Author Topic: Building the GP40-2W  (Read 3576 times)

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Philip H

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Building the GP40-2W
« on: September 12, 2011, 11:18:32 AM »
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So I'm looking hard at restarting my build of the GP40-2Ws that KCS bought from north of the border.  I have the Athabasca cab kit, and I started with a LL GP38-2.  Problem is the LL shell is shorter then the cab several scale inches.  Does anyone know if the Atlas GP40-2 shell is taller?  and how does it do in relationship to the CP prototype?

Thanks!
Philip H.
Chief Everything Officer
Baton Rouge Southern RR - Mount Rainier Division.


Scottl

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Re: Building the GP40-2W
« Reply #1 on: September 12, 2011, 12:47:12 PM »
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I've built a few for the CN prototype.  CP did not use these.

I've done it with the Atlas shell and the height match is good- I did not notice any difference.




Philip H

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Re: Building the GP40-2W
« Reply #2 on: September 13, 2011, 10:26:01 AM »
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Scott,
Thanks for weighing in.  I got the designation wrong - KCS calls them GP40-2Ls.  They appear to be dynamic brake equipped, have the lower headlights blanked, and have headlights where your bell bracket is.

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=3900
Philip H.
Chief Everything Officer
Baton Rouge Southern RR - Mount Rainier Division.


lock4244

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Re: Building the GP40-2W
« Reply #3 on: September 13, 2011, 11:15:55 AM »
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There are two models, the GP40-2L and the GP40-2W. The GP40-2L is roughly 4-5" taller than the GP40-2W due to a different fame design to allow a larger fuel tank (3600gal IIRC). There is no difference in the hood height, but rather in the height from the rail to the walkways, so the steps are longer. CN 9400-9632 were GP40-2L's while CN 9633-9667 (and GO Transit 700-710) were the GP40-2W's.

Scottl, those look pretty darn nice! Kaslo cabs?

Edit: Phillip, none of these were built with dynamic brakes... the KCS added them during their rebuild as well as adding the headlight above the windshield.
« Last Edit: September 13, 2011, 11:20:06 AM by lock4244 »

Scottl

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Re: Building the GP40-2W
« Reply #4 on: September 13, 2011, 12:59:14 PM »
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Interesting, I did not know there was a difference between the different GP40 units.

This was a Kaslo cab.  I have several of the Athabasca cabs, which are nice, but I think the joints on the nose would be tricky to do, especially to get the rounded edge of the prototype.

Philip H

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Re: Building the GP40-2W
« Reply #5 on: September 13, 2011, 01:05:50 PM »
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Scott, having done the Athabasca cab I tend to agree, but I didn't know about Kaslo back then . . . speaking of which, do you have a good current source of the Kaslo cabs?  And which one is it?

Thanks!
Philip H.
Chief Everything Officer
Baton Rouge Southern RR - Mount Rainier Division.


Scottl

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Re: Building the GP40-2W
« Reply #6 on: September 13, 2011, 02:17:51 PM »
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The Kaslo web site has been under construction for so long it is painful.

I have ordered Kaslo products from Credit Valley Railway Co  http://cvrco.com/ and when I visit the store they usually have some in stock.  The flash around the front windows is about my only complaint about the Kaslo product, but nothing a little file work won't clean up.

Philip H

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Re: Building the GP40-2W
« Reply #7 on: September 13, 2011, 02:45:11 PM »
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Sadly credit Valley seems to be out of them at the moment.  I did find a dynamic brake Atlas Shell online earlier that I have ordered, so I'll see if my Athabasca cab fits it.
Philip H.
Chief Everything Officer
Baton Rouge Southern RR - Mount Rainier Division.


lock4244

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Re: Building the GP40-2W
« Reply #8 on: September 13, 2011, 04:10:46 PM »
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Central Hobbies in Vancouver sells Kaslo.

lock4244

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Re: Building the GP40-2W
« Reply #9 on: September 13, 2011, 04:15:49 PM »
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Interesting, I did not know there was a difference between the different GP40 units.

This was a Kaslo cab.  I have several of the Athabasca cabs, which are nice, but I think the joints on the nose would be tricky to do, especially to get the rounded edge of the prototype.

There is a long running debate here in Canada about the differences and what to call them. You hear alot of GP40-2L(W), but there are two versions. I saw a shot on the CNR List of a GP40-2L in the midst of being scrapped in Woodcrest, Ill., and it went far in settling the debate as you could clearly see the 'longitudinal' frame (not sure if that is the correct term) on the unit.

Philip H

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Re: Building the GP40-2W
« Reply #10 on: September 23, 2011, 04:18:17 PM »
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Dom any of you have any idea which air horn the KCS units now sport?  TOp shots of these locos are hard to come by.

Thanks!
Philip H.
Chief Everything Officer
Baton Rouge Southern RR - Mount Rainier Division.


jmlaboda

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Re: Building the GP40-2W
« Reply #11 on: September 23, 2011, 09:21:56 PM »
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From Trainorders:

"The main difference between the two is the frame. The GP40-2LW units have a heavy duty frame. They sit about two inches taller than a GP40-2W. The main beams are larger than the standard GP40 type frame. If the two are coupled together you can see the difference. The way GMD accomplished this without adding to the overall weight of the locomotive was to use thinner end plates, and other areas that were not load, or stress points. The idea was to put the metal where the stresses are."

Catt

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Re: Building the GP40-2W
« Reply #12 on: September 24, 2011, 01:08:10 AM »
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Minitures by Eric,also has the Canadian safety cab.Have only seen pictures, but they look good and the price is right. :D
Johnathan (Catt) Edwards
Sole owner of the
Grande Valley Railway
100% Michigan made

Philip H

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Re: Building the GP40-2W
« Reply #13 on: September 24, 2011, 09:51:30 AM »
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Catt,
Thanks for pointing that out.  My Atlas GP40-2 shell arrived yesterday, and I put the Athabasca cab on it - still too high by about a foot.  So I ordered from Eric this morning, and we'll see how his cab looks when it gets here.

UPDATE:
Here's the best photo I have of the gap

« Last Edit: September 24, 2011, 09:05:47 PM by Philip H »
Philip H.
Chief Everything Officer
Baton Rouge Southern RR - Mount Rainier Division.


jnevis

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Re: Building the GP40-2W
« Reply #14 on: September 25, 2011, 09:18:30 PM »
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This may seem like a dumb question, but does it have the same gap when the shell is attached to the sill assembly?  Looks like that might make the difference since the hood would be slighty higher and the battery boxes, therefore the cab, would be below the bottom edge of the hood.
« Last Edit: September 25, 2011, 09:20:51 PM by jnevis »
Can't model worth a darn, but can research like an SOB.