Looking for NYC GP35 details

[amrec99]

All,

I am researching details for Kato HO scale Gp35's.  I can't find a good description with photos detailing the equipment on the short hood nose on the engineer's side.  I see pics and assume it is some sort of cab signaling device.  I also notice that the last GP 35 6155/2399 was a demonstrator for the 1964 world's fair and had dynamic brakes with the bell in the normal position on the left side underframe unlike the others NYC had on the left side hood up high near the top of the long hood.

Are there any docs or pdfs to help with this? Or are there any detail parts (HO scale) that are available?


Thanks in advance.

[The Ferro Kid]

The NYC Historical Society Archive has dozens of GP35 photos. There may be something helpful there:

nycshs.omeka.net/search?query=Gp35&query_type=keyword&record_types%5B%5D=Item&submit_search=Search

[fishbelly]

First I need to ask how accurate do you want to model this NYC GP35?

- Prototype Model it.
- Close enough.
- Have fun with adding a few details.

Also, which order of NYC GP35's are you wanting to build? Visible differences are location of bell and tall MU receptical. Also, first order does not have a visible ATS generator on the nose.

The major parts you want or need, are currently not available. At least on the open market.

The part you see on the right side of the nose is an ATS generator. Athearn does have that parts, but they are not selling it. You would also need the ATS journal shoe. Athearn does sell that part. Ans lastly you would need the ATS pickup cylinder that sits under the side sill. Nobody offers that part on the open market. Now those parts are available on the black market. 

When building any NYC EMD hood unit that uses the ATS generator, you have to move the side grab and nose grab forward of the generator. NYC GP35's are fairly standard. The features you see on these models are pretty much all you need to add to create a NYC GP35. I did not bother to fiddle around with the tread plate. The Kato model is wrong for all GP35's. It should have a cross pattern tread plate. Again, available on the black market.

Now the ex demonstrator model is a little different. It is a phase Ia1 so you would need to build short inertial intakes. The feature that makes it stand out is the large bolted panel on the right side of the generator compartment. Again, available on the black market. You see, when on display at the Worlds Fair. The generator compartment was cut open and a piece of plexiglass bolted over it for your viewing pleasure. When this unit was sold. EMD did not weld a new panel over the opening. They simply bolted a plate of steel over it. So you have a shorter version of the standard small bolted plate and a large bolted plate abutted to it. Any model that does not have this feature is simply a stand in and not a prototype model. The NYC Historical Society does have a photo of this unit in NYC paint. I bought is a number of months ago when I was doing research on NYC GP35's. I have a model started of this unit.

Model of 2371 is a phase Ia1 and represents a unit from NYC initial order. It has a short inertial intake screen. Bell under the frame and although you cannot see it, a tall MU stand. This order does not have the ATS generator.







Model of 2378 is a phase Ib4. I do not know exactly what order this unit is from. The features are more of what we would consider your "standard" NYC GP35 look. Bell located on the side of the hood. ATS generator on the right side of the short hood. Nose grabs moved forward of ATS generator. Standard low MU stand.




Brian

[ChessieFan1978]

While Not in NYC paint here is the ONLY New York Central GP35 with dynamic brakes. (Ex- PC #2399, Ex-NYC #6155, nee EMDX #5561, EMD #1964). Now Conrail #2399


Conrail GP35 #2399 by Matt Fisher, on Flickr

Conrail GP35 #2399 by Matt Fisher, on Flickr

[cpr4200]

The "black market" ATS equipment mentioned was made by Custom Finishing by Bob Rzasa (sp?). Successor Custom Finishes has an ATS set, but the generator is not included because, I've heard, the tooling was lost when the company changed hands.

A 3D printed ATS set is available on Shapeways: www.shapeways.com/product/J4MQX74HX/ats-set?optionId=65375160&li=marketplace

The generator seems a little large to me. The best NYCHS archive photos that show the ATS generator are in the Erie-Built photos, which show it mounted inside the carbody. Being inside, the equipment is painted gray and shows the details well.

[fishbelly]

No, "Black Market" is my parts. A friend of mine bought out the Athearn stock of ATS generators. He loaned me one to have it cast. I cast 100 of them and gave I think 25 to my friend. So I should have around 74 of them left because I used one. That is what you see on my model in my photo above. I cannot sell these because they are a copy of the Athearn part. That would be stealing or something like that.

Oh, one other thing that makes it a NYC model is when the ATS generator is moved to the nose, the battery box catch is extended out from the side of the hood and moved to the rear latch. TO do this I shaved the catch off the side of a Cannon and Co. nose piece and glued two extensions onto it.

Brian

[dtinut]

IIRC - MikeRoseHobbies used to offer the NYC ATS or Generator.

www.mrhobby.com/store.php/MikeRoseHobbies/pg10096/resin-detail-parts

[cpr4200]

The generator shown on the Geep in the Mike Rose photo is the Custom Finishing part. Mike only makes the two parts shown in gray.

[amrec99]

All, thanks for the great information. I have learned a great deal and will be reaching out to several of you to learn how I may acquire the parts you mentioned.

Fishbelly, did you use a commercial part for the extended height MU stand for the 2369-2371 GP35s or did you kitbash? Also, how did you replace the railing to match the NYC style? Is there a youtube video you have I could watch?

Thanks again, guys.

Happy holidays.

[12bridge]

The various NYC ATS parts are on "my list" but I do not have a timeline for them. Likely not until atleast spring.

I have a few flavors of 35 line style MU equipment in the que, probably a February release for those.

[fishbelly]

Dec 24, 2023 9:15:35 GMT -8 amrec99 said:

All, thanks for the great information. I have learned a great deal and will be reaching out to several of you to learn how I may acquire the parts you mentioned.

Fishbelly, did you use a commercial part for the extended height MU stand for the 2369-2371 GP35s or did you kitbash? Also, how did you replace the railing to match the NYC style? Is there a youtube video you have I could watch?

Thanks again, guys.

Happy holidays.

The tall MU stand is a 3D print.
The railing is a piece of 0.025" diameter bronze wire from Tichy. Cut the chain off, drill the stanchion and add in the bronze wire.
No, no video.

Brian