I model (N scale) Santa Fe in southern Oklahoma during early 70's but I want to include a interchange track with the Rock Island in Oklahoma City. Intent is to support freight interchange as well as freight service to some nearby OKC industries that were serviced by the Rock.
My knowledge of the Rock is limited so I need help identifing a correct N scale Rock Island loco (model and color scheme) that would have handled local and interchange duties. Needs to be DCC capable.
Recommendations?
Paul D
N scale Washita and Santa Fe RailroadSouthern Oklahoma circa late 70's
I am not a Rock Island expert, but since nobody has answered this yet...
A good bet would be a GP7 or GP9 in some variation of the Rock's crimson red.
I've done a little searching, after reading your post, as I remember the Rock, from spending some time in Iowa as a kid.
NW's respone above is good, as the color was the crimson/maroon red, with the yellow. The blue and white came in about 1974.
From what I have seen, SW1500's and the GP's that NW mentioned should be good, as the GP's did local work, and the SW1500 ( which seem to dominate their switcher roster) would work yards and transfers.
Do some searching, and you'll find tons of info on the Rock, including the web site dedicated to Rock history.
Have fun !
Mike
My You Tube
SW1 on industrial track in Oklahoma City in 1976
http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=6898&nseq=92
GP9 at El Reno, OK in 1976
Another GP9 at El Reno in 1976
http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=557642&nseq=0
SW1000 at EL Reno in 1972
http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=425316&nseq=2
GP35 at Ek Reno in 1975
http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=70528&nseq=7
GP7 at El Reno in 1975
http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=10638&nseq=8
I tried to sell my two cents worth, but no one would give me a plug nickel for it.
I don't have a leg to stand on.
PED,
To The Forums....
I'm partial to the older one's and paint scheme:
Take Care!
Frank
Thanks all,
I figured out that the Blue/white was a poor choice for my early 70's layout and that the maroon or red was the best choice for me. Only need one engine for the limited area I have allocated to the RI. I saw a SW1 picture in OKC that looked like a good selection for my needs but have not found one that was DCC ready. I will probably go after a GP-7/9 if I can find a DCC ready one. The only GP-7 I have seen so far has the Red/Black paint. I like it but I think that paint scheme is too old for me. The only other N scale loco I have found so far that might work is the Walthers GP18 as Frank shows above. Don't know if it would be suitable for OKC switcher work in early 70's but that would work for me if it did. I am not in a bind for it right now so I have time to shop around.
The first and only Ready to Run SW1 available in N Scale is made by Arnold Hornby. It is "DCC ready" http://www.blwnscale.com/hornby-sw1.htm and the price is not bad. No Rock Island paint, but the paint scheme is simple, so you could paint your own. Note there are two different body shells and other detail differences (handrails, lights, horns, etc). Either The Boston & Main Item 2254 (probably best match) or the Burlington Northern Item 2253 are closest matches to the Rock Island photos I found, although neither is entirely correct.
This Microscale Decal (60-18) set is suitable for the early 1970's (has lettering for one as in the photo I previously posted and also one switcher with the larger slanted block lettering.) http://www.microscale.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=MD&Product_Code=60-18&Category_Code=NSCALE
I went ahead and broke down and got a Bach RI GP7 (Black/Red). That will have to do for me until I find something better. I know that black/red color combo predates my early 70's era but thru the magic of time warps and modelers license, it will fill my needs until I find a better solution. I know the Bachmann DCC uses is very limited (I think address/fwd&rev/directional lights?) but that is sufficient for the limited interchange duties I need for this switcher.
I have a similar problem at the south end of my layout where I have a Frisco interchange. I can use the Atlas GP7 (Frisco Black/Yellow from 2010 production run) there but I have been unable to locate one. Guess I will need to press a ATSF GP7 into service there (contracted to Frisco until I locate one.
I remember standing in Dallas, TX in late 1979 or early 1980 and watching 3 baby blue Rock GP's dragging a cut of pink Klemme, IA covered hoppers,
Very Lionel.
Dave H. Painted side goes up. My website : wnbranch.com
I recently picked up the book "Rock Island Diesel Locomotives" by Louis A. Marre (1982). The Rock favored low hp switchers such as the SW, SW1, NW2, SW8, SW9, and SW900, although they had some SW1200s and SW1500s. The Alcos tended to stay south, so an S2 or S1 could work too. The book has photos of NW2 #766 at El Reno in 1976 (maroon, yellow nose), HH900 #730 at El Reno in 1963 (black, sans serif lettering), and SW1 #543 at Oklahoma City in 1958 (black, serif lettering). Hope that helps.
FYI: Scale Model Supplies here in St. Paul, Minnesota has a Rock Island SW9 in N scale, for $65. It has the old black paint scheme with serif lettering.