Always love to see old standard-cab geeps. The SRY reminds me of MRL operations around Billings, plus the old Paducah-rebuilds we used when I spent a decade on a civilian transportation contract at Ft. Campbell (never shot vid but got plenty of stills whenever braking or flagging, for those were antiques, indeed!). All those little details add up... Though I'm not particularly excited about today's class I action, I do love seeing so much old paint still running around up here in the Dakotas and eastern Montana on BNSF, some of which is still merely stenciled. Then there are all the old units purchased for elevators or various other industries... Shortlines are perfect for such opportunities to model a variety of first and second generation units and their smaller sizes also fit better, as well. Thanks for sharing this brief walk-around and some rather pleasing sounds, too.
Great video, gives you lots of ideas of details you can add to our models, I like the broom and shovel, with a filer hose on the nose of one of the engines. This is a very good sample you can use for weathering, lots of fine aging… gives you another level of detail to model.
Nice shots. I grew up watching the Burlington in Lincoln, NE, and that EMD normally-aspirated 567 series engine is music to my ears. One advantage of modeling the midwestern USA circa 1969 is that I can have quite a few GP7/GP9/GP18 locomotives from several roads running on my layout. Yes, a yard throat is "where the action is", and SOMEDAY I hope to be able to add such a facility.
I have always loved the look and sound of the GP9, though I am biased towards the high hoods! Loved watching them work all the locals and yards around my hometown area in Iowa/Illinois. I’ll give them a vote for diesel GOAT.
Awesome walk around! Vintage EMD GP-9s are a little scarce right now so I kitbashed one that I had referring to your tutorial, and painted it with new logos and numbers! It came out exceptionally well! Nothing like something you make with your own hands.👍👏
Thanks for sharing, Boomer. I've always been impressed by how successful GM was with all their designs and accomplishments, having little to no experience in building locomotives from the start. All whlie manufacturing all their own diesel engines, electrical systems and components in house. Quite an accomplishments in and of itself. They are quietly credited for the first successful diesel electric car body design and maintained that status for decades before succeeding to GE. Eventhough they are responsible for single handedly killing steam, one needs to give them credit for their contributions and accomplishments for the role they played in bringing us in to the modern age for not only America but the entire world, using American ingenuity and innovations in their designs in producing a locomotive of superior quality and excellence with their can do attitude, dogged determination, and hard work. The literal definition of the American dream. It's an art form in and of itself inspired by necessity and the desire to help make this a better world for everyone. It makes one wonder how all of this success could ever fail or how or where the desire for such inspiration for all their accomplishments was allowed to fail. The fact that a lot of these locomotives are still in service today is a testament to just how good and reliable their designs are because of their dedication to producing a superior rugged, powerful, dependable, and efficient locomotive. I wonder if Ford and Chrysler were ever aware of the irony that it was likely a GM locomotive that was responsible for bringing their products to market. Something that can only happen in America. Where have all the great American inovators gone with thier dedication to excellence? Perhaps they have just been derailed onto the wrong track. It was GM that designed and developed diesel electric technologies back in the 30s before there were electric cars without the aid of AI or computer technology. So it's nothing new today. They are just using batteries for the power supply instead of an internal combustion engine. There's nothing new to see here. All old technology repackaged as something new but not necessarily better. Although a start in a new direction, what we need is real innovation. We have access to computers and AI but still no real new innovation. Is it possible there's nothing new and better left to discover?
@boomerdioramas My vote is definitely in favor of the low hood design. The high hood is just not that inspiring unless you're Steven Spielberg. It looks like it was the inspiration for the Star Wars sand crawler. The Geeps were inspired by the Alco RS-1 and later the RS-3. The Geeps were the do-all be-all workhorse locomotives. Both manufacturers should be credited for their design innovations. They just have that it factor and are both handsome practical designs. One can't look away as if they're some kind of mechanical thundering dinosaur.
@boomerdioramas Thanks, Boomer, for posting the video of the low hood GP-9. I really enjoyed seeing it in the low hood version. I had to do a double take as it's not a common version one ever gets to see around here. Being a lifetime resident from Kansas, I'm not familiar with the SRY. What short line is this?
