SW1500 Project Question

Around Springfield in the 70's, I saw SW 1500's in the locomotive consists of main line freight trains, usually trailing in a lashup of more common road engines. I never knew if they were being shuttled to or from the Springfied shops or being used as road engines (As in a power shortage).

Tom

 

Tom's post brings up another question. Was the gear ratio the same on these units as on road units like GP38's, etc. I do remember that I think when #261 was returned to Springfield for periodic servicing that couldn't be done here in Wichita it was deadheaded a couple of freight cars behind the road consist.

 

The SW1500's had 62:15 gear ratio, which was the same as other EMD products that the Frisco used, e.g., GP-35's, GP-38's, GP-7's, etc. The SW-1500's had a 26NL brake schedule, and carried a max speed limit of 35 mph.

 

I couldn't be sure, but I thought the SW's were part of the power consist rather than being deadheaded. It didn't occur to me at the time to listen for engine noise or watch for exhaust smoke. I have also seen actual deadheaded switchers, as Bob says, separated from the road engines by freight cars.

Tom

 

No Chris, unfortunately I don't. I just remember one there. At times it may not have even been an SW1500 but possibly a Geep of some sort. Maybe Rick or Mark can help out here.

 

To All:

it occurred to me last night while working on the SW1500 project that I need another bit of information from the group. What road numbers, if any, besides #319 which I have already identified were produced in Blue Box RTR model that was produced 10-15 years ago? I don't want to duplicate any of those in my request.

Thanks in advance,

 

One detail that varies from unit to unit is that some have a built out "bay" window on the engineer's side of the cab. It covers the center window and either the front or rear fixed window. Research of my books and web resources have turned up pictures of individual units with these variations.

Books:
358--yes, rear--FDP, page 105
360--no--FDP, page 105
348--yes, front--FDP, page 112
329--no--FDP, page 113
345--yes, rear--FDP, page 114
323--yes, rear--FIC, page 35
349--yes, rear--FIC, page 36
336--no--FIC2, page 94

Pictures from this website: http://www.frisco.org/vb/forumdisplay.php?214-SW1500
336--no
329--no
360--yes, only covers center window (Enid photos)

Railroad Picture Archives: http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/locoList.aspx?id=SLSF
341--no
320--yes, rear
324--no
325--no
326--no
328--no
330--no
339--no
348--yes, front
359--yes, rear

Mike Condren's Frisco: http://www.condrenrails.com/Frisco/Frisco%20Catalog/SW1500s-MP15.htm
351--yes, front
358--yes, rear
317--no

Fallen Flags: http://www.rr-fallenflags.org/slsf/slsf.html
318--no
340--no
321--yes, rear
324--yes, rear
325--no
328--no
329--no
330--no
337--yes, rear--no white stripes on pilot
345--no
349--yes, rear
358--yes, rear
359--yes, rear

Rich

 

I just had a thought on the whole interchangeable aspect of the beacons. First, look at 329 on page 36 again. Were the big beacon use to be is now a cap. Well me thought it have athearn produce the unit with a hole in the middle of the roof, and in the box include a cap that just slides in, and a beacon plus light bulb that you can install so you can have either look.

As for the small beacon, that one may be a little harder to be interchangeable. Other than just having a hole in the roof and including it in the parts bag I can't think of anything else as far as making it customizable.

Ethan

 

Ethan and All:

Ethan, your idea is intriguing but unfortunately manufacturers have learned the hard way that they must be very careful on straying from "the norm" and making sure that their models are accurate. Case in point is when Athearn first released the Genesis GP7-GP9 project they were immediately taken to task on the fidelity of the model compared to the prototype forcing them to change the model. There are several "rivet counter" Yahoo Groups for lack of a better term waiting in the wings to quickly criticize to fidelity of a model virtually the moment it is released if not before. Therefore any creative ideas like yours just aren't tried. I have even been informed that a no number version of a locomotive offering as Atlas used to do won't happen.

 

Bob,

Birmingham used 325, 326, 327, 328, 329 and all the MP15s (once the Birmingam GP7s were retired). Some of these SW1500 were used in the yards/ transfer runs and road switchers on the Birmingham Sub as well. I sent many photos to Athearn maybe 3 years back including some down on shots.

I would love to have all the Athearn SW1500 produce to be one of the Birmingham numbers, of course. But I think it would be safe to try and get the delivery appliances applied with the selected loco numbers. The tough thing is there are not that many delivery shots of these SW1500 for all series, I believe. Time to make a spreadsheet. A lot changes happened to these SW1500s over the times they were in service, especially paint jobs and stencilling, I don't think Athearn will deviate on painting, just maybe some details. Details like added vents after delivery should really be left off, if that detail part can be added after if you desired.

Nick Molo

 

Bob,

Time to make a spreadsheet to get it all straight.

Nick

 

I would like to point out that Tulsa did receive the SW1500s when the FMs were retired from service in early 1973. If you are picking a date pre FM retirement, then Bob's statement is correct that the 1500s were not seen in regular duty in Tulsa, but, further, were not seen at all there. Post FM retirement, they were the predominant engine in Tulsa on both ends of the hump yard (singles on the trimmer end and doubles on the hump end). The MP15s did make it to Tulsa also, but I must admit that I am not sure of the exact date. It is possible that it was not until after the merger, although, I think we did see them in Tulsa pre merger. In the book by Marre/Harper Frisco Diesel Power the text seems to support my memory because it says in the text on page 116 that most eventually made it to Birmingham. I bought a ConCor MP15 lettered for BN 1003 because I was running that very engine at the time. I really loved the MP15s because they had the Bloomberg road-style truck and, therefore, were much smoother riding.

To answer question #1--On page 105 of Frisco Diesel Power by Marre/Harper units 355, 358, and 360 are shown at Tulsa. Since we had several of these units, I am reasonably sure that I can assume that the intervening numbers were also found in Tulsa. Also looking at the roster on page 116 of the same book, I believe that Tulsa received all of the units bought in Jan. of 1973. This order of eight units would allow for two hump sets of two each and four for trimmer and industrial use. Further, on page 35 of Frisco in Color by Marre/Sommers the text under the top picture says that the assignments of these units did not change very often. This text also partially answers question #2. I know Tulsa performed regular light maintenance on their units, but when the unit needed heavy maintenance, it would be sent to Springfield.

I agree with Bob that the plate on the front of the units does not appear to be a location assignment stencil, but I can't tell what it is either.

Terry Jankowski