bulb from the Headlight would not shine through the plastic. They made a mistake using Translusent plastic in certain Milwaukee Road Geeps from the 50s & the light shined throught the shells & Lionel learned from their mistake since then. Hope this helps. Take Care.

3

Keith,

Thanks for the reply;

But I’m still confused. My shell is clearly marked Part No. 2328-5. I think you’re telling me 2328 was the shell no for various GP7s, not just for the Burlington GP7 which carried the 2328 designation on the outside??

Runtime

4

I have a 2339 Wabash and the shell is blue plastic. My David Doyle book says your engine was blue plastic also.

5

Runtime,

I’ve had that same Geep since it was new, got it as my first real train set. I’ll pop the shell in a bit and give you some feed back on what I find.

6

I’m Baaaaack !

Mine is blue interior and the part # 2328-5. This a one owner unit, me, slightly 50+ years old and runs like new. But since it is over 50 it is like me it don’t run very often, mostly just eye candy. [(-D]

Hope this can resolve your questions.

7

You need to remember something also Lionel was famous for subing a shell if it was new run and new wasn’t produced yet, end of run or even if they ran short durning a run this was all common practice back in the late 40’s to late 60’s . so it would not surprise me all though it might be rare to find if you came up with a B&M shell repainted to wabash GP-7/9 so yours may or may not be original shell no way to be positive scince your not the original owner.

8

Thank you all for your collective feedback.

My tentative conclusion from the info you all provided is:

It’s quite possible (likely?) that I have a genuine Wabash 2337 GP7, where Lionel used a Grey molded shell, then sprayed on the grey, blue and white (the grey shell color does not match the painted exterior grey). So I feel better about my acquision. Dolye and other references, with their unilateral descriptions do mess with the collecting fraternity’s mind.

Thanks again,

Runtime

9

I know I’m a little late to the party, but the NYC GP-9 #8477 shell that I just purchased has the same part number, 2328-5, and it is GRAY plastic.

Thanks,

Mario

10

Lionel part numbers reflect the first use of that part, which might go on to be used in many other models. Since the shells for many locomotives that were destined to be painted for different railroads all came from the same mold, it makes sense that they all had the same part number molded into them. The same is true for metal castings like those used for F3s. For example, the frame of a dual-vertical-motor 2383 is marked 2243-38, the number of a single-motor locomotive made a decade earlier and machined differently.