Introduction

Athearn Genesis G1491 HO Scale EMD GP7u Central Kansas Railway CKRY 701 DC

In 1949, EMD introduced the GP7. The basic design followed most diesel switchers with the addition of a short hood instead of an end-cab. The hoods were also full height to better accommodate the diesel engine and mechanical and electrical components.

Many railroads chose to rebuild their GP7s and GP9s for continued service. Often times, it was cheaper to do this rather than purchasing brand-new locomotives. Some railroads adopted a GP7R or GP7u designation to indicate a rebuilt unit.

Santa Fe began a program in its Cleburne, TX shops to rebuild GP7s. The program was started in 1972. The high short hoods were chopped down, dynamic brakes deactivated (if present) and in some cases new cabs were installed. The prime movers were upgraded with new components. The upgraded geeps gave long service and many lasted through the BNSF merger.

FEATURES:

• Non-dynamic
• 4 exhaust stacks
• Leslie S-3L-R horn with bracket
• #701 Ex-ATSF GP7 #2652 / GP7u #2179. Cab-mounted headlight, large firecracker antenna and ground plane, roof-mounted air tanks
• Coupler cut levers
• Drop steps unless noted
• Nub style walkway tread
• Lift rings
• Windshield wipers
• Roof access hatches on non-dynamic units per prototype
• Detailed fuel tank with fuel fillers, fuel gauges, breather pipes, and retention tanks
• Blomberg-B trucks with appropriate bearing caps
• See-through cab windows and full cab interior
• Etched metal radiator intake grilles and fan grilles
• Body-mounted McHenry scale knuckle couplers – Kadee compatible
• Scaled from prototype resources including drawings, field measurements, photographs, and more
• Genesis driveline with 5-pole skew wound motor, precision machined flywheels, and multi-link drivetrain
• All-wheel electrical pickup provides reliable current flow
• LED Lighting for realistic appearance
• Trainline and MU hoses
• MU stands
• Windshield wiper
• Wire grab irons
• Sander lines
• Bell placement & type per prototype
• Speed recorder unless noted or shown elsewhere
• Fine-scale Celcon handrails for scale appearance
• Air tanks mounted below sill unless noted
• DCC-ready features Quick Plug plug-and-play technology with 21-pin NEM connector
• Accurately painted and printed paint schemes
• All-wheel drive with precision gears for smooth & quiet operation
• Wheels with RP25 contours operate on all popular brands of track
• Heavy die-cast frame for greater traction and more pulling power
• Packaging securely holds for the model for safe storage
• Minimum radius: 18