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Athearn IC SW1500

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  • Member since
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  • 106 posts
Athearn IC SW1500
Posted by derf on Thursday, May 27, 2021 8:11 PM

I have been looking at and searching thru the IC loco roster and can't find any reference to an SW 1500, I did finally find a pic of one from 2010 number 1505 and it doesn't look anything like the Athearn model. Does anyone know what type loco it really is?

https://trainspo.com/photo/4242/?list=class

 

Thanks,

Fred

 

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: Ontario
  • 140 posts
Posted by dieselsmoke on Thursday, May 27, 2021 8:23 PM

It's an SW7 or  9  or an NW rebuild by IC's Paducah shop. IC called it an SW14.

Jim

  • Member since
    August 2011
  • From: A Comfy Cave, New Zealand
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Posted by "JaBear" on Thursday, May 27, 2021 9:04 PM

"One difference between pessimists and optimists is that while pessimists are more often right, optimists have far more fun."

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    September 2013
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Posted by caldreamer on Friday, May 28, 2021 8:04 AM

Confirmed, it was and SW9 converted into an SW14 by IC.  Most lilely at their Paduch, KY shops where they did therir conversions.

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Posted by derf on Friday, May 28, 2021 10:04 AM
Thanks much for the help. Using the Athearn engine number and going to the IC diesel roster, it is/was an SW-7 numbered 9303 built in 1950.
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Posted by ndbprr on Friday, May 28, 2021 3:34 PM

Once upon a time there was a model of the IC engine with the angled roof sides. Can't tell you who made or if it is up to current standards.  Probably 20 years ago.

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Posted by NHTX on Friday, May 28, 2021 4:17 PM

    

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Posted by NHTX on Friday, May 28, 2021 4:18 PM

    It was N scale but, I don't remember who made it.

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Posted by Overmod on Saturday, May 29, 2021 5:24 AM

NHTX
It was N scale but, I don't remember who made it.

https://www.cmrproducts.com/n-scale-icg-sw14-rebuild-locomotive-shell/amp/

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    February 2015
  • 869 posts
Posted by NHTX on Sunday, May 30, 2021 4:21 AM

     A fellow by the name of Dan Kohlberg at icgdecals.com USED TO offer a kit for the ICG cab, in HO.  I don't see them on his website now.

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Posted by ndbprr on Sunday, May 30, 2021 6:16 AM

What I do not understand is why IC felt the need to modify the cab.  It shouldn't be too bad of a kitbasn to recreate in any scale.

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Posted by Overmod on Sunday, May 30, 2021 12:16 PM

ndbprr
What I do not understand is why IC felt the need to modify the cab.

I am reasonably sure it is because fabrication via weldment from plate is simplified with the design.  I see references that mention standardized construction or details in common with the design used for the GP35/38 which I believe involved easier welded fabrication.

I note that some of the doors on these units appear to have come from earlier cabs, and have curved 'heads' that do not match the new 'roofline'! 

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Posted by NHTX on Sunday, May 30, 2021 4:16 PM

      The cabs look an awful lot like EMD spartan cabs as found on GP/SD-35 and later models.  It is could be that IC(G) added spartan cabs to former "calf", cabless switchers using cabs salvaged from scrapped locomotives.  If the cabs were purpose built, eliminating the curved roof would ease construction, and be cost-effective.  If I were going to build one of these critters in HO, I'd seriously consider the Cannon & Co. 35 line cab kit.

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Posted by ndbprr on Wednesday, June 2, 2021 9:05 AM

I just talked with a retired IC employee who was involved with rebuilding the SW9s.  He said with the rebuild the old cab wouldn't work and the tapered roof was easier and cheaper to make.   EMD eventually took some of the engines as trade ins and copied the cab styles years after IC made the change.

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