That's super

Thanks for that one - that's super.

Let's see - we have the GMD-1 now from Rapido. Can we convince Rapido to do the "rebuilt GP-7 with slug" set?

- Trevor

Like that!

Brilliant!

That's great! I love it. I wonder if I could replicate something like it in N Scale?  GMD-1 from Rapido, LifeLike Canada Geep, and then it's just the slug... I sometimes wonder whether I could scratchbuild a (non-powered) slug.

You would think

a dummy slug would be quite easy to do for a manufacturer, but I guess how they would sell would be the deciding factor.  Holding out hope someone does a slug and a GP9rm, but it doesn't have to be anytime soon.  Still stretching the budget to keep up with the latest releases.

Canadian Content

EMD had something called an RS-1325 which was basically the same idea, and it never caught on, either.  The GMD-1 is just something that CN took a shine to, I think.

CN's GMD-1s

If I recall correctly, the GMD-1 design was basically commissioned to address CN's need for a light axle loading unit to replace the small 4-6-0s and 2-8-0s in service on very lightly built prairie branches. Up to that point, there was no suitable diesel model available and CN's prairie branches were a major bastion of steam, hanging on into the late 1950s.

MLW had an "equivalent" model, the RSC-13, which was basically an RS1 on A-1-A trucks. Although some were tried in the west (including on Vancouver Island), they ultimately ended up on CN's eastern lines. GMD-1s then became common on Vancouver Island, which is where I first "met" them, near the end of CN's tenure there.

Regards,

Mike

Thanks!

Yeah, the GMD-1's made their

Yeah, the GMD-1's made their bones on the light prairie lines running 60lb rail, on both CN and NAR. The RSC13's were the east coast equivalents. It's worth noting that both CN and NAR were government-beholden and stuck with a lot of light-rail lines that were barely making enough income to cover basic maintenance, so upgrades were out of the question for a long time. Similar US roads (and CP) were not in the same position and so didn't need to make the same set of tradeoffs.

Both CN and CP seemed to prefer GMD power out west and MLW power in the east

I knew we'd discussed...

Dear CN Slug fans,

Um, I knew we'd discussed modelling slugs recently,
and sure enough, MRH Search (top right of the MRH webpage) is our friend...

http://model-railroad-hobbyist.com/node/18264

Happy Modelling,
Aim to Improve,
Prof Klyzlr

PS Google is your friend too...

http://www.cp-forum.net/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=585

http://www.lakeshoremodeltrains.com/mt-4_project.htm
(not CN, but still gorgeous, .... for a slug.... ).

CP's "GMD 1"

Mawz mentioned CP and the US roads were not in the same position as CN and the NAR in terms of light-rail Prairie branchlines. While CN may have easily won the contest for most extensive network of 60- and 75-lb rail branches (mostly thanks to predecessor Canadian Northern's efforts to build fast and cheap across the west) other roads did have light-rail issues to contend with too.

The Milwaukee comes to mind with their purchase of RSC-2's, and later their unique fleet of SDL39's to address their particular light-rail situations.

Likewise CP also had a large network of light-rail branchlines in north-central Saskatchewan, radiating from Prince Albert. However CP's solution was to purchase a number of light-weight RS-23 locos from MLW. While B-B trucked, they were equipped with lightweight Alco AAR trucks, small fuel tanks and weighted significantly less than a standard RS-23. These units retired the 4-6-0's assigned there in 1959, and remained in service until the early 1990's, well after the prairies became an all General Motors bastion for both Canuck class 1's.

So I guess EMD would have built GMD1's or RS1325's for anyone if they asked, but each railway seemed to have their own light-rail solution when dieselizing the west.

GMD-1 in stripes

Too bad Rapido is only offering the striped paint scheme in N scale only.

That really left out many of us who model the prairies in HO scale not having that paint scheme.

Too bad Rapido is only