my ESPEE MODELERS ARCHIVE

California's Railroad to the U.S. 1861 - 1996

D&RGW GP30

3001 - 3028

28 units delivered

DRGW bought two orders of GP30's #3001-3013 in 1962, and #3014-3028 in 1963.

Originally delivered in small Rio Grande lettering, some later received the larger 'billboard' lettering.

After being bumped from mainline service, they were used for locals, yard and transfer service.

Only one unit was wrecked, #3025 in 1982, this was replaced with a GP40 in 1983.

#3021-3028 were downgraded to B unit status by 1990. B units do not require working radio's, toilets etc. maintenance cost-cutting...

These units were never rebuilt, so operated in their original configuration until the end of their individual life...

Modeling choices at the moment are:

• For N Scale:
  • Arnold ?
  • Atlas ?

• For HO Scale:
  • Bachmann
  • LifeLike has released their GP30

• For S Scale:
  • ?

• For O Scale:
  • ?

Prototype References:

• SP.....into the '90's by Joe.W.Shine, Pages 138 - 141. Has photo's of these units.
• 1995 Southern Pacific Motive Power Annual by Bill Shippen.
• Southern Pacific Rails - a motive power finale by Peter Limas has a number of images and data concerning DRGW GP30's.