Posts: 1,639
Threads: 87
Joined: Dec 2008
Built this in 1979 when I was just getting my first HO layout together.The prototype was a kit bash by a Mexican railroad to repair a wreck damaged Alco locomotive.Other thanthat it was totally freelanced and admittedly rather crude.When I switched over to N scale in the mid 1990s I thought I trashed this monster,but while doing some cleaning in the basement storage room I found it.
In tried searching for proto pictures tonight but it has been so long I do not remember the name of the railroad.At the present time it is pure TYCO but I am thinking of replacing the cab part with a Athearn blue box part.Most likely it will require a custom chassis.but I figure I can take my time and just work on it every now and then .Anyway here's a pic.
I really hate to get rid of those classy couplers but I think I will survive their loss. :mrgreen:
Johnathan (Catt) Edwards
"The Ol Furrball"
"I'm old school,I still believe in respect"
Posts: 894
Threads: 56
Joined: Mar 2015
I remember hearing of that loco, haven't seen the prototype though
Posts: 1,639
Threads: 87
Joined: Dec 2008
Bought this one at a local trainshow today for the princely sum of $12.00.It had 3 things going for it.
1. I've been looking for a decent one for the last 10 or so years.
2. Except for the horns it is all there .
3. Screechingly noisey but it does run.
I will most likely build a chassis for it and incorporate a Athearn flat can motor with flywheels and 8 wheel drive (maybe DCC)
A paint job and corrected fuel tanks are also on the list.
Johnathan (Catt) Edwards
"The Ol Furrball"
"I'm old school,I still believe in respect"
Posts: 1,639
Threads: 87
Joined: Dec 2008
Just to satisfy my curiousity I slopped some acrylic paint on my two Alco beasties.Since they are both up for rebuilding and need to be stripped I didn't bother removing the previous paint yet.
Johnathan (Catt) Edwards
"The Ol Furrball"
"I'm old school,I still believe in respect"
Posts: 3,739
Threads: 44
Joined: Dec 2008
That's a couple of strange critters you got there Catt!
Mike
Sent from my pocket calculator using two tin cans and a string
Posts: 1,639
Threads: 87
Joined: Dec 2008
The red one is a stock TYCO Alco C 430.The blue one is a very incorrect kitbash of a Mexican railroad prototype kit bash to make some wreck damaged Alcos usable again.This was done I believe sometime in the early 1970s. The only thing I can verify is that the loco was a Alco. I did this in 1979 and it is quite crude but I hope to improve it this winter. :mrgreen:
I have been searching for Mexican Alco locomotives,but so far I have not found pictures of this unit.After all these years I have no clue as to the railroad name and the magazine the picture (s?) were in was gone by 1982.The only part of that I can remember is Railroad was the first word in the mag title.
Johnathan (Catt) Edwards
"The Ol Furrball"
"I'm old school,I still believe in respect"
Posts: 248
Threads: 52
Joined: Oct 2012
Catt, try the May 1979 Issue of RMC if this link doesn't work. <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://dieseldetailer.proboards.com/thread/5074/gp-9-wide-cab">http://dieseldetailer.proboards.com/thr ... 9-wide-cab</a><!-- m -->
You 'll have to scroll down a little bit to see the pictures.
Mark
Posts: 1,639
Threads: 87
Joined: Dec 2008
Mark that is the beast! Looks like I need to do more work than I had planned.
I wonder if that is a Baldwin cab.
Johnathan (Catt) Edwards
"The Ol Furrball"
"I'm old school,I still believe in respect"
Posts: 1,682
Threads: 101
Joined: Dec 2011
ish... it doesn't lack personality!
RS11 it seems.
Matt
Posts: 1,639
Threads: 87
Joined: Dec 2008
If I could find a shell I would swap out the cab for the correct one. It would still be a C-430 but at least the cab would be correct.
Johnathan (Catt) Edwards
"The Ol Furrball"
"I'm old school,I still believe in respect"
Posts: 3,739
Threads: 44
Joined: Dec 2008
And I thought CF-7's were ugly!
Mike
Sent from my pocket calculator using two tin cans and a string
Posts: 1,639
Threads: 87
Joined: Dec 2008
It ain't any beauty contest winner,but it is definitely different. Before I rebuild mine I need to find a model of that cab.So it may be a loooong time coming.
Johnathan (Catt) Edwards
"The Ol Furrball"
"I'm old school,I still believe in respect"
Posts: 1,639
Threads: 87
Joined: Dec 2008
I bought this tomuse for repowering the stock TYCO C-430.
Then I cleaned the electrical contacts put it on the test track and discovered how nicely it ran.So then I noticed that under all the grub it was all there (which can be rare on a 40 year old blue box loco). So I did this . :mrgreen:
This U 33-B is now a CATT powered tier 3 rebuild and will be used as a test bed for modifications to other GE units \on the MTS/GVR loco roster.The ALCOs will just have to stay in the dead line awhile longer.
Johnathan (Catt) Edwards
"The Ol Furrball"
"I'm old school,I still believe in respect"
Posts: 1,639
Threads: 87
Joined: Dec 2008
Johnathan (Catt) Edwards
"The Ol Furrball"
"I'm old school,I still believe in respect"
Posts: 3,739
Threads: 44
Joined: Dec 2008
Biggest trick will be altering the windshield to match.
Mike
Sent from my pocket calculator using two tin cans and a string