Athearn Genesis GP9 in B&O Dark Blue: First Impressions

[CSX_road_slug]

I just got a set of all four B&O dark blue geeps of the Athearn Genesis line, DCC- and sound-equipped.  I've included a couple of photos, but unfortunately my layout itself is not camera-ready, just benchwork and track.  It looks like a construction zone, I'm working on a half-dozen different loco detailing projects at once.  (Model railroading and ADHD do not mix very well.)

As soon as I've had a chance to actually run them, I'll update this thread with my observations.

First, some foamers-eye views of the full consist:

Now for the individual shots.  We'll start with unit# 6615, a "torpedo boat" passenger geep.  I really love the 5-chime horn!  You'll notice the air tanks are a bit crooked on the near side, I may attempt to surgically correct that; while I'm at it I should also add a steam generator.  As long as the unit runs and sounds OK, I don't think that defect alone is worth sending the model back to Horizon:

Unit 6562, a "vanilla" B&O Phase 2 geep - notice the spark arrestors:

Unit# 6451, another Phase 2 geep:

Unit# 6597, a Phase 3 with 48" radiator fans.  Nice detail - but no spark arrestors on this one:

Each unit seems to have its skirts correctly trimmed off, and they all have radio antennas on the top of the cab.  One minor problem for a rivet counter like myself: In the cab interiors, the engineer's and  the fireman's seats face toward the short hood.  But B&O ran their GP9's long hood forward.

Another to-do item: Need to swap-out all those plastic couplers with Kadee 148's.

[ChadLRyan]

Ken,

That is a sensational line up!!!  Congrats!!!
Did 6597 have the Spark Arrestors in real life, or is this one of the 'period' dilemmas?
Aside from that, you have an incredible line up!!!! Kudo's

If I am financially able, I hope to do the same with the pending IC&E and DM&E releases that are scheduled!
This is why everyone has not seen any lokies from me lately, I have a collection of blue painted shells that need decals & trim painting, but the release notices quelled my efforts severely..

Anyway, Real nice Ken, I'd be real proud of those!!!

Thanks for sharing with us!  

[cudaken]

 Ken, very timely post for me! I just got interested B&O. I drive by the old B&O Round House (Yes, parts are still standing) heading to St Louis and my uncle was a engineer for B&O. I have 1 SD 7, 1 SD 9 and 1 GP 30 (with cracked gears) by Proto. I will pick up another PK 2 GP 30 (sure it will have cracked gears as well) Sunday.

 I was going to post a question about what manufacturers are and have made B&O engines, but you seem to be the person to ask.

 When I was 6 years old my Grandfather house over looked the B&O yard in Washington Ind. Have any photos?

 PM me if you happen to have any B&O stuff you don't need.

  Cuda Ken

[CSX_road_slug]

ChadLRyan

Did 6597 have the Spark Arrestors in real life, or is this one of the 'period' dilemmas?

That's a good question, Chad - neither of the two online photos that I was able to find seem to show them.

Here's a very early one with no spark arrestors: http://rr-fallenflags.org/bo/bo6597amm.jpg

...and one from1979, kind of hard to tell:  http://rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=855108

I thought they were required by law in most states? Evidently not...  Most pics of specific locos are close-up at engine terminals, where it's hard to see any top details.

[fmilhaupt]

Nice!

That paint scheme is of the era I was most familiar with on the B&O and the C&O. I'm glad to see them doing Geeps in that scheme!

[CSX_road_slug]

cudaken

Ken, very timely post for me! I just got interested B&O. I drive by the old B&O Round House (Yes, parts are still standing) heading to St Louis and my uncle was a engineer for B&O. I have 1 SD 7, 1 SD 9 and 1 GP 30 (with cracked gears) by Proto. I will pick up another PK 2 GP 30 (sure it will have cracked gears as well) Sunday.

 I was going to post a question about what manufacturers are and have made B&O engines, but you seem to be the person to ask.

Ken, welcome to the Dark [blue] Side!  I spent my teen years [as soon as I got my drivers license] chasing B&O trains in the early 1970's, right before the Chessie takeover.  I always thought the blue and yellow scheme was much more elegant than the bright yellow and orange of Chessie.

