Hello again from this side of the pond [:D] I plan to model one of UP’s ex Southern Pacific EMD GP38-2 that were modified for use in snow fighting duties on Donner Pass.
I am using a undecorated Atlas GP38 to start with as it has the correct trucks, it’s chipped and most importantly, I got it cheap [:P] I have ordered a Atlas Trainman GP38-2 body and cab as I have everything else but what I do need is plans or drawings of the icicle breakers that adorn the cab roof. Does anyone do a kit of these?
I know about the steel grating on the front cab windows and the circular windscreen wiper engineers front window, or is it both sides? If anyone can help or has any technical information on these units, that would be great.
The Icicle Breaker’s I’m thinking of I belive are sold by a detailer, but what I’m thinking of would be pretty easily bent in Brass wire. But I’m not thinking of what’s in that picture, either. However, I think you could save a buck and get yur hands on some L-shaped styrene strip to reproduce.
These units were modified by EMD and SP for snow duty and replaced elderly SD seven and nines which had also been modified for snow duty on the Hill.
Circular wipers with defrosters, orginally developed for ocean going vessels.
Heavy duty cab heaters
Snow shields applied by the SP over the air intakes
Traction motor snow shields
Grating over the front cab widows, some units also had grating over the nose headlight package
Cab mounted Ice breakers, although they were never removed, they eventually fell out of favor due to the possibilty of ice being ripped loose that could damage trailing cars (particulary auto racks) locomotives or imperil personal by ice penetration.
Some received oversized pilot plows on both ends.
When not required on the Hill, they could be found in general service, although as a general rule they were not permitted to wonder too far or be worked too hard.
This is one of the ex SP units with the ice breaker extended while in flanger service last year.
I have some better pictures while they were still in SP colors but the ice breaker detail can be seen fairly clearly in this pictures. The material is flat not round.
CZ
They use two of them each time I have seen them on one flanger.
Thanks for the info CZ, but I need a diagram of the icicle breakers so I can model them. The only detail supplier I can find that makes them, does only ones for E and F units.
If anyone has drawings or dimentions of the icicle breakers used on these GP38-2’s, I would be most grateful.
