Okay, I admit it: I love living in this region. I like the mountains, the pine trees, etc.

I also love my job(s). There are definitely perks in what I do. For example, being out on the road making calls has a cool perk in some of the scenery I get to see.

There's also perks to being in railroading.

Take a gorgeous, brilliant day... take some neat scenery... and throw in an interesting set of power and presto: A perk in picture form.

That in mind, I share this shot with you that I took this week.

Oh, and yes, texture shots were taken as well: Another perk.

I'm willing to walk out on a limb and say that is the power for the Arkansas Southern that runs out of the great town of Heavener, OK. Did I win a prize?

Congratulations young Grasshopper! No, you didn't win a prize. However, it's cool to be correct, eh?

I think the black unit is a GP35, but I know the rear unit is a old GP30.
That thing ougtha be in a museum; they haven't made them for 40 years!!!

Do I win a non-prize???

Andre.

Hey are you going to use those locomotives in your next project?.

And were you successful in obtaining a parts list for that ARR control stand in the train-sim yet?. I went to the CH Products web site and looked around I couldn't figure out what he used, I know with my carpentry skills I could build one of those stands pretty easy.

I've been thinking about building a full size cab for my backyard or garage just for giggles, Dont know what the wife would say.

Dave

As reported by Andre

Rats, and I was hoping for one of those really great prizes that come out of a Cracker Jack box.

As reported by TomW

That black unit is a GP38...two radiator fans on the rear. Yeah isn't it cool to see that GP30 still working after 40 years. I'm not sure about shutting her down and putting her in a musuem...yet. Maybe a classy paint job would be a better idea. But there is many a bean counters out there that will tell you "Paint doesn't pull".

This line that they are on is a former KCS line...and in the late 1980s to early 1990s KCS's fleet of GP30 were known to work this line as they finished their careers with the KCS. Good to see them return...though the one in this photo isn't one of them as far as I know.

I believe he used a CH USB yoke (The one with 3 throttles), I had mine programmed for MSTS once, It worked more precise and faster as the raildriver from PI, but of course without the feed back. It means your control will sometimes come out of "synch" and you will have to either adjust with key board or in some cases it could be achieved by resetting the handle. (it works best for slow but "firm" adjustments)Most of the time it worked great, I just found it easier to use the key board. The reason he used a CH product is probably because the software to program the axis's is included (and works very well). If you have a program which will translate axis input to key presses, then you can use any joystick with a relative high resoulution. Last time I checked, you had to buy the generic soft ware, but it's a long time ago so much can have changed.
You should download a manual from CHproducts to see if you can make it work as you intend.

Cheers
Peter

TomW:

Like Zickery Zackery Zock said: It's a 38. However, don't take the mistake too hard, you how all those diesels look alike.

Frisco2

> Hey are you going to use those locomotives in your next project?

No plans to use at this point. However, I've learned to try to take advantage of texture opportunities when presented. You never know when you'll need the stuff. I try to make it a habit to have my camera with me at all times.

Case in point: In my "Vehicles" texture folder, for example, I already have raw textures for 30's, 40's, 50's, 60's, 70's autos as well as some trucks. If I see it, have the time, and have my camera: I nail it.

> And were you successful in obtaining a parts list for that ARR control
> stand in the train-sim yet?.

No, I'm not really sure just what throttles he used.

The fellow was quite creative in his effort. He did a lot more work than I'm willing to expend at this point.

Nice side bell mount on the GP38, whats the heritage if you know? Also, is there still a 567 under the hood on the GP30? One more if its OK while we are on GP38's, before the Rock pulled the plug, did any GP38's traverse the your area?

> Nice side bell mount on the GP38, whats the heritage if you know?

Haven't a clue.

> Also, is there still a 567 under the hood on the GP30?

Sounds like it. Next time I'm on board I'll try to verify.

> One more if its OK while we are on GP38's,

Sure...

> ...before the Rock pulled the plug, did any GP38's traverse the your area?

Note: My area would be the east/west "Choctaw Route" which ran from Memphis, TN to Tucumcari, NM. I most often saw the portion between McAlester, OK and Booneville, AR. The Rock Island's Hot Springs Branch mentioned elsewhere in this forum would not actually be my "area", but accessible via a 1 1/2 hour drive.

Having said that:

GP38's on the Choctaw Route? Absolutely. The last few months of the Rock's operation, I moved into a house in which I could see the Choctaw Route's mainline from the kitchen window. I recall seeing U25B's, U30B's, GP40's, GP38's, GP35's, GP7's, GP18's, GP?m's. I never saw six axle power on the line, either during those months, or the years prior.

Wouldn't you give a weeks pay to step back for just one day, and sneek in your digital camera ofcourse

Thanks for the reply Andre

There are at leat 3 GP30's on any given day switching around Phoenix,who says they are old..

