1950's Great Northern

[greatn]

I am currently modeling the Great Northern in the year of 1950. I am looking for a book listing or showing the motive power and freight cars current at that time. Thanks

[johncolley]

Wow, that's a tall order! I don't know of any one source for all that info. I am a Rocky fan, too. Doing 1947 through the cascades. I will do some digging, at least as far as motive power, and catch this site again in a day or two. Meanwhile try the GNRHS.org and see what their archives have.

[passengerfan]

The following diesel types were on the GN roster by 1950 S-2, SW-7, SW-9, 45-Ton, SW-1, NW-1, NW, NW-2, VO-1000,NW-3, RS-1, RS-2, RS-3, E7A, GP-7, FTA, FTB, F3A,F3B, F7A, and F7A.
I would only be guessing at freight cars but many Western Fruit Express reefers forty footers, Double door boxcars, single door boxcars, single dome tank cars, gondolas, and flat cars. Many would be wood construction and steel was becoming the norm by that time. If you need specific road numbers for diesels let me know. I cant be much help on the freight numbers.

[johncolley]

Good morning, greatn, I'm back. This will be a start, but is by no means complete:
Both volumes of A Northwest Rail Pictorial by Warren W. Wing is a good source for both steam and diesel but you have to dig for them as they cover several roads.
A listing of all FT's will be found in: The revolutionary Diesel EMC's FT, by Diesel Era, and a good diesel roster will be found in: F Units- The Diesels That Did It, by Jeff Wilson, a Kalmbach Book (publishers of MR and Trains magazines.) You could also do a search for specific rosters in the Kalmbach website. But I would definitely check out the GN Railway Historical Society as they would likely have the most info for your era. Good luck and happy railroading,

[orsonroy]

The GN was a road in transition in 1950, but it looked more like an old railroad than a new one. Diesels had pretty much taken over the passenger trains, but the majority of freight was still pulled by steam. As for freight cars, the GN had possibly the largest fleet of double sheathed wood boxcars in 1950, in both 40' and 36' lengths. They also had a large fleet of 50' wood single sheathed cars. The GN had very few flats, no tank cars, and very few hoppers. Most minerals (including coal) moved by composite side gondolas. Reefers moved in FGEX and WFEX blocks to the East coast. The GN also moved a lot of stock traffic, especially in the spring and fall (but virtually NO meat reefer traffic).

To get a really good picture of the GN in 1950, you'll have to do some research. The GN is a popular road, so the information is out there; you just need to find it. Start online, searching for Great Northern, and go from there.

[randybc2003]

Great Northern Railway Historical Scociety is located at:
www.gnrrhs.org
(I think)

[DSchmitt]

A lot of infotmation can be gleened from the Great Northern Equipment Color Pictorial(s)and Great Northern Color Pictorial(s) published by Four Way Wes Books . There are probably similar books by other publishers.

While most of the photos are from the 60's or latter, the books give info about build dates and much of the equipment is in 50's era paint.

[MudHen_462]

GREATN,

The best two sources I have found are:

Great Northern Railway
1945-1970 Photo Archive Vol. 2
by Byron D Olsen (Iconografix publishing)

Great Northern Color Pictorial Vol.1
by Joseph W. Shine (Four Ways West publications)
*covers the Electrics, the Last of the Steam, and First Generation Diesels

I model the GN (circa 1948-1950) in HO.... I am just starting back into the hobby
after a long absence, and so far have a BLI 2-8-2, a 0-4-0, a BLI E-7A, and have
a BLI NW-2 switcher on order. All are operated DCC on my "in-progress layout.

I hope this info helps you out.... always glad to help a fellow Empire Builder !

IronGoat

[Anonymous]

Try Joining the Great Northern Historical Society. They have loads of reference material for the GN.

I am in the process of building up a early '50s Empire Builder consist. Some of the cars are difficult to find - i.e. the First Class Full Dome. Walthers Budd and Pullman cars can be detailed out to fit most of the rest at a reasonable price (I cannot afford Brass) The historical society site has lots of GN and Empire Builder timeline info as to modifications to equipment, paint schemes, etc.

I recently received a GN F7A (passenger) Athearn Genesis that looks great. I haven't even run it yet but it is the best looking RTR F7A I've seen for a reasonable price. I'm waiting for delivery of a "drop in" DCC decoder (looks like a 1-2 hour job from the instructions) before putting this engine into service. A number of years ago, I built a F7B from a Highliners shell kit and a Stewart chassis. This Genesis model also uses the Highliner shell and detail kit. The Genesis unit saved me about a hundred hours of building my own F7A. Most of the RTR diesels out there are generic bodies and if you are looking for accuracy, you'll be disappointed. Athearn appears to have taken the unpainted Highliners body and used all to optional pieces that come with it to build a GN F7 that is very accurate. Working diaphrams, wire handrails, horns, bells, lights, couplers (magnetic), great paint and lettering. I think some m/u hoses and safety chains will be all that I'll add.

I'm going to see how well Broadway Limited does compared to the Genesis as I have a F7A/B combo ordered with sound units. Should make for interesting A-B-A or A-B-B-A consists pulling the Empire Builder in the 50's.

[Anonymous]

The best one-place reference that I've seen: The Great NNorthern Railway A Pictorial Study by Charles & Dorothy Wood. Published by Pacific Fast Mail in1979. Out of print but shows up in various book dealer ads. Pricey, but worth it. Society is good but was too steam oriented when I was member.