As far as factory-painted B&O, there's not a whole lot out there; I painted and lettered most of my stuff myself.  In addition to P2K, there are some great-looking Athearn Genesis F7's [and their geeps of course] in dark blue - but they are really pricey.  Bachmann had [maybe still has?] dark blue GP9's that are smooth runners and generally look pretty good, but they don't have much detail.  

cudaken

PM me if you happen to have any B&O stuff you don't need.

Sorry, I'm afraid I don't have any B&O power of my own for sale.  I see quite a bit of P2K stuff on eBay though...

[CSX_road_slug]

fmilhaupt

That paint scheme is of the era I was most familiar with on the B&O and the C&O. I'm glad to see them doing Geeps in that scheme!

Fritz, I lived in your state [MI] until I was 13.  That's part of the reason I fell in love with this B&O scheme when my family moved to Maryland - it reminded me of the C&O!

[ChadLRyan]

Ken,
Yeah, unfortunately, the late Pic does not give a positive tell, I am leaning toward; it didn't have them because I would expect them to be up to & slightly above the fan level, but one cannot be sure.
What struck me most of the 'late' photo was the shoulder rubbing on the nose, this was a new weathering detial to me, & I may have to 'Pocket that' for the future!!
Thanks again for sharing, this is interesting, & I enjoy it!

Do you have the Spring Mills Depot Cabeese? They are excellent!
There was a Wagontop styled 2 Bay Hopper on the cover of a recent Model RR Mag, & I would like to find one of those, but cannot find a reference to it at all.. Perhaps it was a scratchbuilt, I do not know..

Thanks,

[CSX_road_slug]

ChadLRyan

Thanks again for sharing, this is interesting, & I enjoy it!

Chad, your most welcome - I'm always glad to be able to share something useful when I stumble across it!

ChadLRyan

Do you have the Spring Mills Depot Cabeese?

Yep, 3 of them - in "pool service" blue and yellow of course!

ChadLRyan

There was a Wagontop styled 2 Bay Hopper on the cover of a recent Model RR Mag, & I would like to find one of those, but cannot find a reference to it at all.. Perhaps it was a scratchbuilt, I do not know..

Check out this online magazine by the B&O Historical Society, it might help you find an answer: http://www.borhs.org/modelermag/index.html

[ChadLRyan]

Ken,
A big Thanks again!
I will check that Link out mighty promptly!

I have the SMD Cabooses in the Late models, with one early; the Blue, the Chessie Yellow scheme, & an early Red one.
I am pleased with all of them, very nice models.

They will go very well with your new Locomotive roster, ha hah..

Although I do not have a completely 'vivid library' I do enjoy finding things in books & other references, so again, I appreciate the link!

Thanks Ken!

[Colorado_Mac]

cudaken

 Ken, very timely post for me! I just got interested B&O...I was going to post a question about what manufacturers are and have made B&O engines...

Ken,  Mopars AND the B&O?  Now you're talkin'!

Anyway, I often find doing a search like 

[BRAKIE]

CSX_road_slug

But B&O ran their GP9's long hood forward.

Not so fast..

After the C&O took control of the B&O they sent some locomotives to the B&O to help shore up B&O's aging locomotive fleet..

These units kept their C&O numbers and looks and was operated short hood forward...B&O simply replaced the "C" with a "B" and removed the C&O for progress emblem.

However,you are correct..Those are pure B&O geeps and the crew should be facing forward..

[CSX_road_slug]

BRAKIE

CSX_road_slug

But B&O ran their GP9's long hood forward.

Not so fast..

After the C&O took control of the B&O they sent some locomotives to the B&O to help shore up B&O's aging locomotive fleet..

Yeah, I have a P2K in my roster that fits that description. #6652, with the bell mounted just above the headlight.  That one definitely runs short hood forward.

[bogp40]

Ken, very nice. Didn't think it would take you long to "get 'em out of the box" Really like the #6615, all my Geeps are in original blue/ gray/ black. They did a fantastic job of the proper detailing. If you don't find out about the spark arrestors on #6597, James Mischke of the B&O yahoo groups is the one to ask.    http://finance.groups.yahoo.com/group/Baltimore_and_Ohio/

I'm jealous! may be a next purchase.

[CSX_road_slug]

bogp40

If you don't find out about the spark arrestors on #6597, James Mischke of the B&O yahoo groups is the one to ask.    http://finance.groups.yahoo.com/group/Baltimore_and_Ohio/

For sure! Jim and I have exchanged a few emails already - he's my #1 source for out-of-production B&O rolling stock decals.