@Boomer .. Hey Boomer , I remember as a child when SRY link was BCH , British Columbia Hydro RR and spending hours watching trains where I lived at that time by Sears an Kelly Douglas in south Burnaby , Now Metrotown. Riding my bike on Saturdays down the tracks to Nwest an there near Scott paper where the yard is by the Queensborough bridge , and all along front street chasing trains on my bike.. CP would come down Across the Bridge in NWest and down below the parkade and along front street past the old station ( later became a Keg restaurant I think ) I knew some of the crews and would chain up my bicycle hop aboard , and back then taking autoracks out to Annacis Island , it was amazing as a child to spend much of a Saturday afternoon on this trip switching cars there . Then on return , jumping off the moving locomotives at 14 was still scary while it was moving at just a few mph .... Back in the late 70s early 80s ,Near every night BCH would come up the hill to Sears ,Kelly Douglas/Nabob , to switch out cars I lived right at Telford & Beresford st , as soon as I heard the two SW1000s or 1200s rumbling up the hill I was out the door chasing trains .... I can still hear them in my memories , great times to grow up with freedoms , railfans can only dream of these days . Cheers , love fallowing your layout and your teachings ... thanks for sharing and bringing back childhood memories ...
Yes indeed. Those days were cool. As a kid, I would watch them down at the Kitsilano Wye, and the swing bridge that crossed False Creek under the Burrard Bridge. They also had a "burn" track there where they torched the old Interurban cars (B.C. Electric) to recover the steal for salvage. Sad in a way but great memories of the old BC Hydro Rail for sure. Cheers.
It’s interesting to see the 112 having the Zero Emissions badge on it. I have found photos of it being down here in Idaho in the early 90’s. The gal was being leased to Idaho Northern and Pacific Railroad until they received all of their roster of GP35’s and GP40’s.
Wow! That is cool. The GP9's are not SRY original equipment in terms of the former BCHR, therefore I don't know their history well, but thanks for sharing that.😁
I am sure those that like to weather their locomotives us a picture to work from. I know I have 150 pictures of locos myself, but just want to say Thanks for doing that!! I don't plan on doing a SRY loco but the same weathering places work with any GP9. I have in the past halted a live shot of the SD35's in one of your Vlogs snapped a picture on the computer screen to do a SD 35 I had. Too cool!!
I understand that with the absorption of the MRL back into BNSF, SRY may wind up with one of our local stars, GP9 MRL 109, a 1952 graduate of EMD, and today a favorite of the Helena locals (paired with an SD40 or MRL 250) and long-time yard switcher in Helena.
That sounds cool. I am in the process of stripping an SD-35 (Atlas) for my layout. It was adopted from MRL as well. I will probably paint it with the "Meatball" and pair it up with an SD-38AC. 😉
Good looking power, I loved running geeps . You asked about modeling a yard throat. My idea going forward is an engine house shelf layout. As I stated before my first module is nearly done . Locomotives we're my working life, modeling an engine facility is my retirement pastime. Your videos are a great incentive and thought provoking series. Thank you for sharing so we can learn to create our dreams. Cheers
Awesome video! Up close and personal, a great way to get emotional with your modeling.not only with the “ stars of the layout “ but with unsung and real surrounding details that ultimately make the difference in the model.
I can't wait to see more videos one your locomomotive roster. On my drawing that I have, my place where I'll keep mine will be in a pocket track. I've also have planned to have the sanding tower located there.. Instead of using an old two bay covered hopper for the transport and and storage for the sand, I'll be using a pnumatic dry bulk trailer for the sand. Keep those videos coming, you keep my days more enjoyable and temporarily forgetting about the pain I'm in.
No GMD-1's. They pulled them from the roster. They still use the SD-38's. I do have one SD-38AC (# 381). I do plan to model more of the roster but really bogged down with building the layout.@@bradleyogden5688
Thanks for posting, I wish I could capture the prototype up close here in Upper Michigan. They pass through unannounced. Will you elaborate on yard throat modeling...?
