Post by NCCR 2580 on Dec 20, 2008 23:35:28 GMT -5
The Georgia Central would be great to model! I agree with the rest, These older GE's make for good models. But they are not my favorite to build. Atlas make some great shells for GE's but, The trucks should never be made of dewrin... What a pain in the rear to work on. As for the the real deal. Like wise most of the time. I spent some time on the GFRR out of Albany Ga. which had a pair of former Southern Railway/Norfolk Southern B23-7s that had their high hoods chopped. They loaded OK I guess most of the time, But the pair running in tandem by them selfs would rattle you to death... On the same sections of track where we ran EMD units. The EMDs rode fine I guess for what ever fine is. The GEs were pretty good switchers though. GFRR was not for replacing wheels unless they got really bad. When a U series or dash 7 get slick wheels, They slip and slide all over. But with nice new wheels. they pull pretty good. The trick with GE's, Is good wheels... The two GFRR units in run 8 though with 30 or so loaded 50' beer cars did not want to get above 40 or so MPH. We would give all she had and sit and wait... You would have to leave it in 8 on level track and hope you could get plenty of speed to let it coast for a while. We could run 55 on the NS between Sparks Ga. and Langdale yard in Valdosta which is a kinda a rolling hills route but with pleanty of flat and strait main line too. It's the GS&F North District betwen Macon, Ga and Valdosta. The south end continues to Jacksonville Fl. We would be running on clears and then just as soon I get some speed out of'em, Approach signal... I'm 6'6 close to seven and I never have cared for getting in and out of any locomotive really. I got in the habit of ducking very quickly and would come home ducky in the door, just out of habit. I still love'em though. Tough love I guess you could say.
