Got yet another one for my Forum friends: I know that EMD made SW7, SW1200 and SW1500 with Flexicoil trucks. Am I correct then that they would have made SW1000s with Flexicoil trucks? I created one for my layout without knowing whether or not they did. (Created a backstory for it if it didn't happen.) Any picts would be helpful.
NREX 207(SW1000)
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.
As I recall, the Flexicoil trucks were an extra-cost option, and there might not have been the value in having 'only' the lower horsepower available for the services the Flexicoils would have optimized over AAR 'switcher' trucks. More bang for the buck with a 1200 or 1500.
From what I can tell, the GN SW7s were built with switcher trucks and were upgraded circa 1970 (at least some to "SW9s") I don't know the specific reason GN wanted these with Flexicoils and roller bearings -- might have been the ability to ferry them to and from service at higher road speed. There's more to operating than just 'will it negotiate track better?'
I'm told there were exactly 3 SW1000s built with Flexicoils (all for Birmingham Southern). Interestingly, although there are claims the SW1001 was offered with Flexicoils as an option, that unit was designed for close clearances in special industrial use, and I don't see any indication that the trucks or underframe were modified to have the Flexicoil unit 'sit' as low as one with AAR trucks. To my knowledge no SW1001 had Flexicoils, although one was shipped to be rebuilt riding on them, so they can be easily made to fit...
The pic proves there was.
But I think the 1500 was thought of as the more useful road switcher of the two, so they had the flexicoil trucks more often. Probably a pretty high percentage of 1500s and a low percentage of 1000s came with flexicoils.
I'm sure there are other reasons, but because the 1500s were used in local runs, EMD developed the MP15 (and GP15) as a replacement for the SW1500 in 1974. The MP15 looks like an SW1500, but is longer to accomodate a toilet for longer jobs, among other things.
- Douglas
CN rostered a hundred SW1200RS locos, while CP had 72. They're my favourites out of all locomotives built by EMD/GMD.
Before I backdated my layout to the late '30s, I ran four of them, originally marketed by Athearn, erroneously, as SW1500s, when in fact they were more like SW7s or SW9s. Mine came with cast metal switcher sideframes, which I eventually replaced with cast metal flexicoil sideframes from Juneco. Later, when Athearn released their Flexicoil trucks in plastic, all four got the complete new-style trucks, along with can motors from Mashima. I also added as much weight in the bodyshells as could be fit, and they became very respectable pullers.Because my layout is mostly freelanced, I didn't include some of the RS detail parts offered by Juneco, as I wasn't overly impressed by the quality.
Here's a couple of them on the turntable at Lowbanks...
Had I not backdated my layout, I definitely would have bought several of Rapido's CN SW1200RS models, although it would have been a toss-up between the green & gold scheme or the ones with the sergeant stripes.
Wayne
doctorwayne CN rostered a hundred SW1200RS locos, while CP had 72. They're my favourites out of all locomotives built by EMD/GMD. Before I backdated my layout to the late '30s, I ran four of them, originally marketed by Athearn, erroneously, as SW1500s, when in fact they were more like SW7s or SW9s. Mine came with cast metal switcher sideframes, which I eventually replaced with cast metal flexicoil sideframes from Juneco. Later, when Athearn released their Flexicoil trucks in plastic, all four got the complete new-style trucks, along with can motors from Mashima. I also added as much weight in the bodyshells as could be fit, and they became very respectable pullers.Because my layout is mostly freelanced, I didn't include some of the RS detail parts offered by Juneco, as I wasn't overly impressed by the quality. Here's a couple of them on the turntable at Lowbanks... Had I not backdated my layout, I definitely would have bought several of Rapido's CN SW1200RS models, although it would have been a toss-up between the green & gold scheme or the ones with the sergeant stripes. Wayne
Excellent work as always Wayne.
I never knew there was a flexicoil sideframe replacement for those metal BB trucks. I believe the Athearn BB Baldwin S12 used the same trucks, and I would entertain the idea of putting flexicoils on an old Baldwin if I could pony up a plausible backstory.....back in my recent DC days.
A flexicoiled SW9/1200 with proper sill mounted handrails is one of the coolest locos around, IMO.
The Rapido versions caught my eye, and I think some of the recent Walthers run had a few roadnames with flexicoils
Thanks for your kind words, Douglas.
Doughless...I never knew there was a flexicoil sideframe replacement for those metal BB trucks....
Here's a LINK which, if you scroll down a bit, shows the Juneco kit for converting Athearn metal switcher truck sideframes to metal Flexicoils.
I did a bit of a search, but it looks like Juneco is no longer around. TMR Distributing shows three pages of Juneco stuff, but it doesn't include those sideframes.
The metal replacements pretty-well duplicated the weight of the originals, so performance was very similar. However, when Athearn released their version with plastic sideframes, available not only on r-t-r models, but also as ready-to-use replacements for the original switcher trucks, the details were a lot more nicely-rendered. When I put the smaller (but more powerful) Mashima motors in mine, there was more room for added weight in the body shell, and the four which I had each weighed 12.5oz., and were excellent pullers. I sold 2 of them to a long-time friend, and the other two to two Forum acquaintances, but later got one back. I believe that the owner may have tampered with it slightly, as it no longer ran, but when I got it home, I discovered that one of the motor's brushes was missing - I had drop-in replacements (short lengths of lead re-fills for mechanical pencils) and it now runs as well as ever. However, it spends most of its time in a display case, too modern for my layout.