Crocodile GE

[bdhicks]

Generally, I'm not a big fan of GE locomotives, but I decided there's a few on the Minnesota Commercial roster that were interesting enough for me to model.  First up, is Crocodile GE, aka MNNR 59.  One of three Australian built C36-7s (the other two ended up in Brazil), it served on the Minnesota Commercial for several years up until a bit over a year ago, when it was sidelined by an engine failure (I believe a busted crankshaft), and sold off. 

rrpicturearchives.net/locoPicture.aspx?id=62316

There are several distinguishing features of the Aussie C36-7s, the chief one being the unique front air intake, but also a bigger fuel tank with relocated air reservoirs, different anti-climber and ladder-like stepwells, and the double cab roof, all of which I intend to model. 

After getting the Atlas C30-7, I quickly decided that the details (particularly the hood door latches) on the older tooling wasn't very good, so I spliced together a new shell with parts from 2 Atlas B23-7 shells and an Atlas U30C shell, as well as replacing the cab (which had the wrong number of windows anyway) with a Hi-Tech Details cab.  I've also picked up a newer tank that wasn't made of engineering plastic, which I extended forward and upward to represent the expanded fuel tank.  I also scratchbuilt new steps and anticlimbers, and cut down the front weight, both to clear out the cab area and to narrow it down so the thicker B23-7 shell could fit over it.

A few pictures so far:

[57603oh]

Looking really good, Nobody really does that many GE builds it seems, so this is going to be an interesting one to watch. Keep up the good work!

[Canadian Atlantic Railway]

First time I have seen one of these units modeled. I'm looking forward to seeing this beast come together.

[bdhicks]

I've made some more progress.  The cab roof is done, complete with bent corner that seems to have appeared right around the time it got painted in MNNR red. I also came across some high resolution pictures recently, which show that the steps are actually EMD-style treadplate, not perforated like I had expected, so I remade those with Cannon treadplate.




Unfortunately, the high-res pictures only show one side, so I still need to figure out how to do the piping and filters for the air tanks.

[Canadian Atlantic Railway]

Where are the air tanks? I had a look at the prototype pics and couldn't see them.

[bdhicks]

The air tanks are stacked behind the fuel tank (which is why I only extended the tank forward and not backward). The clearest picture I've found is here:
www.flickr.com/photos/30707075@N08/6134617697/

And actually, looking up the engine on flickr to find that picture again, I found an OK picture of the other side that I missed when I was looking before, which will hopefully be enough for me to get pretty close:
www.flickr.com/photos/atsf_5333/7146897745/

[Canadian Atlantic Railway]

Jul 28, 2013 21:33:20 GMT -5 bdhicks said:

The air tanks are stacked behind the fuel tank (which is why I only extended the tank forward and not backward). The clearest picture I've found is here:
www.flickr.com/photos/30707075@N08/6134617697/

And actually, looking up the engine on flickr to find that picture again, I found an OK picture of the other side that I missed when I was looking before, which will hopefully be enough for me to get pretty close:
www.flickr.com/photos/atsf_5333/7146897745/

That is an interesting setup. I thought the air tanks may of been in the long hood like the ex CR/EL SD45-2's.

[jpwisc]

I am a fan of the MNNR, I recently met one of their engineers (he was riding on a passenger train I was brakeman on). They have such a cool mix of motive power. Have you made any more progress on the build?

[bdhicks]

I've been working on it, mostly trying to figure out how I'm going to do the radiator. I'll post more once I get that part built.

[bdhicks]

I've installed the air tanks, and done the piping for one side. I also built up the radiator since the B23-7 shells have an undersized radiator.

[antlorch]

This is looking very nice. I missed this at the beginning. Not many GE's of the older days really detailed and this is nice. Keep it coming this is looking great.

[m a y o r 79]

Very cool build. I really like the little details you're picking up (like the bent roof panel).

You guys are right, the GE's don't seem to get much love around here (neither do the smaller builders aside from Alco). But it sure is fun when one is modeled, something exotic about them I guess.

Can't wait to see more progress on this one!

[analogbeatmaker]

Lovely work on this beast Brian! I really enjoy your attention to detail. I look forward to seeing this one develop. Are you going to weather it as the proto is? I certainly hope so.

[bdhicks]

I've put see-through grilles on the radiator and built the rock pilot

[Canadian Atlantic Railway]

Nice to see the progress on this one. Did you use the rad grills out of a B23-7 or something different?

[bdhicks]

It is sheet etched brass cut to size. I don't think the B23-7 grilles would work since the radiator on the Atlas B23-7 is undersized, at least compared to what a C36-7 should be.

[Randy Earle]

Doesn't the term "crockadile" refer to a locomotive with a long nose like an RSD-15?

[bdhicks]

I think in this case it got the name because it's a GE, it was built in Australia, and it rhymes with Crocodile Dundee.

[icghogger]

Feb 24, 2014 21:28:44 GMT -5 bdhicks said:

I think in this case it got the name because it's a GE, it was built in Australia, and it rhymes with Crocodile Dundee.

hah-hah-hah-hah, That's not a locomotive, THAT'S a locomotive......

[poweredby251]

The RSD-15 was the Alligator, but that term was usually reserved for the low hood units.

John

Feb 24, 2014 12:34:35 GMT -5 Randy Earle said:

Doesn't the term "crockadile" refer to a locomotive with a long nose like an RSD-15?