Here’s a better view of the pretend GP35.
http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=298478
If you look close at the trucks, you can see the rubber tires behind them.
Charles
If one looks past the "cut off " fake flanged wheels in the side view it is a very realistic looking “fake” engine. And of course, the bottom part of the flanged wheels could be “hidden” out of site in an actual movie scene.
The rust stains on the “engine’s” sides really appears impressively real.
It does appear small in real life, but other than that, it’s amazingly real looking, until you start to go over it with a fine tooth comb… then you see some flaws.
This Unit should drive the modelers over the edge!![yeah]
Scale = Standard 12" to the 1’ and nicely weathered
It would make a heck of a ride to the Prom Promenade at any High School!![(-D]
Imagine the shock on a crew’s face seeing this thing pacing them while someone hangs out a window with a camera…
Charles can you imagine the reaction of the public and politicians if this “loco” was run down the street on top of the local light rail line or streetcar line especially having a boxcar or two following? Wonder what kind of complaints would be made?
Or just running the the freeway at speed…
I had this idea several years ago. Imagine all you videos you could put on youtube shooting them from the cab of this mockup locomotive. The EYES of the engineers as big a SAUCERS!
As one of the comments under the linked photo noted, it looks a little naked without at least the unit’s road number under the side cab window. And maybe the weathering is little overdone. But other than that - amazingly realistic ! Thanks for sharing.
Anybody else think this would make a good ‘build-your-own’ type of article for Popular Mechanics ? [swg]
- PDN.
Trivia:
Back in 1940…a similar “false” railroad engine stopped at our Esso Station on rt. 30 back in Pennsylvania. Only it was a steam engine. I don’t think I have that photo {that my mother took of it}, but I can remember the photo showing it and it really did look rather realistic.
Believe it was coming from the 1939-40 Worlds Fair if I remember correctly.
Anybody think the ‘trucks’ on it look unnaturally large?
Yep…if they entered it in the best model competition at the local NMRA show it would probably lose…but no one who isn’t a hardcore railfan or professional railroader would notice (or care)…
The dynamic brake blister looks like it’s off a 1970s engine, while the rest of it looks very GP35 (mid 1960s) also.
Getting back to Quentin, do you have any other info on that fake steam engine? You got me curious now.
I was rather young when it occured, but do have a vivid memory of it…It caused quite a bit of onlookers, etc…in trying to recall, I believe it was sponsered by some organization such as {American Legon}, using that just as an example. I remember it was painted white…{why white…}, have no idea but it was pretty good size too. It was west bound, so it was coming from the Worlds Fair when it stopped.
Rt. 30 was the main route across Pennsylvania in that area at that time { the Pennsy Turnpike opened Oct. 1st, 1940}, and I do remember lots of customers stopping at our station traveling back and forth to the NYC Worlds Fair…{Trylon and {Perisphere}, icon…Anyone remember…?
I will scout around here just in the possibility I would have that photograph…but I believe it may be back in Pa. at sis in law’s home.
And if you go to the other view, the front looks REALLY wide.