New Athearn Genesis GP7 & GP9

Discussion in 'Diesel Locomotives' started by FriscoFriend (Bob Hoover RIP 4/12/2018), Mar 10, 2010.

  1. FriscoFriend (Bob Hoover RIP 4/12/2018)

    FriscoFriend (Bob Hoover RIP 4/12/2018) Passed Away April 12, 2018 Frisco.org Supporter

    Athearn has just announced the future production of both GP7's and GP9's in their Genesis Line. By my dealing with them on the GP15 we can probably expect at least one one Frisco version, either B&Y or O&W, hopefully both but it could be several years down the line. We can assume the following:

    (1) This will be a very accurate model since it is in the Genesis line.
    (2) It, like the GP15, should be all new tooling with interchangeable prototype specific
    parts
    (3) It will be a good runing locomotive available with or without sound and the sound being Tsunami

    Below is a link to some preliminary shots released by Athearn of a Southern Pacific version showing the level of detail they are going to use.


    http://www.pwrs.ca/announcements/view.php?ID=3418
     
  2. Iantha_Branch

    Iantha_Branch Member

    I can't find anything about this on athearn.com, but it's good to hear.
     
  3. FriscoFriend (Bob Hoover RIP 4/12/2018)

    FriscoFriend (Bob Hoover RIP 4/12/2018) Passed Away April 12, 2018 Frisco.org Supporter

    By what I have heard, they made it a soft announcement. It won't probably appear on athearn.com until the first group of roadnames is announced. Anyone want to bet that one of them will be Santa Fe. By the way, did anyone notice the steam generator exhaust stack on the SP pilot model? My mouth is drooling already!
     
  4. Iantha_Branch

    Iantha_Branch Member

    I didn't notice the steam generator, but if they come out with a Santa Fe version of it with the post 1972 paint scheme, I would buy one for the interchange.
     
  5. Frisco2008

    Frisco2008 Member Frisco.org Supporter

    Google "Athearn Facebook" for the "Sneak Peek" photos and commentary.

    Glenn, in Tulsa
     
  6. meteor910

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

    It looks pretty darn good to me. If the Genesis "GP" is equal to their Frisco F3's, I'm sold on it!

    Ken
     
  7. Iantha_Branch

    Iantha_Branch Member

    That made me think: did any of the GP7's last till 78 and 79? In B&Y?
     
  8. klrwhizkid

    klrwhizkid Administrator Staff Member Administrator Frisco.org Supporter

    Yes the some of the GP7s (580s +) lasted until late 1977 and December 1979. mark will have to weigh in regarding specifics including color - I'm on the road away from my reference books.
     
  9. friscobob

    friscobob Staff Member Staff Member Frisco.org Supporter

    Lou Marre's "Frisco Diesel Power" has a list of all the GP7s, which includes date built, date delivered, and when it left the roster. In December 1979 the last of the GP7s were stricken from the roster.
     
  10. meteor910

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

    There is much wailing and moaning going on in the "D List" (Diesel list) yesterday and today that the "new" Athearn Genesis GP7/GP9 is based on an upgraded Front Range Products GP shell, with some improved, but not all new, tooling and with better, and more, details added.

    The purists are not happy! They were hoping for new, "Highliner" quality body shell tooling as on the Genesis F-units.

    Three of my current five GP7's are modified FRP models. You get up close to them and there are a few problems, but from normal distance, they look fine.

    FYI.

    Ken
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Mar 17, 2010
  11. TAG1014 (Tom Galbraith RIP 7/15/2020)

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

    A little off topic--The new Model Railroader has a product review of Athearn's new (To me) HO FP-7. Although the Frisco isn't mentioned in the first group of roadnames, it might be an alternative for those who didn't care for Intermountain's FP-7.

    Tom
     
  12. mark

    mark Staff Member Staff Member

    The "new Model Railroader" referenced has a cover date April, 2010, Volume 77, Number 04. The product review is on pages 74 and 75.

    Hope this helps.

    Thanks!

    Mark
     
  13. meteor910

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

    Tom - The "D-List" regulars, who are very expert (at least in their own minds!), have very high standards and are no doubt super modelers, are voicing problems with the Athearn Genesis FP7 as well. The PRR fans say the train antennas are poorly done and arrive broken more times than not, and several have said the Athearn motor is crap.

    The body shell, though, is apparently very well done (Athearn put an insert into their F7 shell, kind of like what EMD did!). I am thinking of getting an undec. Perhaps some day they will do a Frisco version.