I see them here to Joe, some in ATSF and some in BN, for the most part they have been updated with a 645 block and updated electrical. It is unbelievable to think that they are still using power from 1964, but then again look at the occasional Geep or SD9 that floats thru.

Yup, oft have been the times I wished for a "time machine" so I could get do-overs on some things.

Speaking of 567's: Hard to believe, but one of the old geeps I bang around for Pioneer has a 567 in it! That engine is older than I am!

An oldie but a goodie!

Andre I think you meant U28B's, the Rock did own U30C's but never bought any U30B's

According to a dude who's selling photos of the unit it is former WLE. Doubtful they were the original owners though.

jimmac28 said:

"Andre I think you meant U28B's, the Rock did own U30C's but never bought any U30B's"

Yeah, what he said! OR... maybe I was remembering U33B's? Would have to dig out the slides, which ain't gonna' happen real soon.

Herb said:

"According to a dude who's selling photos of the unit it is former WLE."

Someone is selling photos of this engine??? Where might that be?

Don’t worry Andre your memory isn’t the first thing to go; Now if I can only remember what is.

The Rock also had U33B's but here's the kick, they had 83 mph trucks when new, now how's that for wishful thinking.

I might be wrong, but I swear that I think I see a N&W logo peeking through underneath the paint on the cab of 1153... but the low-nose and the side-mounted bell?

Andre:

Froogle site

milepost56 asked:

It took me the better part of a day to find the answer, but this is the answer I found. Orginally built as C&O 3851(would explan the bell on the side of the hood); renumbered to CSXT 2051; sold to WE as their 103; then sold to HATX and became their 103; leased to TFM (Mexican arm of KCS) as thier 1153; returned to the states as HLCX 1153; then to K&O 1153. Under the general renumber that Watco is going through this GP38 is suppposed to become WAMX 3803. I say this Geep has been around once or twice. Through during my digging...the WE 103 part and the HATX 103 may have been just on paper and no renumbering ever really took place. Don't feel bad if you got lost in the whole mess. It took me three times through to follow the paper trail.

As far as GP30 with 645 blocks...that is possible. But it is more likely 645 power assemblies (cylinder liners and pistons) were install in the 567 block. The 567B and 567C model blocks would accept 645 power assembiles and it has been done to many GP18, GP20, GP30 and GP35 that are out there running around. That is what CSX did when they rebuilt GP7/GP9 geeps into the GP16. The main difference between a 567 and a 645 is the bore of the piston. The 567 is 8.5"(bore) by 10" (stroke); the 645 is 9.0625" (9-1/16" bore) by 10" (stroke). I may just have to force my self to drive down to Heavener and expose some Kodachrome to those two jewels this weekend. Looks like I'll have to drag my son along too. Andre knows how much he hates trains.

Wow, Zack! That is some serious research. And on a diesel, of all things!

For penance, you must run St.L.&N.A. "Hound Dog" I and II, without taking a break.

Thanks for the history lesson Zack. I knew that the GP38 had to be of C&O heritage, very few other railroads would stick a bell on the side.

It would be sweet to see some picks of both units, especially the GP30. Its nice to know somebody else with some EMD knowledge. Having spent almost 2 years at the CNW diesel house at Proviso yard just west of Chicago I became all to familiar with power assemblies. I do not miss those days

S.Weaver was reported saying:

You say that as if the 567 & 645 power plants are such horrible beasts. Oh, wait...I keep forgeting I'm talking to a bunch of teakettle fans. At some point I'll remember that minor little detail.

milepost56 was rumored saying:

I have a basic EMD knowledge of their power/products. Most of my diesel knowledge is based on those "yellow motors" that have been used for a 100 years to push dirt. As far as the bell on the side of the long hood. Seems like C&O was the only railroad to order their power that way. The only exception that comes to mind is the order of SD50 that the Rio Grande picked up in the early 1980s (would have to look up the year) and they had the bell on the long hood. Though their order was tacked on the end of a C&O-Chessie order for SD50. Good to see I'm not the only one that fights the "dark side"...the influence of the teakettles.

Zack:

I have a confession to make: I've rebuilt 567c's and have installed 645 power assemblies - and actually enjoyed it! There! It's out!

I hope Andre and Bill Hobbs don't read this post ...

I almost want to say that the "Heritage of that GP-38 is of the C&O or B&O orders. I would say that it has served on the Central Michigan...but that is a guess.

Best Regards,
Galen

The GP30 had a 567D from the factory, I don't recall what the changes were to the block. Probably journals and a few minor changes the to accomodate turbocharging. I know the liner bores were still the same as the B&C blocks.

Never tore one apart, but then again the fat lady hasn't sung yet has she