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I just noticed some very nice photos posted over on the York Forum, of a "sample" high short hood GP30, apparently displayed in the Lionel booth. I also noticed that the model had Alco trucks. Can anybody please provide any information about that Lionel model. I wonder if anybody at  Lionel knows whether those Alco trucks are actually prototypical for the N&W or the Southern Railway high short hood GP30 units?

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The Gulf Mobil & Ohio had GP30's and 35's with traded in Alco trucks.

 

I want to say that Atlas has made GP35's with Alco trucks.

 Dan

 

 

 All of the GM&0 GP30's rode on the Alco trucks that I believe came from the sizable fleet of FA's that were traded in.

GM&O 524 southbound at Granite City IL, May 27 1977.  

GMO 524 S Granite City IL 05271977 8

 

 

 

The first group of GM&O GP35s' rode the Alco trade in trucks, but the later deliveries had EMD trucks.

GM&O 627 North at Mitchell, IL, in 1978. GMO 627 N Mitchell IL 1978

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  • GMO 524 S  Granite City  IL 05271977 8
  • GMO 627 N Mitchell IL 1978

THE reason, and the ONLY reason that I did not purchase the Lionel Illinois Central Gulf

GP30 was the incorrect Blomberg trucks.

 

The only ICG GP30's were the repainted ex-GM&O units.

 

I could fix it. I used to work for the ICG. So it would be nice to have. But, as steam is my true interest, I do not like to fiddle with diesels, much. I do, and I will, but sometimes I just can't get up for the game. I buy the occasional diesel, but I want it to be right, right now.  

I have previously posted pictures of Southern 2601 a NCTM resident and visiting Norfolk and Western 522.

 

Both have Blomberg trucks.  In Wither's book "Diesels of the Southern Railway" it is stated "While the GP30s rode on Blombergtrucks from retired EMD cab units ...  ."  In same volume there are more than 26 pictures showing Blomberg trucks.

 

The only other road wit Hi-Nose 30swas N&W.  In Timko's book "Norfolk& Western Volume 2: 1964-1973 there are 8 pictures of 30s all with Blomberg trucks.

 

Checking some of my diesel references it appears only GM&O, MILW, and SOO had 30s with Alco trucks.  Those were all built from Alco trade-ins and all Standard Low-Nose.

 

Sure HOPE Lionel did not screw this up!!!  It will kill my purchases.

 

Ron

No Southern or N&W GP30 rode on ALCO trucks that I am aware of. Several Southern GP35s did, using traded in RS3s. 

 

Since the GP30 and GP35 share roughly the same frame, could Lionel have used the frame from an already produced unit that happened to have ALCO trucks? They only real change externally on these are the high hoods from previous GP30s.

 

At some point they should release painted versions of these pilots before they are shipped and should have the correct Blomberg trucks.

 

Of course, you can always contact Lionel and ask.

Lionel got into a bit of a mini-storm over the incorrect Blomberg ICG (therefore former

GM&O) trucks. Actually lost sales (mine; some others).

 

Ironically, the only Lionel GP30 that I have on order is the SOU high-nose. 

So far.

 

Mentioned above, the GM&O GP35's and GP30's rode on AAR ("ALCo") trucks from traded-in FA1/FB1/FB2 locos. 

 
 
 
Originally Posted by Hot Water:
Originally Posted by RichO:

Did they get the roof correct?

The "brow" above the cab is set back further on the high hood models.

You can't just raise the short hood to be accurate.

Why not? That's all EMD did to add the high short hood. I suggest that you look at photos of the real N&W and Southern GP30 units.

 Brow lines up with edge of cab.

Low hood

Brow set back from edge of cab.

high hood

I guess EMD should be told about this.

 

Look carefully at the pictures.

 

 HO manufacturer got it right.

HO

 

N gauge guy spent a lot of time modify SOU 2597 to get it right.

http://ambersub.blogspot.com/2012_05_01_archive.html

 

Just thought I'd ask the question in O gauge. 

 

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  • Low hood
  • high hood
  • HO
Last edited by RichO
1. The "point" was not over the cab, it was over the headlamp assembly on the low hood unit.
2. Look at more photos.   I've posted some obvious ones. Let's see your back up.
3. Didn't they run long hood forward on the N&W at least?
 
4.  Cool. Look up the evidence instead of 50 year old memories.
 
I've read two different magazine articles on this exact subject.
 
 
 
Originally Posted by Hot Water:

The "point" of the brow is still at the forward edge of the cab/windshield.  Your photos, at different angles are misleading. If the "brow", as you call it, had been "set back", then it would be pretty difficult to stand up inside the cab. 

 

I delivered all the N&W high short hood GP30 units, beginning in June of 1962, thus I'm fairly familiar with the real ones.

 

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