I hadn't intended to do any work on the locomotive roster this week, but there's been a change of plans, inspired to some extent by the MRH "$35 challenge" discussion. While searching for some unrelated boxes that turned up missing after the last move, I noticed a curiously out of place box labeled for a piggyback flatcar. Upon opening it, it was like a chance encounter with an old friend - I had found WP GP7 number 708.
The unit started as a 1970s vintage Athearn model, complete with the old oversized open frame motor and cast metal truck sideframes. It was given to me by someone in the family, and was decorated for the Union Pacific. It racked up a lot of scale miles on a couple of my early layouts, and was among my first Athearn diesels, perhaps THE first. It even showed up in photos in my article in the December, 1984 issue of Model Railroader.
After a several-year foray into HOn3, I returned to standard gauge with an interest in prototype operation and equipment modeling. The old Athearn Geep was chosen for my first diesel detailing/painting project. Using what prototype photos I could find, I modeled a Western Pacific GP7 as it appeared in the late 1970s. I elected not to modify the model's frame skirting, fuel tank or too-wide hoods, and wasn't aware if there were correct GP7 style handrail stanchions at the time, so later style EMD stanchions were used. A Mashima can motor and plated nickel silver wheels were added.
The model got a Dynatrol receiver (what we called decoders back then), and eventually was converted to CVP Products RailCommand. The 708 had another brush with fame when it appeared on the cover of the June, 1996 issue of Model Railroading http://www.trainlife.com/magazines/pages/418/0/model-railroading-june-1996. Unfortunately the drivetrain had by then gotten pretty worn, and electrical contact problems had cropped up. I switched from the original trucks to the newer Athearn type with plastic sideframes (the originals were still on as of the above article shoot, albeit disguised somewhat with some better journal and brake cylinder details). New trucks and even solid nickel silver wheels didn't solve the operating woes, and at some point about 15 years ago the receiver/decoder was removed and the model unceremoniously dumped in a box. After all, I was reminded by at least one visitor that the model didn't meet my current standards anyway.
When I found the box a few days back (it's been stored there through two moves), the mechanism wasn't in operable condition, but all the parts were there - no scavenging had occurred as is usual with my scrapped models. This called for action! A few hours of clean-up and rebuilding ensued, with the motor re-mounted and hard wiring routed around any potential electrical failure points. Some much-needed cosmetic work was done as well, painting the wheel faces and the metal truck side bearing plates.
With a new DCC decoder installed, it was time for a test run and some switching. Here the 708 works the DG Logistics cold storage facility at Lakeview, UT. Running qualities have proven to be fully 2011-compliant, so it looks as if the old locomotive is back on the roster to stay. For under $30 for a decoder, and nothing at all for some paint I already had sitting around, I added some great running power for the first complete session on the layout. Given the model's history, and the current state of the economy, I'm not concerned that any modeling standards were compromised in the process.
