I just picked up a new Premier B&O GP-7. I’ve been looking for one in this color scheme for a while. MTH has released GP-9s in B&O blue/black/grey few times in Railking and a few times in Premier, but I haven’t found one that I wanted (PS2 3V or PS3). Since 2020V2 is the last catalog, I thought I better pre-order this one.
I have a few Railking GP-9s and I thought it would be interesting to look at the differences.
They have the same basic shell and the same body mount pattern. Sound package is identical except perhaps the PFA. Both have smoke and the same exhaust layout. The trucks are the same, but the premier version has an added detail brake pipe running between the cylinders. The premier version has the following added details where the Railking has them molded in: lifting eyes, grab irons, MU hoses, see thru vents and fan openings. Aside from the added details, the shells are identical. The Premier version has marker lights where they are molded in for the Railking. The Premier also has diamond plate for the walkways where the RK is just sheet metal.
The B&O GP-7 has a larger fuel tank and air tanks on the roof, but I think that’s a B&0 vs. non-B&O thing, not a Premier vs. RK thing.
A new premier GP goes for $500 retail and the RK version for $360. The premier is definitely nicer, but for the price difference, Railking is the winner in my book (at least for the GP-7/9).
