ModelRailroadForums.com is a free Model Railroad Discussion Forum and photo gallery. We cover all scales and sizes of model railroads. Online since 2002, it's one of the oldest and largest model railroad forums on the web. Whether you're a master model railroader or just getting started, you'll find something of interest here.
A few photos of the finished product. I decided to leave the dynamic breaks (although RI did not have these historically, a modern RI would probably need them) and I left the single window pane because I really like the looks of it on this little critter. Now to install the DCC and test the operations...
Thanks again, guys. I am hoping to get to more 4-axle old-timers for the modern RI like the Alco C415, Fairbanks-Morse H15-44, and GE U28B in the near future... I am very interested in modeling locomotives that the Rock used to have that could feasibly still exist today.
I'd love to see an ALCO C415 in the new Rock scheme but your maintenance forces would have to be awfully good to have one of those running today. I don't know how the RI did with them but the SP hated them. They were used mostly as transfer units from Taylor Yard in LA to the City of Industry yard, mostly in pairs, in hopes one would still be running when it got ot the CoI yard. They were all on the Tayor Yard dead line by 1977. I know one got sold to a paper company and one went to Fundidora Monterrey, a Mexican steel company. I think they kept it running until about 1992. There were a few non-SP units runing in things like dinner train service on tourist lines until the mid-90's but I think all the ones left are museum pieces. The Mexican unit is on display in a city park in Monterrey, still with the full SP light array.
Right, we will do our best to keep it running. But because it will be retired within a short time, it probably won't be painted in the new red/black scheme. I'm thinking more along the lines of the old blue/white scheme.
Yeah, that's the one I was thinking of. It was sold off to a paper company and it ended up with the Burlington Junction. I think they have two more inoperable units they are cannibalizing for parts. Hmmm...the Burlington Junction operates on ex-RI trackage. Maybe it's a candidate for inclusion in your new Rock Island fleet.
If you want odd power on the Rock Island, Rio Grande GP7s went to the RI, kept the D&RG paint, but were restenciled with the RI logos while they were being used, #4206, 4205, 4203 which became 4288. Late 1973 or so. See page 40-41 of RIO GRANDE DIESELS A PICTORIAL HISTORY - VOL. 2 by Joseph A Strapac.
I was the one that kitbashed and detailed that 9M. It didn't go to bad for a Walthers model. The engine is very quiet but as someone else had said, not a real heavy puller. I added some weight to it which helped out a lot. When I bought the engine though is was just planned for local and switching duties.
Overall I am happy with the engine for what you pay for it.
The closest I've come to getting one of these is building one that has a Walthers GP9m body and frame. The trucks, motor and shafts are Proto and Athearn. Another one I built has the Walthers GP9m body. The rest is Front Range, Athearn and Proto. I run them at ;east a few times a week. The two are permanently mu'd and have jumper wires joining the pickups of both locos together. I have a third GP9m I'm working on that has the Walthers body and an older GP9 frame. It has an Athearn motor and Proto 1000 AAR trucks. One drive shaft is complete. I still need to make a piece for the other shaft.
