I recently picked up some P2K ATSF GP7s, Zebra stripe paint scheme. I was wondering about the accuracy of the lettering.
I have been looking for pictures online of these (2789, 2790, 2792) but haven’t been finding any in the zebra scheme. On the models, the Santa Fe herald is on the short nose. Other ATSF GP7s I have seen (non-dynamic) have the herald on the long hood, about centered. These models have dynamics, which may have forced a different placement of the herald. These are in the range of the GP7Bs that ATSF had, but I don’t feel the need to model those.
Also, I am looking for which parts I need to round up to further detail them. It looks like the main things I need are spark arrestors and different horns, as they come with a 3-chime mounted on the short nose. Horn placement looks a bit iffy, as they are mounted on top, and few pictures show that area.
I have the same locos, plus 3 of the P2K GP9s. I am not an expert on their authenticity, but they look pretty good to me. From the photos I’ve seen, these locos - like a lot of others - went thru several changes during their typically long life. At this point, I’m content with the KDs and some mild weathering until I decide what (or if) I want to add to them.
By the way - as you probably know - these locos typically had the broken (actually slipping) gear axles. Walthers provided replacements, and even for me it was an easy fix. You know they are broken if you can turn the wheels on the same axle independently.
I picked them up quite inexpensively, and in limited test-running they do have the cracked axles. I have the parts, and will set them right when I get the time.
I have seen pictures of the GP9s with dynamics as delivered, and they do have the herald on the short nose. Still a little stumped on the GP7s, but perhaps nobody wanted to take pictures of those darned diesels back them, preferring to capture the last of steam instead.
I was almost thinking of doing something else with the shells, but the paint job is so nice I don’t want to mess it up.[8D] I might just keep them how they are. Small back story: the table I use in my basement was built by the late Allen J Brewster, a former Kalmbach illustrator. It used to hold up the yard part of his On3 layout. His dad was a Santa Fe engineer, and like any good dad he took his boy to work with him from time to time. There is a strong possibility that Allen rode in GP7s, maybe even the same numbers I have models of. So I would like to get them as close I can, within reason.
They are accurate. I don’t remember where I saw a prototype photo for 2792 but it matched exactly to my Proto 2000 version. Just have too many Santa Fe books in the personal library to know for sure where the photo is.
I believe you are right as to why the herald moved to the hood due to the dynamics. But this herald placement is right for most if not all Santa Fe dynamic equipped GP7s.
The P2K model is appropriate for the mid 1950s as is with the horn placement etc…
Although horns on any Santa Fe loco can be a tricky subject and the only true way to be accurate is by looking at a photo of your specific loco in the desired era. The link below is a valuable source for Santa Fe modelers about the types of horns appropriate for Santa Fe locos:
Spark arrestors came late to Santa Fe Geeps and F units. Late meaning mid 60s and 70s. The Santa Fe added them, as they came from EMD without. So probably not appropriate for the zebra stripe paint era which technically ended in 1960, although many locos remained in the zebra stripe scheme long after 1960. But I don’t think spark arrestors would look right on the P2K GP7s you got, at least based on the multiple photos I’ve seen over the years.
UPDATE
Found the picture. It’s of GP7 2971 so not 2972 but super close [;)]
I personally think the P2K Santa Fe GP7s that you just got are the best Santa Fe zebra striped locos out there. Although the Kato NW2s are also nice. But the P2K GP7s have great paint and details, are nice runners, and are
Thanks for locating the picture. Looks like the 2791 has a single honker on the short hood, and another on the long hood between the front radiator and the exhaust stack. The model comes with a 3-chime on the short hood. I guess I’ll have to change that.
I’ve got DCC in them already, Digitrax DH165LO I had laying around. I might just use them, or upgrade to a TCS of some sort. Depends on if I feel like rewiring them to add LED lights. I haven’t run them much, just enough to find the cracked gears. Other than that, they seem to run well. I was going to use the drives under other P2K GPs, but that plan may change…
Check out the back pages of Iron Horses of the Santa Fe… It appears that all the 2600 class has their
SF logos on the long hood. About 1960, or barely 5-7 years after the initial purchases of the GP7 and with units starting with 2800, the paint scheme turned to the large “Santa Fe” Gold letters on a blue background. In the Wolsey book above, there are lots of photos as well as McCall’s Early Diesel Daze, It appears that the herald was moved to the short hood when the dynamic brake housing was installed.
page 472 of iron horses also has a picture of GP7 2691, with dynamics, and kept the square logo on the long hood, but much lower. So it appears they did it both ways on the GP7s with dynamics.
I don’t take much personal these days and most of my friends live in their train rooms no matter where it is…but to the point, you are exactly correct. You must be a member of SFH&MS and I am thinking they must have printed a set of hood diesel painting guidelines…they did all the covered wagons and I went back through those to check…Somewhere in their coloring guides, there should be an explanation of the herald and the hood. I will keep looking and report.
