GEC's New Years Resolution Challenge

[Green_Elite_Cab]

As an ex-New Jersey boy, I always thought the LV was the most mysterious, and the RS-3s are no exception. Conrail Cyclopedia has only one photo of an ex-LV RS-3, and while it's a Cornell red patch, it's a hammerhead <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://crcyc.railfan.net/locos/alco/rs3/xlv5487ef.jpg">http://crcyc.railfan.net/locos/alco/rs3/xlv5487ef.jpg</a><!-- m --> Looks like you've got your work cut out for you.

They're good New Jersey locos, though, because CR concentrated all the RS-3s from the component lines on ex-CNJ sand trains from South Jersey while they waited to rebuild them into DeWitt geeps.

Indeed, my work IS cut out for me.

Unfortuneately, i'm not sure the Walthers P1K RS2 is a better base than the Athearn RS3. All physical dimensions between an RS2 and RS3 do not exceed one scale foot in difference, and none of these differences appear obvious to me. My primary gripe with the P1k is that the exhaust Stack is place differently (would require surgery and repaint to fix).

I think If i can find the right detail parts, I can rebuild the RS3 to appear like an RS2. Probably the most annoying part will be the Fuel filler. If I could get a hold of the Walthers RS2 cab and underbody parts, I might be able to slap them onto the Athearn body and frame.

I can't seem to find the details on the short hood you mention. are they on the roof (difficult to see in the photos)?

As for the hammerhead, that WOULD be a cool unit. If i could find a photo of it as 9920 (Rebuilt as an RS3M) I would build it. It turns out LV 211/CR 5487/CR 9920 is still running today, though now in LV paint again. I can only assume it kept the Hammerhead. Might be an cool future project.