Athearn IC SW1500

[ndbprr]

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.

[NHTX]

      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.

[Overmod]

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'! 

[ndbprr]

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.

[NHTX]

     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.

[Overmod]

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/

[NHTX]

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

[NHTX]

    

[ndbprr]

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.

[derf]

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.

[caldreamer]

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

["JaBear"]

http://illinois-central.net/rosters/ic1505.jpg

http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/locoPicture.aspx?id=72187

[dieselsmoke]

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

Jim

[derf]

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