BQ23-7

[don_csx]

I recently acquired a Bachmann BQ23-7 locomotive. I have already fitted and Athearn mechanism under it.  It run pretty good but it doesn't look to hot. It needs a new paint job, but before I do that I like to give it a little detail. Has any one here detailed one of these locomotives? If so any pictures of the finish model? What detail parts I need to a BQ23-7 in the Family Line paint scheme? Thanks for any help.

 

Donald

[carknocker1]

I know this dosn't ansewer your question , but where did you find one ? I have been looking for one for some time . Next question if I find one , how hard was it to put Athearn unit in ? and which one did you use ?

[loathar]

Just cuious what makes it a Q unit? I've got a couple of those B-23-7's but never heard of a Q??

I would say contact Details West or Cal Scale and ask what they recommend for detail parts.

[Pathfinder]

Just cuious what makes it a Q unit? I've got a couple of those B-23-7's but never heard of a Q??

...

 

Special cab:

 

[loathar]

That looks COOL! I can't beleive Bach makes those! I've never seen one before.

[don_csx]

I found this one at a hobby shop. I also keep a look on eBay they show up there from time to time.  As for the Athearn unit. I used an U28B frame. I think the wheel span is a little bigger but it worked great with little modification.  All I did was cut the lugs off that hold the Athearn shell on and trim up the ends of the frame a little. The shell fits pretty good on it.  

I really couldn't tell you what the Q stands for but these unit has and extra large can to accommodate 5 crew members. Here is a link to a few pictures of the units. 

http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/locoList.aspx?mid=235

Donald

[Bapou]

Did someone kitbash this loco? I don't think Bachman would make a cab like that since CSX is proably the only RR that had them.

[don_csx]

Bachmann made them sometime ago. They had it in two paint schemes Chessie System and in Family Lines. Which Family lines and CSX was the only company that had them

Donald

[Bapou]

Cool, maybe they will make an ALP-46 or PL42-AC!

[chutton01]

And there was much confustion, controversy, and angst about those models at the time, because there really were no plastic B23-7 available in HO (or GE -7 units in general - this was before Railpower shells even), and Bachmann comes out...with these freakin' quirky units instead of a standard B23-7 shell (meaning on the prototype 100s of units vs 10s of units).
Contemporary-era HO Modelers of the time were NOT pleased (I know, I was there - of course, there were no message boards to waste time moaning 'bout it, like we have now ).

[GAPPLEG]

Just to top this off , I built the real things, we built them for the Family Lines, It was custom built for them so the conductor would have a desk in the cab to do paper work. It was a real weird unit for us at that time. Of course now wide cabs are the norm.( GE , 38 years , retired)

[dbradley]

I read an article on the BQ 23's a long time ago Donald, and if I'm not mistaken the "Q" simply stands for Quarters, such as crew quarters. These engines were supposed to be used on the branch lines. They had extra crew seating and a conductor's desk, avoiding the need for a caboose, for the crew anyway.

Dennis.

[santafemikie]

Don,

I saw your post a day or two ago and it bugged me. I had seen a couple of articles on this loco somewhere... I looked in the RailPub site and found it. There is an article on the locomotive in the Modeling and Detailing Diesels Vol I By Randy Lee that has color pictures and a parts list. It also has some modeling tips about the different trucks and filling in the coupler pockets. If you can't find this book, MR had an article on the prototype in the July 1983 issue that is still available. I think you could probably do some "standard GE" detailing on most of it and with some pictures, figure out what is different on the "Q"version

Mike

[waltersrails]

I also just purched a bq23-7 by bachmann off of ebay. In the chessie colors which i will repaint for my short line railroad. what type of athearn motor did you use when redoing yours? Mine needs a new motor runs slugish. I plan on buying details west products to upgrade mine.

Also These where made by bachmann in the early 1990's.

[ndbprr]

As I recall when GE first introduced it MR did plans with several pictures.  It was never popular and Family Lines was the only buyer which was later merged into CSX.  That article may help you decide on the details needed. I only ever saw one and it was at Barr Yard in Chicago.

[modelmaker51]

Here are two threads from the Diesel Detailers website on these units:

http://dieseldetailer.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=dash&action=display&thread=1075

 http://dieseldetailer.proboards.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=dash&thread=2523&page=3

[modelmaker51]

Bapou

Cool, maybe they will make an ALP-46 or PL42-AC!

There is a resin kit of the PL42:

http://dieseldetailer.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=x&action=display&thread=736

[Blaine's Trains]

 Just thought I would improve the photo.

Blaine

[Kfishe2]

I just read a little article on this loco in a MR from 2000 literally last night.  The Q was for "Quarters" as someone else has previously posted.  Only 12 made and all went to SAL.  The article said the model was made by Bachmann and was hard to find even back 10 years ago.