And GP7&9 were originally high hood with the GP18 being the first low hood manufactured unit. Any GP7 or 9 with a low nose was done so well after leaving La Grange and often by the second or third owner; if by the first owner, it would have been very far into its life. Another reason why only GP7’s and 9’s are sole owner of the moniker GEEP.
I thought the term geep was a word made up to sound like the letters G.P.
The first time I ever heard a railroader refer to GP9s as geeps, he told me they call them “geeps” or “cats.” Never since that first time have I ever heard them referred to as “cats.” And I am not sure where that name was derived from if it was ever used by others.
I know what you mean by that brick look of GP38s. But to me, the low hood on GP7s or nines turned them into the homeliest locomotives ever produced because the chop nose looked kind of homemade. The manufactured low nose on later models looked more integrated with the rest of the locomotive.
I recall DPM once wrote an article called “You Take the Low Nose; I’ll Take the High Nose.”
The most handsome locomotive of all time was, of course, the high nose GP9 with dynamic brakes. It was all downhill from there.
I think the DL&W called them “Black Cats”.
Surprised you wanted dynamics. That bulge spoils the clean lines of the long hood. I Think alcos looked better than any EMD early product. If I’m limited to EMDs, I’d have to say SD38. just proportioned right.
If I have to stick to a GP, I’d go for the GP15. Overgrown switchers that they were…
I thought the dynamic brake blisters gave the GP9s just the right sort of accent or counterpoint on the long hood, not just due to the blisters alone, but also the elevated portion between them. They kind of look like a set of saddle bags.
The high short hoods were essential to a good looking M.U. set unless you were viewing nearly headon. With choped noses, it always seemed like pieces were missing from the multiple unit profile. They were not able to overcome that appearance problem until they got to the SD-40s with the long back porches. If something is missing with the choped nose, you could balance it out by chopping off the rear end on the long hood.
I agree about the GP15 being good looking. In fact that might be my second favorite after the GP9 with high nose and dynamics.
I really liked the Also road switchers. I don’t think the EMD f-units really fullfilled their appearence potential until they got to the F7. It needed those angled number boards.
The DL&W had 5 GP7’s for passenger service. In order to accomodate the water for the steam boiler, the air resevoirs were placed atop the long hood and they were called the Torpedo Boats. or Torpedos.
A good point, and the specificity (or lack thereof) leaves way too much elbow room.
“Geeps” is a great example of this. It covers far too many models, and should have been confined to something like GP7 or GP9…or whatever newer version might have been appropriate.
Another questionable topic might be “depots”. Does Penn Station belong in the same group as Perham, MN? It would probably be better to narrow the scope to “major railway stations”, “country depots”, stone passenger stations, unusual railroad stations, abandoned railway stations, etc.
Just thinking off the top of my head…but better category descriptions sure sounds like a winner to me.
Tom in Nashville
I think I remember seeing somewhere that GP stood for “general purpose”…yard, road, freight, passenger, and the natural evolution of the GP letters to a spoken word was geep.
Tom in Nashville
Yes, Tom. And that is a major reason why purists restrict the term GEEP to GP 7’s and 9’s: same first generation engine, motors, electrical, long hoods front and rear. After them, everything began to change. And any GP7 or 9 which have low short hood are modified and for some are removed from being termed a real GEEP because often with the chopped nose there are other alterations which makes in different than the originals.
Even if “Geeps” wasn’t the best trackside theme, it sure did result in some heavy discussion…
Purists? There are GP purists? I always thought Geep was just a nickname that was mainly used by railfans (and railfans who happen to be RRes). Wait… it still is.
Zug… who will call GP40s Geeps. Let the purists complain.
I’ve always though of Geeps as any 4 axle EMD road switcher beyond the F’s.
In fact, a few one-off’s notwithstanding, EMD products pretty much fit into one of five categories: F’s, E’s, SW’s, Geeps, and SD’s.
Inasmuch as most wide cabs are now seen on SD’s, I also tend to think of Geeps as having “spartan cabs.”
My vote goes to Alex Mayes’ photo…3 “C’s”…Composition…Color…and Contrast.
There were several very nice photos…The NH “Geeps” photo was nice, but didn’t like the trash on the ground on the lower right of the photo.
To add a bit {opinion}, to zug’s comments: I’m judging the photographs on the quality of the photos. How it effects what I see…Something dramatic or eye catching…sharp…good color…composition…and try to keep the “theme” as close to what is requested…Not that it has to have every i dotted…and t crossed.
So…I’m going to maintain that ANY locomotive model with the GP designation is a geep. The letters, as has been established, mean General Purpose…and the number whether 9 or 40, and high short hood or low, is irrelevant.
Tom in Nashville
Geep = The hybrid offspring of a goat and a sheep.
I though that was a SHOAT.