The throat encompasses departure/arrival turnouts and tracks. Most people just model a main line and a yard lead. Yard throats have a unique look and track configuration to them. They make for interesting display modules or smaller shelf layouts if you model them compressed in length. Especially if you don't have a large space. You can pretend the yard is off layout staging, etc.
Thank you Boomer! These are my favorite locomotives. Like you, I hope to model several of them. In N scale, it means making them from scratch, including the frame and the mechanic. Only high-nose models are available in 1:160, with too many cogs in the aforesaid nose to create a low-nose version. But for now, I'm drawing some blueprints to scracthbuilt a couple of SRY vans. Have you considered to build one of them?
For your next break, maybe. ;) I finished my layout [insert here the usual disclaimer here about finished layouts] so, yeah, I have more time to work on rolling stock now. If by any chance you find one of the vans during your rail-fanning, I'm sure your channel will like a video like the one about the Geeps. ;) I'd love to show you how our layouts differ while we have the same subject/place! You've been of great help all along. Thank you again sir!
Very good detail video. Interesting to note the rails are grey with a hint of brown on the detail shots, rather than an orange brown as on the moving loco clips. Maybe this is recently maintained track, or maybe brake dust ( although I would expect brake dust to be rusty coloured )?
Thanks for this!! It gives me some great ideas for a few projects. I am wrapping my head around the zero emissions logo on one of the locomotives. I had a little chuckle when I saw the Dummy stencilling under the ditch lights! Are they using a different fuel or would that one be a slug? I am going to stick brooms and shovels on my switchers! I now have a reason to go one step further and do grab irons!
It appears that the knuckle of the coupler on 112 was drilled with several holes at some point. Not sure what the purpose of the holes would be, but would be an interesting oddity to model.
Any idea what the orange boxes are on #135 just behind the cab? Thanks for the walk-a-round, there are some neat details to consider. FYI I heard you are getting a new train shop in Langley.
Not totally sure. At first I thought they were speakers for the dedicated classification yard switching. Just a guess though and not sure to be honest.
Looks like they converted the one marked zero emissions into a slug. This mother/slug set is a way a lot of railroads like to switch yards since the movements are all at yard speeds where the extra horsepower for speed is not as much of a factor.
They usually use the six-axles (SD 35, 38's) for road power, except they prefer the four-axles for locals on the tighter turnouts. Less wear and tear on the points, frogs, etc. due to tighter radius. At least that is what an engineer told me some time ago.😉
These ones came from Montana Rail Link via other Short-Line Railroads. They make great Class 2 Road switchers and the four - axles (two axle trucks) are easy on the turnouts. ;-)
@@boomerdiorama I plan on getting one for my layout which is set in the mid 50s so a GP9 would fit nice on it any company recommendations as of model train manufacturers I'm gonna make it into a Central of Georgia engine so Id have to modify some stuff anyways
No. I have followed this railroad since the seventies. Long before it was SRY. I met the owner several times in the nineties. I used to go down to the "Trapp" yard shops all the time before the pandemic when there were less restrictions. Now I just see them at locations etc. Cheers.
Always love to see old standard-cab geeps. The SRY reminds me of MRL operations around Billings, plus the old Paducah-rebuilds we used when I spent a decade on a civilian transportation contract at Ft. Campbell (never shot vid but got plenty of stills whenever braking or flagging, for those were antiques, indeed!). All those little details add up... Though I'm not particularly excited about today's class I action, I do love seeing so much old paint still running around up here in the Dakotas and eastern Montana on BNSF, some of which is still merely stenciled. Then there are all the old units purchased for elevators or various other industries... Shortlines are perfect for such opportunities to model a variety of first and second generation units and their smaller sizes also fit better, as well. Thanks for sharing this brief walk-around and some rather pleasing sounds, too.
Yes indeed. You described my sentiments with eloquence. ;-)
I get to ride on it’s sister MRL units daily! Sad to see the MRL go it’s been fun working there.
Maybe some will find a new home with SRY Rail Link. The last SD-35 did!😁
Great video, gives you lots of ideas of details you can add to our models, I like the broom and shovel, with a filer hose on the nose of one of the engines. This is a very good sample you can use for weathering, lots of fine aging… gives you another level of detail to model.
