Oh, the irony

[Iain]

I'm looking to do another NS GP18, and I go on Ebay to look for one to act as the long hood/chassis donor.  Well, as it happens, I come across this:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/N-Scale-Life-Like-7128-Southern-GP-18-Diesel-Locomotive-175-/371968327049?hash=item569b0a3d89:g:31sAAOSwo4pYIh86

As it happens, this is a model of a Southern GP18, specifically one that is ex-NS.

Unfortunately, it is the older plastic frame, and I am looking for a split frame. 

[cjm413]

I'm looking to do another NS GP18, and I go on Ebay to look for one to act as the long hood/chassis donor.  Well, as it happens, I come across this:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/N-Scale-Life-Like-7128-Southern-GP-18-Diesel-Locomotive-175-/371968327049?hash=item569b0a3d89:g:31sAAOSwo4pYIh86

As it happens, this is a model of a Southern GP18, specifically one that is ex-NS.

Unfortunately, it is the older plastic frame, and I am looking for a split frame.

Life-Like GP20 would give you the correct fuel tank/air tank configuration for a NS GP18



Also, Southern 175 is a Central of Georgia unit - even if you ignore the lettering on the cab, note the full-length sub-base and handrails on the original high short hood, also the fuel tank-air tank configuration:



The ex-NS units kept the original subbase and handrails after the high short hood was added, also kept the same fuel tank/air tank configuration

[Carolina Northern]

Those LifeLike Geep bodies fit nicely on the newer frame or an Atlas frame. Locos are currently packed away, but I'll look for a picture.

Don

[Missaberoad]

This might be the only instance of a Railroad UN-chopping a nose 

[jmlaboda - RIP]

This might be the only instance of a Railroad UN-chopping a nose 

It was indeed.  Southern never maintained a low hood unit, though the conversion to hi-hoods did take a couple months to do.  The company who did them for Southern applied the new parts and primered the exterior parts in medium gray while still keeping the NS paint on the cab and long hood, with the units then being painted and sent back out to do their work, first on old NS lines and then later further south in territory that use to be served by ALCO RS3s.

My only visit to NS's Raleigh, N.C., shops got me a chance at being up close and personal with NS Geeps in both versions as well as a collection of rolling stock that ranged from old wood sheathed cars (cabooses and MofW converted passenger cars, both of which still survive) to more modern steel cars.  The Baldwins were already gone but the NS derrick had just returned from being rebuilt and repainted, in fresh tuxedo paint.  That's been 43 years ago and I still remember it fairly well... just wish I had been a little earlier so I could see the BLWs living out their final days on the line... would have been so much more enjoyable...

[Iain]

Life-Like GP20 would give you the correct fuel tank/air tank configuration for a NS GP18

Not really; too big.  The GP18 chassis can be cut down along with the tank, meaning I just have to add air tanks.  This is what I did for the last one.

Those LifeLike Geep bodies fit nicely on the newer frame or an Atlas frame. Locos are currently packed away, but I'll look for a picture.

Don

Seemed a bit tight when I tried on an Atlas GP9 chassis.  Plus, the LL chassis works better for cutting down the fuel tank.

This might be the only instance of a Railroad UN-chopping a nose 

Well, Southern did the same thing to the ex-NS GP38s.