EMD GP9RM Rebuilds

[efftenxrfe]

You are talking about locomotives that were rebuilt and modified from their as-built specs and components, right?

'wish I could help......don't have any idea..... 

[The Railwolf]

Thanks much for the replies, guys! The More You Know... :3

Another question: Anyone know what the 'RM' stands for, if anything?

[Randy Stahl]

I've worked on all of them.. the Battle Creek guys did a better job hands down. Nice wire labels, well labeled terminal boards, neat wire bundles.. just  a neater job over all.

 

 

Randy

[Leo_Ames]

They didn't really do anything special, though. The electrical enhancements were based on Canadian National's rebuild program, the cab and nose came from a VMV design for their rebuilds, and everything else like their new brake system, the larger fuel tanks, 645 power assemblies, new air reservoirs, electric heat, wheel slip control, battery box restoration, new cab flooring, new engine air filter system, new exhaust manifold, and so on were things being done elsewhere.

I'm not very familiar with them, but I bet Burlington Northern's GP28's rivaled this from the same time. New nose, new cabs, Dash 2 electricals, 16-645C engines, etc. And they actually had completely new carbodies where as GTW kept the existing long hood and they were dynamic brake equipped where as GTW's rebuilds weren't. And Illinois Central's Paducah shop's GP11 program basically pioneered these fancier Geep rebuilds (Where as earlier efforts were more akin to rebuilding in-kind beyond the chop nose rather than making lots of upgrades).

I suppose about the only ones that outdid later Geep programs like these were EMD's own BL20-2. That was probably the Cadillac of Geep rebuilds.

[Randy Stahl]

The best ones I've ever seen are the GTW Battle Creek rebuilds. In my opinion they set the bar for rebuilds.

 

Randy

[CSSHEGEWISCH]

The rebuilt CN GP9's that were re-numbered into the 7000 series were indeed rebuilt for yard and transfer duty.  Some of them (7200's) were also equipped as slug mothers.

[ndbprr]

The ones that got to Homewood Illinois on the IC apparently did not get painted though. They were some of the scrungiest engines ever seen.

[Leo_Ames]

Two things that come to mind beyond the typical things like rewound traction motors and the obvious chop nose was turning the controls around since they were setup for long hood forward operation originally and Dash 2 style electricals. They got Barco transitions replacing the old bus bars, relays, and contacts in the old electrical cabinet. And eventually, they started to get new cabs and noses, larger fuel tanks, and some other enhancements with later rebuilds. 

Two other things that if they didn't get them then than they likely have over the years since were 645 power assemblys and new brake systems to replace the 24RL brake systems. And I bet they got electric cab heaters although I can't attest to that. 

There have been about as many different Geep rebuild variations as there were Geeps constructed it seems at times. No two rebuild programs were identical and long lived ones like CPR's, CN's, ATSF's, and IC's programs evolved as time went by. 

And I also think some of CN's Geeps were purposely rebuilt for yard duty and couldn't operate at road speeds, paired with Geep slugs. 

[The Railwolf]

Hi all, I have been wondering for awhile about this. What exactly is done to a GP9 (GP7?) to make it a GP9RM? As I understand it, Canadian National rebuilt hundreds of old Geeps to this standard. As far as I can see, they have new chopped cabs with beveled windshields. Some also appear to have air filters inside the dynamic brake blister louvers, and I have heard them spooling down a lot quicker than their unmodified contemporaries. I looked for a general info page about this model, with no luck. My local shortline, the Pinsly-operated Florida Central, recently acquired three or four of these units and I don't see Bill enough to ask him about the mods in person. Thanks, guys!