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Post by danraitz on Nov 19, 2014 23:09:23 GMT -5
Guys
I've researching the U25B for an upcoming project and I decided to share what I've come up with. So I'm going to go through each "phase"* of the U25B and what their spotting features are. I've used various magazine articles and photos from the inter-web in my research into this locomotive.
* Just to be clear I want to state that "phase" designations are a rail-fan invention. I don't believe that GE (or EMD) ever used that term when designating one of their locos. To GE a U25B is just a U25B, regardless of what "phase" we rail-fans call it.
First we'll start at the beginning with the phase Ia. There were only 2 of these units built and they were the demonstrators #751 & #752.
As you can see this loco has a very export look to it (they were first demo'ed as XP24's) Lack of railings and steps on the short hood end, vertical ladder steps between the truck and air reservoir and slanted pilot face.
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Post by danraitz on Nov 19, 2014 23:30:12 GMT -5
Next is "Phase Ib" There were 21 units built. The design changes on this loco where: - redesign to full end and side handrails on the short hood end of loco. - Flatter, more vertical pilot. - Vertical ladder at each corner. - Air reservoirs moved to rear of fuel tank.
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Post by danraitz on Nov 19, 2014 23:35:54 GMT -5
Next is the "Phase Ic". There was only 1 unit in this phase built, Demonstrator #2501 (to UP #633) The design changes: - Low nose first shows up - Single piece windshield - Headlight changed to vertical orientation - Addition of 2 extra windows on cab side - Air reservoirs mounted laterally across underframe - Larger fuel tank
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Post by danraitz on Nov 20, 2014 17:21:05 GMT -5
Now we're at the "phase IIa". The beginning of the "Classic" U25B. (total of 204 units built)
- redesign of pilot face and steps to a more conventional style. - redesign of end and corner handrails.
Some of the spotting features of the phase IIa are: - Flat top low nose - single piece windshield - tall access doors in the engine and exhaust area - door latches equidistant down from top of each door - exhaust stack w/o tub surround
Note: this body is represented by the Stewart Hobbies U25B.
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Post by danraitz on Nov 20, 2014 17:36:19 GMT -5
There are a couple of things that I noticed during my research. In that there were a some changes to the engineers side of the cab sub-base during the phase IIa production.
The first change that I noticed was: - The U25B's produced to August, 1963 had 3 single latched air equipment access doors.
- The U25B's produced, starting in September, 1963 where changed to 2 double latched air equipment access doors.
The second change was: - The riveted panel in front of the air equipment access panels was made larger, with the right-side walkway being made longer also, starting with the January, 1964 production.
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Post by danraitz on Nov 20, 2014 17:46:19 GMT -5
The U25B phase IIb is next.
- Total of 106 units built.
Design changes: - access panel in roof behind exhaust stack (left side). - shorter doors in exhaust stack area. - door latches lowered on engine and exhaust area doors, so that all door latches are all in a line. - exhaust stack changed to one with a tub enclosure.
Here is a photo collage showing the differences in the exhaust stacks.
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Post by danraitz on Nov 20, 2014 17:52:48 GMT -5
2nd to last is the phase III. - total of 50 units built
Design changes: - Split 2-piece windshield - pressed steel handrail stanchions mounted to sides of walkways.
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Post by danraitz on Nov 20, 2014 17:57:19 GMT -5
The last phase of the U25B was the "phase IV'. - Total of 86 units built
Design changes: - Sloped top on nose - hand-brake changed to a ratchet lever type.
*Note: this U25B phase is identical to the U28B phase I.
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Post by danraitz on Nov 20, 2014 17:59:00 GMT -5
I hope everyone finds this useful. Next I'll be going through what models match what phases.
Dan
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Post by icghogger on Nov 21, 2014 11:36:11 GMT -5
Good Stuff, Dan, Thanks for sharing. Any thoughts about the transition to the U28B, and if there were any significant changes to the carbody? I am looking at building an early U30B (mid 1960's), which retains many of the features of a U28B carbody.
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Post by danraitz on Nov 25, 2014 8:10:51 GMT -5
Bob, The phase IV U25B will work to model the early U28B (they had the same body). The U28B car body was changed in mid-production to the pug-nosed design. This "Late U28B" car body was also carried over into the early production of the U30B.
I'm working on gathering info for another thread on these two loco's. Where I'll go farther into their spotting features.
Dan
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Post by icghogger on Nov 25, 2014 9:29:21 GMT -5
Thanks, Dan, looking forward to your next thread.
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Post by shuttleman on Nov 25, 2014 9:39:02 GMT -5
Great research Dan. It is really a shame that Stewart and Bowser only offered the Phase IIA carbody. I am presently doing several SP U25B's which fortunately Phase IIA carbodies but still many changes between individual units. I always follow the old adage-Use prototype pictures for modeling individual units.
Tom
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Post by m a y o r 79 on Nov 25, 2014 13:03:56 GMT -5
Wow what a great resource! Thanks for putting this together, can't wait to see the next post with the available models that correspond to the phases.
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Post by danraitz on Nov 25, 2014 23:13:27 GMT -5
Guy's Here is what I could find on matching models to phases.
- phase Ia: - None
- phase Ib: - Oriental Limited (HO, brass)
- phase Ic: - None
- phase IIa: - Atlas (N scale, plastic) - Stewart / Bowser (HO, plastic) - Oriental Limited (HO, brass)
- phase IIb: - Atlas (N scale, plastic) - Oriental Limited (HO, brass)
- phase III: - Oriental Limited (HO, brass) - Stewart / Bowser (HO, plastic)* *what Stewart did was take their phase IIa body and put a split windshield cab on it and called it a phase III.
- phase IV: - Oriental Limited (HO, brass) - Stewart / Bowser (HO, plastic)** **again what Stewart did was use their phase IIa body and put the split windshield cab and a low nose on it and called it a phase IV.
Guys feel free to add any others too this list, missed manufacturers / importers, other scales, etc:.
Dan
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Post by enginseer on Nov 26, 2014 8:37:51 GMT -5
Very interesting and a neat guide to the U25B.
I really like the analysis as it relates to the available models which I find very useful.
Thanks a bunch!
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Post by iomalley on Nov 26, 2014 9:54:00 GMT -5
You may also want to add that Stewart used Kato-supplied trucks that were actually blomberg gearboxes with 'foobie' Alco sideframes made to fit the 9' wheelbase.
Lee English of Bowser is aware of this and has promised to eventually replace with proper AAR-B trucks once stock is depleted, but it hasn't happened yet to my knowledge.
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Post by Milwaukee Road 513 on Feb 1, 2015 12:35:39 GMT -5
Fantastic work, thank you ever so much for sharing....
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