😁👍
@@boomerdiorama Thanks "👌"...Greetings, Oli
Nice shots. I grew up watching the Burlington in Lincoln, NE, and that EMD normally-aspirated 567 series engine is music to my ears. One advantage of modeling the midwestern USA circa 1969 is that I can have quite a few GP7/GP9/GP18 locomotives from several roads running on my layout. Yes, a yard throat is "where the action is", and SOMEDAY I hope to be able to add such a facility.
It's nice to see them still operating in 2023!
I have always loved the look and sound of the GP9, though I am biased towards the high hoods! Loved watching them work all the locals and yards around my hometown area in Iowa/Illinois. I’ll give them a vote for diesel GOAT.
Awesome. Either config works for me.😉
Awesome walk around! Vintage EMD GP-9s are a little scarce right now so I kitbashed one that I had referring to your tutorial, and painted it with new logos and numbers! It came out exceptionally well! Nothing like something you make with your own hands.👍👏
The GP9's are iconic for sure.😉
Thanks for sharing, Boomer. I've always been impressed by how successful GM was with all their designs and accomplishments, having little to no experience in building locomotives from the start. All whlie manufacturing all their own diesel engines, electrical systems and components in house. Quite an accomplishments in and of itself. They are quietly credited for the first successful diesel electric car body design and maintained that status for decades before succeeding to GE. Eventhough they are responsible for single handedly killing steam, one needs to give them credit for their contributions and accomplishments for the role they played in bringing us in to the modern age for not only America but the entire world, using American ingenuity and innovations in their designs in producing a locomotive of superior quality and excellence with their can do attitude, dogged determination, and hard work. The literal definition of the American dream. It's an art form in and of itself inspired by necessity and the desire to help make this a better world for everyone. It makes one wonder how all of this success could ever fail or how or where the desire for such inspiration for all their accomplishments was allowed to fail. The fact that a lot of these locomotives are still in service today is a testament to just how good and reliable their designs are because of their dedication to producing a superior rugged, powerful, dependable, and efficient locomotive. I wonder if Ford and Chrysler were ever aware of the irony that it was likely a GM locomotive that was responsible for bringing their products to market. Something that can only happen in America. Where have all the great American inovators gone with thier dedication to excellence? Perhaps they have just been derailed onto the wrong track. It was GM that designed and developed diesel electric technologies back in the 30s before there were electric cars without the aid of AI or computer technology. So it's nothing new today. They are just using batteries for the power supply instead of an internal combustion engine. There's nothing new to see here. All old technology repackaged as something new but not necessarily better. Although a start in a new direction, what we need is real innovation. We have access to computers and AI but still no real new innovation. Is it possible there's nothing new and better left to discover?
They are awesome locomotives for sure. SRY really seems to love them. They are ideal road switchers.
@boomerdioramas My vote is definitely in favor of the low hood design. The high hood is just not that inspiring unless you're Steven Spielberg. It looks like it was the inspiration for the Star Wars sand crawler. The Geeps were inspired by the Alco RS-1 and later the RS-3. The Geeps were the do-all be-all workhorse locomotives. Both manufacturers should be credited for their design innovations. They just have that it factor and are both handsome practical designs. One can't look away as if they're some kind of mechanical thundering dinosaur.
I believe Rapido Trains is producing a GP-9 with Slug as well in HO Scale. ;-)@@DRCRailroard
@boomerdioramas Thanks, Boomer, for posting the video of the low hood GP-9. I really enjoyed seeing it in the low hood version. I had to do a double take as it's not a common version one ever gets to see around here. Being a lifetime resident from Kansas, I'm not familiar with the SRY. What short line is this?
@Boomer .. Hey Boomer , I remember as a child when SRY link was BCH , British Columbia Hydro RR and spending hours watching trains where I lived at that time by Sears an Kelly Douglas in south Burnaby , Now Metrotown. Riding my bike on Saturdays down the tracks to Nwest an there near Scott paper where the yard is by the Queensborough bridge , and all along front street chasing trains on my bike..
