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Athearn BB Handrail Equivalents

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  • Member since
    October 2001
  • From: OH
  • 17,574 posts
Posted by BRAKIE on Wednesday, December 25, 2019 10:22 PM

FRRYKid
Just to clear up any confusion what I am calling a "noserail" is the rail that goes from the front of the cab to the cab step.

I have used 020 piano wire for that to..I glue the stanchions in place,then I bend the end of the wire to fit the hole and fast the wire to the stanchions then bend the wire to shape cut to fit  the end and insert into the hole. I have used the left or right side handrail as a pattern.

Larry

Conductor.

Summerset Ry.


"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt  Safety First!"

  • Member since
    January 2004
  • From: Canada, eh?
  • 13,375 posts
Posted by doctorwayne on Wednesday, December 25, 2019 7:02 PM

FRRYKid

Just to clear up any confusion what I am calling a "noserail" is the rail that goes from the front of the cab to the cab step. A few of the posts are describing the end rail. If need be I can bend a replacement but I will need to find where my wire ended up after moving. The stanchions aren't a requirement for my need.

Well that simplifies things.  I have a bunch of those, too, and probably the stanchions also.  Send me a PM outlining exactly what you require, and how many of each, along with your mailing address, and I'll send them along in a day or two, when it's not so busy here.

EDIT:  Just to clarify what the OP needs, here are a couple of Athearn BB geeps, modified to represent (as best as could be done with what was available) their prototypes.  The handrails in question are on the side walkways of the short hood.

Wayne

  • Member since
    May 2008
  • From: Miles City, Montana
  • 2,288 posts
Posted by FRRYKid on Wednesday, December 25, 2019 6:55 PM

Just to clear up any confusion what I am calling a "noserail" is the rail that goes from the front of the cab to the cab step. A few of the posts are describing the end rail. If need be I can bend a replacement but I will need to find where my wire ended up after moving. The stanchions aren't a requirement for my need. I seem to be able to find those easily and I might have some in my parts pile.

I tried working with the Smokey Valley units at one point for a project and decided, while many people seem to sing their praises, they hit a flat note with me.

"The only stupid question is the unasked question."
Brain waves can power an electric train. RealFact #832 from Snapple.
  • Member since
    May 2010
  • From: SE. WI.
  • 8,253 posts
Posted by mbinsewi on Wednesday, December 25, 2019 8:08 AM

Pretty sure I have some.  I'll dig around.  I've used Smokey Valley stanchions and wire in the past, like what Larry describes.

Smokey Valley has them on their website list.  https://www.smokeyvalley.com/

Kit #11.

If you don't come up with any, send me a pm, I'll see what I have.

Mike.

  • Member since
    October 2001
  • From: OH
  • 17,574 posts
Posted by BRAKIE on Wednesday, December 25, 2019 5:59 AM

I have use .020" piano wire to form BB hand rails..Its not that hard to do.

The way I do is I glue the stanchions in place, fasten the wire to the stanchions,then I bend and cut the wire to size and glue the end in the handrail hole then repeat for the other side. 

 

Larry

Conductor.

Summerset Ry.


"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt  Safety First!"

  • Member since
    January 2004
  • From: Canada, eh?
  • 13,375 posts
Posted by doctorwayne on Wednesday, December 25, 2019 2:24 AM

The only Athearn BB geeps I had were the GP7s (convertible to 9s fairly easily)

I have a pair of what appear to be the end handrails for one of those, as they look very similar to those on the two BB geeps that I still have, although I've cut out the centre of those on the models to allow for the installation of drop-steps between units.

I also have seven very similar end handrails, about the same general size, but the sloped portions at the top corners are a little longer than those on the other ones, and the horizontal across the top has a bump-out in its centre.  They're also from BB units, perhaps Athearn's U-boats, as I had several of those.

It looks like I've got lots of stanchions, too.

I'd offer some photos for your perusal, but photobucket is still experiencing difficulties.

If you're interested in either of those styles of end handrails and some stanchions, send me a PM and let me know how many you need - end railings and stanchions, along with a mailing address.

Wayne

  • Member since
    March 2012
  • 1,162 posts
Posted by PC101 on Wednesday, December 25, 2019 1:40 AM

FRRYKid

Got another oddball one for my Forum friends: Did any other engine in the Athearn BB lines use the same noserails as the GP9s? I am working on a making a non-dynamic GP9 using the Athearn unit as a base but I am missing a front noserails. I have been unable to find a replacement. As usual, any assistance that can be provided would be most welcomedm

 

The GP9 End Railings are #10525 and the stanchions look like #10424. Do you have one to match it up to? Any chance you can bend your own? Nothing I see in BB matches. SD9, GP35, SD45 all different. Do you need just one railing or two, do you need the 4 stanchions per end?

  • Member since
    May 2008
  • From: Miles City, Montana
  • 2,288 posts
Athearn BB Handrail Equivalents
Posted by FRRYKid on Tuesday, December 24, 2019 11:40 PM

Got another oddball one for my Forum friends: Did any other engine in the Athearn BB lines use the same noserails as the GP9s? I am working on a making a non-dynamic GP9 using the Athearn unit as a base but I am missing a front noserails. I have been unable to find a replacement. As usual, any assistance that can be provided would be most welcomedm

"The only stupid question is the unasked question."
Brain waves can power an electric train. RealFact #832 from Snapple.

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