Mystery MPC Lionel GP-9 Shell

Don

     According to the guide I have it is the shell of an 8559 and came with GP-9 and 5 car set with matching caboose.

Thanks Steve. Going through boxes and boxes of stuff we have moved through at least two moves and never opened. It's like a treasure hunt. I don't remember buying half the stuff. I want to sell it off. I only run scale looking trains now. This is just one of many items I'm finding. Thanks again. Don

Don't know about the engine but I love that wine opener. Ours gets a workout

This came in a set from 1975. I have this set not in the original boxes but pieced together over the years. I'm doing this from memory so bear with me.

The set was the engine/shell you've shown( no dummy). A porthole caboose, A non-operating post office boxcar, a blue N&W covered hopper, an N&W autorack, a red katy cattle car, and last a single dome Chevron tank car. Hope this helps!   

The number of the set was #1584 and was called Spirit Of America Train Set.

The real thing was an SD-9, seen here at the Virginia Museum of Transportation, Roanoke VA earlier this year.

SD45.

Rusty

Lionel set photo from 1975 catalog.

Thanks everyone. Ed, that's a nice looking train. Thanks again. Don

On a side note. Lionel made the same shell without the stripes. I have both versions and did not realized it until I got home that 1 shell had stripes and the other did not. Here are 2 pictures of the none striped shell.

David

OOPS, yes, real one was SD-45. I just "ASSumed" that it was an SD9 because it had a high hood and 6-wheel trucks, and Lionel's was a GP9.

David, by stripes do you mean the circle of stars on the nose? Don

Don,

Yes. I did the post fast and did not think about what I was saying. Yes the circle of stars are missing. Not sure why Lionel made 2 differnet versions of the shell.

David

Thanks David, that makes my shell worth thousands. Do you want to buy it so your engines match? Don

No thanks Don, I like the 2 shells being different. I have the set for the stars and use the other engine for another train.

Have a Merry Christmas,

David

I have a Lionel Traditional Montana Rail Link "SD9" diesel. So that NW 1776 shell would fit on it.

Andrew