CP would come down Across the Bridge in NWest and down below the parkade and along front street past the old station ( later became a Keg restaurant I think ) I knew some of the crews and would chain up my bicycle hop aboard , and back then taking autoracks out to Annacis Island , it was amazing as a child to spend much of a Saturday afternoon on this trip switching cars there . Then on return , jumping off the moving locomotives at 14 was still scary while it was moving at just a few mph ....
Back in the late 70s early 80s ,Near every night BCH would come up the hill to Sears ,Kelly Douglas/Nabob , to switch out cars I lived right at Telford & Beresford st , as soon as I heard the two SW1000s or 1200s rumbling up the hill I was out the door chasing trains .... I can still hear them in my memories , great times to grow up with freedoms , railfans can only dream of these days .
Cheers , love fallowing your layout and your teachings ... thanks for sharing and bringing back childhood memories ...
Yes indeed. Those days were cool. As a kid, I would watch them down at the Kitsilano Wye, and the swing bridge that crossed False Creek under the Burrard Bridge. They also had a "burn" track there where they torched the old Interurban cars (B.C. Electric) to recover the steal for salvage. Sad in a way but great memories of the old BC Hydro Rail for sure. Cheers.
It’s interesting to see the 112 having the Zero Emissions badge on it. I have found photos of it being down here in Idaho in the early 90’s. The gal was being leased to Idaho Northern and Pacific Railroad until they received all of their roster of GP35’s and GP40’s.
Wow! That is cool. The GP9's are not SRY original equipment in terms of the former BCHR, therefore I don't know their history well, but thanks for sharing that.😁
Sometimes the best inspiration and ideas about how to model is just go and look!
It sure is!😁
Fantastic video. GP9 is definitely a work horse for sure. Thanks for sharing.
😁👍
I am sure those that like to weather their locomotives us a picture to work from. I know I have 150 pictures of locos myself, but just want to say Thanks for doing that!! I don't plan on doing a SRY loco but the same weathering places work with any GP9. I have in the past halted a live shot of the SD35's in one of your Vlogs snapped a picture on the computer screen to do a SD 35 I had. Too cool!!
That sounds cool. I have an SD-35 on the backburner. Problem is I am swamped with building the layout.
Great close-up video, I especially like the subject matter! You don’t see many of these around anymore!
SRY Rail Link seems to really like them. They have at least half a dozen on their roster.
I understand that with the absorption of the MRL back into BNSF, SRY may wind up with one of our local stars, GP9 MRL 109, a 1952 graduate of EMD, and today a favorite of the Helena locals (paired with an SD40 or MRL 250) and long-time yard switcher in Helena.
That sounds cool. I am in the process of stripping an SD-35 (Atlas) for my layout. It was adopted from MRL as well. I will probably paint it with the "Meatball" and pair it up with an SD-38AC. 😉
Good looking power, I loved running geeps .
You asked about modeling a yard throat. My idea going forward is an engine house shelf layout. As I stated before my first module is nearly done . Locomotives we're my working life, modeling an engine facility is my retirement pastime.
Your videos are a great incentive and thought provoking series. Thank you for sharing so we can learn to create our dreams.
Cheers
Thanks for sharing. Always nice to hear from railroaders. Have fun with your build! Cheers ~ Boomer.😁
Awesome video! Up close and personal, a great way to get emotional with your modeling.not only with the “ stars of the layout “ but with unsung and real surrounding details that ultimately make the difference in the model.
Hey Spencer! Nice to hear from you! Thank you ~ Boomer.
I can't wait to see more videos one your locomomotive roster. On my drawing that I have, my place where I'll keep mine will be in a pocket track. I've also have planned to have the sanding tower located there.. Instead of using an old two bay covered hopper for the transport and and storage for the sand, I'll be using a pnumatic dry bulk trailer for the sand.
Keep those videos coming, you keep my days more enjoyable and temporarily forgetting about the pain I'm in.
Does the SRY still roster the GMD-1s and the SD38's? And will you be modeling any of those two models?
Sounds great. Thanks for sharing!👍
No GMD-1's. They pulled them from the roster. They still use the SD-38's. I do have one SD-38AC (# 381). I do plan to model more of the roster but really bogged down with building the layout.@@bradleyogden5688
Great stuff Boomer and I agree that the Geep may well be the GOAT of all locomotives.
