Southern Pacific SW900E build

[torikoos]

Over the past few months I've been kitbashing a Southern Pacific SW900E switcher, starting out from an old Lifelike SW1200 kit.
Several modifications and enhancements have been made to the shell,including a new Cannon cab, and a scratchbuild light cluster for front and rear, ESU loksound decoder with LED microled lights added.
I have modelled it after a picture taken by Steve Sloan : See here: <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.ssloan.net/trains/sp/_images0001/sp1193_0001.jpg">http://www.ssloan.net/trains/sp/_images ... 3_0001.jpg</a><!-- m -->

This is the result of my efforts, thanks for looking.

<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="https://flic.kr/p/rxYdZc">https://flic.kr/p/rxYdZc</a><!-- m -->

Koos

Sw900e build by K2K Koos, on Flickr

[cnrglen]

Great results. Those Life-Like sw units are great starting points for custom engine projects.

[torikoos]

Thank you indeed, they are.

I have fixed the prototype picture link btw would anyone care to compare, but do keep in mind the 3ft rule :-)

Koos

[faraway]

That is a nice little switcher and I am sure it runs great due to it's Proto drive. The number boards are a beautiful unique feature.

[Brakie]

Sweet looking SP switcher.. SP really like their lights!

[torikoos]

Hi all,

yes it does run nice. I've replaced the stock motor with a replacement Mashima motor,but the rest of the drive is unchanged. I have build in a Loksound decoder, which have quite good motor control,so she can crawl along, and sounds great.
SP does like their lights, that is part of the charm of this (and other SP locomotives) to me.
Both the Gyra lights, and the headlights work, but the marker and red emergency lights are not. The decoder did not have enough outputs as I used an N scale decoder for this loco to save space for speakers etc and not loose too much weight.

Koos

[Steamtrains]

Gotta love those early switchers...
I've got an Athearn SW1500 that does switching for 4 industries in the main yard.

[torikoos]

Yes love them. I have two SW1500's too, running as a pair. They really have lots of character.

[lajry]

That stack sorta looks like the ones on Santa Fe & other RR ALCO S-2/S-4 ALCO switchers. Could use one for a SP interchange train to my LAJ Ry, but all their SW900Es worked in northern CA.
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[torikoos]

Indeed, it was a small fleet and they were found mostly in Northern California,but served a variety of customers. Most pictures I've found show them near one of the many (citrus) fruit packaging plants, but were also active near lumber mills, and some gravel pits , I guess near enough any small industry that the SP had customers. So unless you're a strict prototype modeler, you could use some modelers license and deploy one anyway. :-)

The stack is easy to make, I scratch build mine. I used a core of a two flat styrene strips and slipped a drinking straw over the top, coated the strips in Glue, and then squeezed the straw , giving me a stack that was round on the sides, but with a flat front and back, see picture.

Sw900e build progress by Koos, on Flickr

It could be that for an Alco version, there actually is a detail part around somewhere, I haven't looked.

Koos

[Steamtrains]

That stack sorta looks like the ones on Santa Fe & other RR ALCO S-2/S-4 ALCO switchers. Could use one for a SP interchange train to my LAJ Ry, but all their SW900Es worked in northern CA.
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://espee.railfan.net/spsw900e.html">http://espee.railfan.net/spsw900e.html</a><!-- m -->

Hey..!! It's YOUR railroad...You should run whatever your heart desires...Prototype notwithstanding...

[lajry]

]

Hey..!! It's YOUR railroad...You should run whatever your heart desires...Prototype notwithstanding...

If that were really case, guess it's OK to use a 4-8-8-4 to switch my LAJ Ry especially thru the 65 degree curves.