Yesterday, visiting the LHS, I spotted a pair of used GP20s going for a song (since I can't sing, that shows how inexpenive they were). So what did I end up with? Since it takes six men and a boy to pick one up, the truck are linked by universals and a shaft and are not Sharkmouths with that horrible gaping hole in the pilot., I think they are Hobbytown G7/GP9/GP20 chassis - but I have no idea what the shell is from. Maybe I'll find out when I open them up for cleaning and lubrication if there is a name on the inside. They have 48 inch flared fans, which makes the Phase 1a. So what makes them strange. One is a low nose SP unit WITHOUT dynamic brakes, which is totally wrong. Nor does it have the SP Christmas tree of lights. OK, strip and repaint as an NYC unit - which was the one road to own dynamic brakeless GP20's. The other is even stranger, it is a Rio Grande dynamic brakeless unit modified with a Horst "Yoke Type" airfilter. OK, the NYC did that, but that was when they deturboed them and installed 645 power assemblies. But that should mean two small stacks right? This beast still has its fat turbo stack. BTW. Plus the airfilter housing was mounted on top of the hood. The Grande never owned any GP20's. So it was probbaly a minor kitbash by the previous owner. Can anybody shed any light as the pedgree of the models? Did any prototype road add the Horst filer and keep the turbos? Since I may well be dealing with a mythical unit, I just might go holy hog and, after stripping, paint and decal it for the PRR!
Posting pics would be very helpful.
First guess is "inexpensive" + "GP20" = "Tyco". There haven't been all that many GP20 models made over the years.
I. Would agree the shells would be tyco shells with details. Tyco only made the non dynamic version. The chasis is an unknown. Somebody did some attempted kitbashing
shane
A pessimist sees a dark tunnel
An optimist sees the light at the end of the tunnel
A realist sees a frieght train
An engineer sees three idiots standing on the tracks stairing blankly in space
I highly doubt someone would modify one, but Broadway Limited does make GP20s. They are most likely kitbashed Tyco's with a different chassis.
Check out this older thread on the forums
Repowering a Tyco GP20 - Model Railroader Magazine - Model Railroading, Model Trains, Reviews, Track Plans, and Forums
It includes my posting that the original Mantua/Tyco GP20 American made had external features to the shell that made it a difficult drop in replacement for most after market power chassis, and then someone else chimed in that Hobbytown had made a special chassis to acommodate those features just for the Mantua/Tyco GP20.
Dave Nelson
Thank you