U25-B Hi-Hood...

Discussion in 'General Electric (GE)' started by TAG1014 (Tom Galbraith RIP 7/15/2020), Feb 1, 2018.

  1. TAG1014 (Tom Galbraith RIP 7/15/2020)

    TAG1014 (Tom Galbraith RIP 7/15/2020) Passed Away July 15, 2020 Frisco.org Supporter

    Has there been a maker that has released a Hi-Hood U25B in any scale?

    Thanks, Tom G.
     
  2. gjslsffan

    gjslsffan Staff Member Staff Member

    Waiting for Ryan Harris to one in a 3D type thing. And that can be scaled to whatever is desired. Sure wish I had paid more attention to CAD programs now.
     
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  3. Karl

    Karl 2008 Engineer of the Year Frisco.org Supporter

    Yes, Oriental made a brass, HO Scale High-Nose U25B
     
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  4. Coonskin

    Coonskin Member

    And you better have deep pockets when one shows up on The Bay if you want one!
     
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  5. meteor910

    meteor910 2009 Engineer of the Year Staff Member Frisco.org Supporter

    I recall looking at one and considering buying it, but I didn't. It looked pretty good to my eye, but I think had several minor variations from the Frisco units. The UP also had a number of the high hood U25b's, and the brass model might have been patterned after the UP's 'boats. Close though, and not easy to tell the difference unless you compared it to actual pictures.
    I have no idea on how good of a runner it was.
    Wonder if anyone has considered producing a plastic shell for one, or at least the nose forward of the cab? The fact that only two roads had them probably spooks them.
    They were not among the most handsome of locomotives.
    K
     
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  6. I think you are right Ken. They offered it factory UP paint and undecorated but not a Frisco paint job. Mine runs like any other 70 brass engine. I have pondered for years casting the body in resin. My mold making skills are not there though. If I ever try it you guys will know first.
    I have also thought about the Shapeways route with Ryan or other designers. What I have been around from Shapeways though still needed some refinement for me to not think it is easier to build than buy.
    I have attempted three kitbashed ones. Two HO and one G scale with enough parts to build more of both. Time being what I lack. Each was an improvement from the one before it. There is a huge amount of work though even starting with another U25 with the pilots, steps, tank and handrails all being unique to start.
    Every online poll or manufactures poll I have ever taken that was the first suggestion and request I had. Maybe someday it will happen. Somehow companies all want another SD-40-2 on the market. Or UP turbine. If turbines can garner enough UP interest for multiple models it seems like a UP hi hood U25B sure could and we just poach the benefits. I would think offering them in GE demo, UP, Frisco black and yellow and orange and white, plus a Conrail patch out version could sell models. Maybe if I take some to the St Louis RPM with Intermountain, Athearn, Scale Trains etc... there it would at least create an interest??????
    Ken it hurt reading you say they were not the most handsome of locomotives.:( They are my all time favorite. But I don't think anyone else sees the beauty. HA
     
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  7. Karl

    Karl 2008 Engineer of the Year Frisco.org Supporter

    There was a flaw in the gear towers, and the nylon gears were prone to failure. I bought two.
     
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  8. meteor910

    meteor910 2009 Engineer of the Year Staff Member Frisco.org Supporter

    Steve - OK, OK, I apologize! I think any Frisco diesel locomotive is a beauty, in particular if it is in the black/yellow scheme. I do think they looked better in b/y than later in o/w. "Yuk!" on the o/w version!

    They had some trouble in real life, however. Being the first production U25b, it had teething troubles, including with the FDL engine. I also remember reading an article (Trains, I think) about the engineers complaining about the cab being very uncomfortable - seats, controls, ventilation, etc. These things among others led to the eventual "XR" models, such as SLSF 846.

    Ken
    (Still a U-boat fan)
     
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  9. TAG1014 (Tom Galbraith RIP 7/15/2020)

    TAG1014 (Tom Galbraith RIP 7/15/2020) Passed Away July 15, 2020 Frisco.org Supporter

    When they were new the original four unit lash ups in black and yellow were a sight to behold!

    Tom G.
     
  10. Ok Ken you are forgiven, and you are right I don't think any engineers ever liked them.
     
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  11. meteor910

    meteor910 2009 Engineer of the Year Staff Member Frisco.org Supporter

    My main problem with liking the o/w high hood U25b's was that the front of the short high hood quickly got littered with road dirt, grease, bugs and what all, and the large white panel on it looked horrible. They also never seemed to wash them very often.
    K
     
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  12. w3hodoug (Doug Hughes RIP 03/24/2021)

    w3hodoug (Doug Hughes RIP 03/24/2021) 2008 Engineer of the Year Frisco.org Supporter

    Shawn, of Scale Trains, will be at an op session I'm attending Monday. I'll ask. They have their factory in China. Doug
     
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  13. Perfect Doug, I figured on hitting them up at RPM too.
     
  14. meteor910

    meteor910 2009 Engineer of the Year Staff Member Frisco.org Supporter

    You guys ought to also hit up Atlas at the RPM's as to why they have never done their excellent Alco S-2 switcher in Frisco b/y with Roman lettering and numbers.

    Atlas has enjoyed success with the Frisco name on several of their diesels - U30b, B30-7, MP15, RS-1, GP7, etc. They already have the model. Easy to do Roman lettering and numbers, no complicated logo to do. Let's go! Instead, they keep releasing this model in obscure road names.

    When I was a member of their "Golden Spike Club" (now no longer existing) I talked about a possible Frisco S-2 with one of their people, but nothing ever happened.

    I'll bet several frisco.org folks would buy one just to convert it into the "Headless Dumpster", SLSF 292! (See my Frisco Museum Roster Tale article on that.)

    Ken
     
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  15. I have never seen Atlas at a show Ken. I have pondered a 292 build for quite a while too.
     
  16. meteor910

    meteor910 2009 Engineer of the Year Staff Member Frisco.org Supporter

    Somehow, we have to work on Atlas for a b/y Frisco S-2 in Roman lettering. It's a natural.

    Maybe also a NEO S-2?

    K
     
  17. Coonskin

    Coonskin Member

    FWIW:

    Seems to me a Frisco S-2 would have far more "sale ability" than an NEO version. NEO had very limited exposure. Sort of have to be a hard core Friscophile to even know about it.
     
  18. tmfrisco

    tmfrisco Member Frisco.org Supporter

    I am an engineer who did run them, and I agree with the above quote with the added issue of being rough riding . I hated to see them in the lead on any train I caught. The improvements made to the high nose U25s made them less objectionable to run as a lead unit. By the time I hired on (June 19871), they were aging which I guess contributed to their being heavy smokers. I was glad to see them leave the property.
    Terry
     
  19. slsfrr (Jerome Lutzenberger RIP 9/1/2018)

    slsfrr (Jerome Lutzenberger RIP 9/1/2018) Engineer Staff Member Frisco.org Supporter

    I agree with Terry. The roughest riding and dirtiest road engine the Frisco had. They had a 16 position throttle bar that was about 3 feet long. By the time you got it throttled out you had to throttle down.
    Jerome
     
  20. meteor910

    meteor910 2009 Engineer of the Year Staff Member Frisco.org Supporter

    Certainly! Just a suggestion.
    The Frisco S-2 in Roman and b/y trim would have far better market appeal for Atlas. That’s why I’m suggesting it.
    The NEO version would be a gamble as you suggest, but Atlas and others have offered their models in equally unknown road names before. Why not NEO as well as SLSF?
    K
     
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