Atlas GP20? Vaporidium?

[randgust]

OK, so I've checked the Atlas website where they show either 'backordered' or 'out of stock', Ebay (nothing), and general sales (nothing), and even Mark's site.....

Anybody actually SEEN the new Atlas GP20?  Specifically the chassis?  I'm dying to find out how they did it this time, jamming in the DCC board, speaker, and sound....

I'd like some hope that one will actually exist at one of the dealers at Altoona..

[CRL]

See my comments in this thread.
https://www.therailwire.net/forum/index.php?topic=58297.msg803754#msg803754

[randgust]

Thanks, didn't see it.

Wahhh, wahhhhhhhh......

Wait, I've got it.  There were high-nose GP20s, WP 2001 survives....   (ducks for incoming fruit throwers)

https://wplives.org/locomotivepages/d_wp2001.html

[vermonter_railfan]

Finally received one from Lombard this morning.

Here are a couple close up of the model for those who are interested. I suspect that the hold up was possibly the power pick up design from the trucks

[CR4100]

I find it interesting that they reused the old Life Like truck design with the wrap-around frame instead of the current Atlas trucks with the wired pick ups. 

I'm assuming that there a decoder socket on the bottom of the PC board at the rear. Is that correct?

[vermonter_railfan]

I find it interesting that they reused the old Life Like truck design with the wrap-around frame instead of the current Atlas trucks with the wired pick ups. 

I'm assuming that there a decoder socket on the bottom of the PC board at the rear. Is that correct?

I found that interesting as well, as for the decoder this is using the "older" ESU drop in style that was common when Atlas first started upgrading their units. In this case the current available decoder is the ESU 58721 for sound. Gotta remember that there were announced 6 years ago that's what they were using. It seems like they're changing everything over to the E24 at this point. So I wouldn't be surprised if the next run of these, if they ever make them, we'll probably have a newer board like the newest run of SD50/60/60E.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

What I'm surprised by is that they didn't just come up with one design for the GP9s.

[vermonter_railfan]

What I'm surprised by is that they didn't just come up with one design for the GP9s.

As am I, or vice versa.. But regardless this opens up possibilities of chopnose GP9, CF7, etc. Stuff that isn't possible with the new GP7/9 chassis.

[Angus Shops]

I wonder what it would take to backdate one of these into a credible chop-nose GP-9? New fans, exhaust, and frame skirts…

[milw156]

Anyone know if a 15-20 year old Atlas GP9TT shell will fit on these?

[chessie system fan]

Using this chassis for a GP9 would depend on how difficult it would be to attach a GP9 fuel tank.  It's hard to tell from those photo angles how much milling is involved in the GP9 air tank area.  There might be problems with the speaker too.  But I would love to know the answer so I can scratch my WM itch.

Backdating the shell to a late GP9 wouldn't be worth it.  There are too many differences.  You're better off updating a GP9 shell and adding the GP20 nose.

[jwaldo]

I'm currently in the process of kitbashing a low-nose GP9. It's an unholy amalgamation of GP9, GP18, and GP20 parts.

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Luckily the last run of Walthers GP20s shared a mechanism with the GP18, which could fit either type of tank. It looks like the Atlas mechanism may also be set up for a GP9/GP18 style tank. The Walthers mechanism did have to be modified slightly to fit an Atlas GP9 tank, but I only had to do that because actual Walthers GP18s are rarer than unicorn farts.

[Angus Shops]

Using this chassis for a GP9 would depend on how difficult it would be to attach a GP9 fuel tank.  It's hard to tell from those photo angles how much milling is involved in the GP9 air tank area.  There might be problems with the speaker too.  But I would love to know the answer so I can scratch my WM itch.

Backdating the shell to a late GP9 wouldn't be worth it.  There are too many differences.  You're better off updating a GP9 shell and adding the GP20 nose.

Yes, you’re absolutely right. I didn’t consider the fan intakes and probably a bunch of other details…

[sp org div]

Whats with that dynamic brake snap-in piece…
Does it really fit as poorly as it looks in that photo?

[Jim Starbuck]

Interesting pickup technique.
I’ve been doing exactly that on LifeLike switchers for years.