They are awesome workhorse locomotives to say the least.😁
Thanks for posting, I wish I could capture the prototype up close here in Upper Michigan. They pass through unannounced. Will you elaborate on yard throat modeling...?
The throat encompasses departure/arrival turnouts and tracks. Most people just model a main line and a yard lead. Yard throats have a unique look and track configuration to them. They make for interesting display modules or smaller shelf layouts if you model them compressed in length. Especially if you don't have a large space. You can pretend the yard is off layout staging, etc.
Thank you Boomer! These are my favorite locomotives. Like you, I hope to model several of them. In N scale, it means making them from scratch, including the frame and the mechanic. Only high-nose models are available in 1:160, with too many cogs in the aforesaid nose to create a low-nose version. But for now, I'm drawing some blueprints to scracthbuilt a couple of SRY vans. Have you considered to build one of them?
I have, but I am swamped with the layout.
For your next break, maybe. ;)
I finished my layout [insert here the usual disclaimer here about finished layouts] so, yeah, I have more time to work on rolling stock now.
If by any chance you find one of the vans during your rail-fanning, I'm sure your channel will like a video like the one about the Geeps. ;)
I'd love to show you how our layouts differ while we have the same subject/place! You've been of great help all along. Thank you again sir!
Very good detail video. Interesting to note the rails are grey with a hint of brown on the detail shots, rather than an orange brown as on the moving loco clips. Maybe this is recently maintained track, or maybe brake dust ( although I would expect brake dust to be rusty coloured )?
They work these GP9's pretty hard so they weather fast.
Thanks for this!! It gives me some great ideas for a few projects. I am wrapping my head around the zero emissions logo on one of the locomotives. I had a little chuckle when I saw the Dummy stencilling under the ditch lights! Are they using a different fuel or would that one be a slug? I am going to stick brooms and shovels on my switchers! I now have a reason to go one step further and do grab irons!
I believe it's a type of slug that runs on Hydrogen (experimental).
GP9s are how a diesel locomotive looks in your mind. Form over function 👍🚂🇨🇦🙋
😁
It appears that the knuckle of the coupler on 112 was drilled with several holes at some point. Not sure what the purpose of the holes would be, but would be an interesting oddity to model.
Wow! Good observation.😁
Any idea what the orange boxes are on #135 just behind the cab?
Thanks for the walk-a-round, there are some neat details to consider.
FYI I heard you are getting a new train shop in Langley.
Not totally sure. At first I thought they were speakers for the dedicated classification yard switching. Just a guess though and not sure to be honest.
Looks like they converted the one marked zero emissions into a slug. This mother/slug set is a way a lot of railroads like to switch yards since the movements are all at yard speeds where the extra horsepower for speed is not as much of a factor.
They usually use the six-axles (SD 35, 38's) for road power, except they prefer the four-axles for locals on the tighter turnouts. Less wear and tear on the points, frogs, etc. due to tighter radius. At least that is what an engineer told me some time ago.😉
That's a GP9 I must be used to seeing them in High hood form I guess they got chopped noses later on in life unless they made them with short hoods
These ones came from Montana Rail Link via other Short-Line Railroads. They make great Class 2 Road switchers and the four - axles (two axle trucks) are easy on the turnouts. ;-)
@@boomerdiorama I plan on getting one for my layout which is set in the mid 50s so a GP9 would fit nice on it any company recommendations as of model train manufacturers I'm gonna make it into a Central of Georgia engine so Id have to modify some stuff anyways
I didn't know EMD made "dummy" units. 🙂
You will see a little bit of everything with SRY Rail Link. They also restore other locomotives, etc., etc.😁
Do you work for SRY? I work for them.... Do I know you? haha
No. I have followed this railroad since the seventies. Long before it was SRY. I met the owner several times in the nineties. I used to go down to the "Trapp" yard shops all the time before the pandemic when there were less restrictions. Now I just see them at locations etc. Cheers.
Thanks Boomer. ❤
You are welcome!