Have you got one of these Proto 2000 GP20’s with QSI sound, i just ordered one on the strength of the reputation of P2K locos, i have 3 SD60’s and they are great, is the little GP 20 a good loco as i don’t remember seeing a revue about them.
Steve I haven’t seen a review either, but I know you wont be disapointed with a PK2.
I’ve had two BLI switchers on order forever!! So I recently changed my order to PK2 SW8. They have Norfolk & Western road numbers.
I’ll still have to wait but they will be better than the BLI’s
My PK2 2-8-82 runs like clockwork.
Ken.
P2K’s old GP 20 used their original ‘Geep’ chassis. The SD-60 was a departure from that chassis that rival’s any Atlas Kato Stewart I own. The GP-20 was a good engine, but not in the same class with the big SD-60.
The GP-20 is a smaller hauler than will look and run better on your 18" curves and #4 turnout’s. It relaced the GP-9 on most road’s with a low hood. I hope they come painted in ATSF’s ‘Pin Stripe’ since that’s how they were delivered.
Don,
Did P2K do an older GP20 along with or about the time of the GP18s? Back then I may have missed them.
Bob K.
Hi, Steve,
I own a P2K Conrail GP 20 from their first run many many moons ago. It is one of my best performers. I will figure a way to get sound in it as I like it alot.
One popular model in between the GP 9 and the GP 20 was the GP 18. Most were high hood.
Some consider the GP 20 to be the first of the EMD “Second Generation”. I model Reading Company and CNJ. The Reading ordered 20 GP 20’s towards the end of the GP 20 production life which were very quickly changed to GP 30’s ( In fact Reading GP 30’s were the first production units). They are not the hauler that the SD series are but they are an attractive looking road switcher none the less.
Thanks, Chris
I think the first run came out around 1998/99
BOB:
I don’t know. P2K’s -up 'till now -have used the same chassis for GP-20, GP-30, GP-9, and their 2 axle P1K product’s. Since this icludes a comparitively recent GP-9, There might be a high degree of probability.
test
See MR August 1998 review. In those non DCC days this 14 oz baby cost $58.00 out of Trainworld.
Modelers have complained about split axle gears on these older GPs, 7, 9 20 & 30 series reason being
that an inaccurate amount of teflon was used in making the gears.
Thanks gents, it will be used as a local switcher doing short runs to local industrys as the prototype did, since i got my BLI NW2 almost all of my non sound equiped locos have not turned a wheel in months, poor things are getting left out of the action, i won’t be selling my P2K SD60’s (two of them below) but may part company with my older Athearn BB loco’s, this may fund another loco, maybe a U30C or SD40-2 with sound of course
I have a P2K GP9 w/ QSI sound and love it. I havent had a chance to run it too much as I am building my layout still. My LHS told me the GP20 w/ QSI was basically the same thing with a different tank on the bottom.
Well, i got the GP20 today and what a great little model it is, the factory sound settings are way to loud but after a bit of carefull tweeking the sounds are perfect. if you get one take care removing it from the box, the black plastic things at the end are screwed into the coupler pockets, you remove them and fit the coupler boxes in place with the same screws. It runs at a scale 1.58 mph on DC and should get even slower once it’s run in, there are loads of detail parts fitted like lift rings, and metal fans under very fine plastic grills, there are a couple of details to be fitted by the modeller like sun shades and winterisation hatch to name a couple, it was great value at $169
Out of curiosity, does the GP20 come in Conrail? I’m not even sure where to look these days.
Spacemouse:
The current run with QSI sound doesn’t offer a Conrail unit.
I am debating on whether to find an older P2K Conrail shell cheap, or “paint over” the PC lettering and restencil it CR with PC style lettering.
Chris, regarding the 1st and 2nd generation facet.
The GP20 was the first production EMD to be “Turbo-Charged”, however it used the 567 series diesel. Though improved, it was still the same series as the GP and SD 7 thru 18, as well as the E and F units.
The EMD 2nd generation units, which made their debut in the 1960s were equipped with the more powerful 645 series diesel. This marked the beginning of the “Hoersepower Wars” between EMD, GE, and ALCO. General Motors even put out some attractive posters advertising the new “improved” line of locomotives.
Soundwise, the GP20 had the baritone chant of the other 567s, plus the whine of the turbocharger. The 645 series EMDs, turbo and non-turbo, have a distinctly different, higher pitched sound.