Best GP9 in N scale?

[wazzou]

The GP7 has the tube style stanchions, right? I always thought the Cross section on the GP9 handrails had to do with the depth of the channel in the stanchion and the drafting angle required to mold that properly.

Correct, most GP-7’s had pipe stanchions.

[nkalanaga]

At the train show in Huntington, WV last Saturday someone had one of the old Arnold GPs for sale, in Santa Fe black. 

At least three vendors had even older Lone Star 000 freight cars, and one of them had passenger cars and (unpowered) steam and diesel locos.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Also maybe a modernized still that would feature a cut back skirt and flat pilots with plows. Oh and a PIII would be nice too.

Oh man, yes. 100x

[Angus Shops]

Atlas really needs to do an update on the GP’s. Or some other maker should start from scratch. The handrails on the GP9 are 1970’s quality and even the shell moulding does not have the overall ‘sharpness’ that current tooling would provide. And there’s something about those wheels; they seem to have an ability to pick points and find other track flaws that NONE of my other models do. (I note a parallel thread is suggesting swapping Kato wheel sets - I’m going to have a look at that.) Add in the fact that they seem to be almost impossible to actually purchase.

For those who find the GP9 handrails too much to live with, the GP7 handrails will swap right in.

[learmoia]

At this point, the GP 7/8/9/10/18 really need a modern modular tooling treatment where you can mix and match parts to build anything..

Atlas could take the GP7/9 and Life Like Canadian GP9 and GP18 and re-tool them to play together in assembly.. but I'm guessing you'd be better off taking the Atlas or LL drive and starting from the ground up with new shells.

[JMaurer1]

N Scale of Nevada had a conversion to make the FrankenGP9 into something that looked much more like an actual GP-9. I think I still have one of those. Also have several of the later GP-9s as well (SP had them by the bushel). Never knew why someone else hasn't come along and made a more modern version of these, including the B unit and chopped nose phase 3...

[squirrelhunter]

This is why I say that it seems the ROI on N scale compared to HO must not be doing so well, Atlas announced a run of the GP7/9 every 1 or 2 years from 1995 to 2016 except for a 4 year gap from 1997 to 2001. It has now been 5 years since the last run was announced and there is no sign an new run is on the horizon. Add a 2 year minimum lead time from announcement to delivery, and you probably have at least a 6 year gap between new deliveries of GP7/9.

Some of this is related to factory troubles, but it seems that Atlas is still finding factory time for runs of HO existing tooling, which also makes me suspect that when limited factory time becomes available, HO has priority.

And this is even in light of the fact that these have begun to dry up on the secondary market and the prices they command are rising.

[Pomperaugrr]

I would welcome a new run of these.  I need to somehow build a GP7U for the Housatonic RR.  Athearn recently did these in HO, but I do not expect them to release an N scale version.  They never responded to my inquiry either. 
It would still require frame modification and the fabrication of a Topeka cab along with the low short hood, but it would at least give me a place to start.

[basementcalling]

In my closet under the basement stairs is a set of LL GP 18 shells I was using GMM kits to try to backdate to GP9 Phase III models for UP.

I'd rather see a different phase offered first in the GP7/9 series than a redo. Big Boys in triplicate are a hell yes, but the early GP units don't seem to get the same love as our N scale F units.

[johnb]

In my closet under the basement stairs is a set of LL GP 18 shells I was using GMM kits to try to backdate to GP9 Phase III models for UP.

I'd rather see a different phase offered first in the GP7/9 series than a redo. Big Boys in triplicate are a hell yes, but the early GP units don't seem to get the same love as our N scale F units.

more love than the Baldwin DRS6-6-1500 that I need

[nkalanaga]

Somewhat off-topic, but does anyone know if the old Arnold GP9 used the same motor and gears as their FA? 

I have an FA that needs both worm gears and a motor brush.  If they're the same, I'll try to get the one I saw last week at the next show.  I doubt that anyone else will want it!

I found out today that the FA, at least, has real steel wheels.  I have an old one where the plating has worn off, and they're rusted.  Plus, even removed from the axles, the wheels are magnetic.  The only company ever to make steel wheels in N scale?

There's story behind that FA.  It was my first real N scale loco, bought for $6.99, in 1969.  About 15 years ago, we'd moved into a new home, and the old house (on the same lot) was storage.  I left my train "junk" in it.  Burglars stole the ancient, battered, taped together shoe box it was in, and that stuff has been turning up at train shows ever since.  Most I wouldn't have bought NEW!  Some of my very early, and very crude, freight cars were sold as "early N scale kits".  And some people bought them.

A few years back that FA turned up, so I rebought it.  Yesterday I decided to finally put modern wheels on it, as was described in a topic some time back.  Somewhere along the line, someone had removed the worm gears, and one motor brush, apparently to try to make a dummy unit.  No, it won't roll by itself, even without the gears!

[peteski]

I found out today that the FA, at least, has real steel wheels.  I have an old one where the plating has worn off, and they're rusted.  Plus, even removed from the axles, the wheels are magnetic.  The only company ever to make steel wheels in N scale?

No, other Arnold locos of that vintage used (nickel?) plated steel tires on the plastic wheel centers.  Their GG1 and other European electrics of that vintage have steel tires.

[Frank Amato]

I love the Atlas GP9s...  they are easy to detail with aftermarket parts like fans, grills, and winterization hatches.  I did some Lehigh Valley units a few years ago:

https://www.therailwire.net/forum/index.php?topic=36505

  Frank

[nkalanaga]

Peteski:  Any idea why Arnold liked steel wheels?  They'd probably never wear out, but how many model railroaders actually wear out wheels?  Show and museum layouts probably could, but it would take a lifetime for the average modeler.

[peteski]

Peteski:  Any idea why Arnold liked steel wheels?  They'd probably never wear out, but how many model railroaders actually wear out wheels?  Show and museum layouts probably could, but it would take a lifetime for the average modeler.

Except possibly because steel is likely cheaper than brass, I have no idea.  I doubt it had anything to do with wear-resistance.  Plus (as we both have witnessed) steel can rusts, which is not very good for electrical conductivity.