my ESPEE MODELERS ARCHIVE

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

Southern Pacific B39-8

Modeling the B39-8 is fairly easy now that Walthers has a RTR B40-8 and Atlas has released a B40-8 RTR model in the all three major modeling scales.

There _appears_ to be minor detail differences from the B40-8. Studying photo's of the units I came up with the following differences:

• The B39-8 has the rear sandfill on top behind the radiators - not in the notch below the rear headlight.
• The B39-8 has the sideframes as supplied with the RPP B40-8 kit.
• The B40-8 should use DA 3507 FB-2 Phase II sideframes.

  From a letter in 'Safety Valve' June 1994 RMC:

• Anti-climber profiles can vary between 'orders'
• And watch for the style of Numberboard numbers.

Modeling choices at the moment are:

• For N Scale:
  • Atlas has released a B40-8 that can be backdated.

• For HO Scale:
  • Atlas has released a B40-8 that can be backdated.
  • Rail Power Products makes a Dash8-40B shell/chassis kit that can be backdated.
  • Walthers makes a Dash8-40B that can also be backdated.

• For S Scale:
  • ?

• For O Scale:
  • Atlas 'O'

References:

• Model Railroader, Apr, '89, Page 86, - has a set of plans for the B40-8.
• Railroad Model Craftsman, Jan '94 Page 71. - Dash 8-40B Plans.
• Railroad Model Craftsman, Jan '94 Page 87. - Modeling both the SP B39-8 and SSW B40-8.