I'm jealous! may be a next purchase.

MB Klein still has a few of them in stock.

[B&O1952]

Ken, Nice looking locos! My son has chosen the B&O in the same era up here on the Buffalo division. I remember those Geeps MUed with F7's, GP 30's, etc. here. Here's a shot taken around 1970 at East Salamanca. There were a lot of old veteran locos here then.

-Stan

[7j43k]

CSX_road_slug

...while I'm at it I should also add a steam generator.  

Would the boiler have been removed by the time this paint scheme was applied?

Ed

[CSX_road_slug]

Stan - great photo!  That's really a huge collection of 1st generation EMD.  Were those all active units, or were some of them dead-lined?

7j43k

Would the boiler have been removed by the time this paint scheme was applied?

Good question, it very well coulda been!  I saw these torpedo geeps still being used in commuter service as late as the summer of 1972.  Maybe steam generators weren't needed for short runs? Or perhaps the the coaches were heated by electricity rather than steam.  This sounds like something for the B&O Yahoo Group...

[B&O1952]

Ken, all of those units were active. At that time, the Buffalo division was very busy with a lot of coal still going to the steel mills in South Buffalo, and Kodak in Rochester. General freight business was brisk as well. Here's another good shot:

The old F7's were on their last legs here. I was sad to see them go. A few years after the B&O and C&O units disappeared, Western Maryland F units arrived for a short while. I think the ex Clinchfield F's in CSX paint  were the last to travel the Buffalo Division in 1987.

-Stan

[bogp40]

B&O1952

Ken, all of those units were active. At that time, the Buffalo division was very busy with a lot of coal still going to the steel mills in South Buffalo, and Kodak in Rochester. General freight business was brisk as well. Here's another good shot:

The old F7's were on their last legs here. I was sad to see them go. A few years after the B&O and C&O units disappeared, Western Maryland F units arrived for a short while. I think the ex Clinchfield F's in CSX paint  were the last to travel the Buffalo Division in 1987.

-Stan

Speaking of spark arrestors, check out the ones on that dirty F7

[Packer]

I like that the original paint is showing through on the dirty F-unit.

As for the OP's engines, They look nice. Just curious how they run and pull? I've seen 2 Genesis GP7s and 1 ran great, the other stalled all the time. My GP15-1 (likely the same chassis) runs alright (stalls sometimes) and doesn't pull very well.

[CSX_road_slug]

Stan, thanks for including that closeup shot!  I'm going to paint one of my F units to replicate #4563.  I remember seeing a few like that in Baltimore with their old colors, and only a capitol dome decal on the nose, but I didn't have a photo where the number was visible.  This is just what 'the doctor' ordered!

[CSX_road_slug]

Packer

... Just curious how they run and pull? I've seen 2 Genesis GP7s and 1 ran great, the other stalled all the time. My GP15-1 (likely the same chassis) runs alright (stalls sometimes) and doesn't pull very well.

I never had high expectations about pulling power with these genesis geeps.  I bought them mainly so I could have some Tsunamies without having to figure out where to fit the speakers. I have some Bachmann geeps [with aftermarket grab irons added] that I will MU with these guys, to provide pulling muscle for my longer trains.  My Stewart F7's will also help in that regard.  

[GM50]

Those beautiful Geep 9s bring back memories of seeing them in the 60's in Darby,Pa, just as you have them...in consists up to 6 or 7 units long! You have a layout just like mine! Gotta love the B&O! Just got my GP-9 in Chessie (6543) today....had an issue with the thing running short end forward...did a CV29 change form 38 to 39...and voila! She's OK now! Also have an SD-7 that i just put a DCC decoder is....

[majordadsage]

Good Evening,  

I am new to N Scale and am wanting to model B&O.  I'm not very good at it but, I enjoy it just the same.  

My grandfather worked on the B&O.  He passed away in 1938, ten years before I was born.  The only information I have was passed down from my father.  I don't know what my grandfather did but, I do know that he would get on the train at Seymour, Indiana and sometimes ride east to Cincinnatti, and other times, he would ride west to Washington, In or St. Louis.  

I know your post was about 2 years ago but, I ran across it while looking for suggestions on B&O paint.  I have a couple of diesels I am going to try my hand at painting

[mvlandsw]

I ran many of these engines and the short hood forward versions made it much easier to see ahead. The horns look too big. Are they oversized? Mark Vinski