    Ken
     
  14. Coonskin

    Coonskin Member

    Well... IF I were still in HO... the small fuel tank option alone is almost worth the price of admission!

    As one that has worked extensively with FR GP shells in the past, the shell detailing does look a bit "familiar". (i.e. A bit "heavy" compared to modern state-of-the-art.) The cab is also too high as was an FR. (I modified my FR cabs to get them to sit at a better height.) IS the new Athearn GP based on FR? Who knows?

    IMHO, the best GP7's to date are still the P2K's. To this day, I have a bunch of undec's in my closet that continue to collect dust.

    Andre
     
  15. friscobob

    friscobob Staff Member Staff Member Frisco.org Supporter

    I have two Front Range GP7s painted in Frisco colors (one O/W, the other black w/full yellow nose striping). While I'm not too crazy about the motor, it does run OK, and I like the shell details just fine. I've added some details to them, but they look and run just fine to me.

    So the Genesis GP7 may be an improved FRP shell- so what? Athearn has been using retooled RPP shells on their new RTR diesels, and they are well ahead of the wide-body shells.

    I also have one P2K GP7, which is now in Frisco livery, and I am quite happy with it as well.

    I model on the "good enough" philosophy- I add the more particular details as seen on the specific prototypes, and don't get worried about the color of the locomotive's toilet. If someone wants to model a locomotive to the nth degree, have at it, but don't come to my house with a stack of zoomed-in picstures and a set of micrometers.

    Personally, I'm happy Athearn is now gonna release a GP7 with the correct hood width. ANd if I could ever find a couple more FRP GP7s, I'd be more than happy to snap them up.:D
     
  16. Ozarktraveler

    Ozarktraveler Member

    I like my two, one ea. B/Y & O/W. I think they run especially well. I'm not as schooled on the details.

    My .02 cents.
     
  17. meteor910

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

    I think the Atlas GP7 is fine. The two b/y's - SLSF 500 and SLSF 502, are numbered incorrectly, but otherwise are OK for higher numbered units. They run like a swiss watch.

    My other three Frisco GP7's are repowered Front Range units (skillfully rebuilt by Andre). The Atlas GP7 is a better model, though the FR units look great and run fine. I don't have any P2K GP7's.

    Ken
     
  18. meteor910

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

    Terry - See my posting from 4/16/08 as follows:

    .........................................................................
    Those of you who plan to paint and decal the upcoming Atlas undec GP-7 for a Frisco unit will have the opportunity to correct the one major flaw in the Atlas decorated units - SLSF 500 and SLSF 502. I recall Vince Griesemer making this point when these units were introduced by Atlas - in 2005 or 2006 as I recall.

    Atlas numbered their two models too low. To be more correct, Atlas should have numbered them SLSF 515 or higher. The problem with the lower series, SLSF 500-514 vs. the model, is that the model represents, I believe, a late Phase 1/early Phase 2 GP-7 (in X2200S terms). The main difference is that the model has an instrument box on the walkway behind the left side of the cab, which is correct for SLSF 515 and up. The lower numbered units, SLSF 500-514, which made up Frisco's first purchase of the GP-7, did not have this box. The difference is quite obvious if you look at pics of each of the two series of Frisco GP-7's.

    Also to be correct, SLSF 500-514 had a steam generator in their early years, which the Atlas model does not have, though this is easily corrected by adding detail parts (Details West). All of these first series of Frisco GP-7's had the external features of the s/g set removed at the end of 1962, the s/g itself was removed by the end of 1967 and replaced with ballast. See the foot note in Lou Marre/John Harper's book. I think the next GP-7 batch, SLSF 515-549, all came with the box and without the s/g. Hence this higher number series would be best for the Atlas model if you are starting with an undec.

    Perhaps others in the group who understand these GP-7 "phases" better than I do can expand on these points. How high up over r/n 549 can you go with the Atlas model and still be accurate?

    I have all the X2200S issues, but have no idea what issue it was that they did the feature on GP-7's - it was years ago.
    ...................................................................

    Ken
     
  19. cnwtrainman

    cnwtrainman Member Frisco.org Supporter

    Bob-

    Didnt see FRISCO as one of the roads for the GP15, will they do it later?Hope they do the GP7 because I missed the Atlas one and you cant find them anywhere!

    Dave
     
  20. leomartin6

    leomartin6 Member

    Good to know that ... :)
     

Share This Page