Athearn GP7 Rebuilds

[gp30]

I scored a set of 5 old Athearn GP7s with the old "Hi-F" rubber band drives for a great price a few weeks back.

Two have hand rails the other three do not. I salvaged a newer style frame and trucks from the parts box, so only 4 will keep their die-cast friction bearing trucks.... for now.

I gutted all the remaining motor assemblies from the locomotives and trashed them, then disassembled all of the trucks and cleaned them thoroughly. The side frames were shot with flat back and the trucks re-assembled.

These will only be "roundhouse queens", they will need newer trucks and frames before they go back into revenue service, so I will be skipping any kind of re-gearing/re-motoring issues.

I actually have 4 more BB GP7's that will also be getting details and paint at the same time, so this is really a 9-unit rebuild job.

I have MU Stands, and sunshades from Details Associates, MU Cables, Air Horns, N&W Style nose bells and antennas from Details West on order, plus new handrail sets.

I have also decided the numbers for the locomotives, all 9 will be painted the standard black with the white stripe sill. I really need to find a custom decal printing outfit because I have a lot of numbers and shields that need printed.

Are there any sources for cab "glass" and nose light "glass" for Athearn GP9/GP7's?

[icghogger]

For your decals, check with Jim at Highball Graphics. His work is excellent!!

AMB Laserkit sells replacement glazing for Athearn GP7/GP9, which is their part #235.

[gp30]

Thanks for the info!

[gp30]

I came across some older detail parts I had laying around in boxes, so I figured I would go ahead and get started on a couple units while I was waiting on my shipment of parts for a retailer.

I installed new air horns, antennas, cab shades and MU stands on two units. Still need to add MU hoses and lift bars when those are delivered. Now that I look back on these units I should have stripped the original paint off, but I should be okay. I'll be stripping the other 7 when that time comes. Handrails need to come off of these before I apply the Gulf & Ohio Midland Black & white paint scheme.

I tried removing the steam generator stacks off the short nose on another unit but I gave up after I finally finished it. It's my railroad, and I can live with them!

[gp30]

Misplaced my regular camera, had to borrow my wife's. I have got to gbet around to buying a decent DSLR someday.

[oldrail]

If you are talking about the old Athearn trucks with the square and sloped top bearings, in the real world those are roller bearings.

A Blomberg truck with solid bearings would have a journal with a lift up lid, just like a box car:

www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=3108031

Dick Haave

[gp30]

Yes, this is the Gulf & Ohio Midland's paint scheme. I will be adding a heard under the cab window and on the ends at some point in the future. I haven't pursued looking for a custom decal source yet, but that will be coming in the future.

Like I said before I got these on the cheap and they won't be in consist much, if at all. I have a couple Proto geeps that will also get paint at some point down the road. Those will look better, I'm sure.

[iomalley]

Aug 21, 2012 1:43:49 GMT -5 oldrail said:

Wow, I can honestly say I've never seen blombergs with plain bearings! I bet when BRC asked for them, EMD begrudgingly agreed to do it...I wonder what other trade in junk lurks in that unit!

Makes me want to do one for my home road!

[gp30]

The BRC geep with solid bearing journals is a rarity indeed. I believe EMD delivered some SW's to the Illinois Terminal that had flexicoil trucks with solid bearing journals.... went to N&W. One still survives in revenue service with those journal boxes on the "*new" Little Kanawha River Railroad.

www.rrpicturearchives.net/locoPicture.aspx?id=50467


*Original LKRR bought by B&O before the Great Depression.

[dale]

The Georgia & Florida's GP7's also had friction bearings because they could only scrape together enough money for the most stripped down locos you could get.