my ESPEE MODELERS ARCHIVE

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

Southern Pacific
Passenger GP9/GP9R's

see the SP GP9 Overview for Magazine/Book References and available models.

see also: Nelson Kennedy's kitbash of a HO Scale passenger GP9

Model References:

• Prototype Modeler February 1979 pages 6 - 10 - History of SP commute service GP9's
• Prototype Modeler February 1979 pages 11 - 23 - Modeling SP commute service GP9's
• Model Railroader Oct. 1983, page 156 - MR Clinic on SP Passenger Geeps.

Modeling choices at the moment are:

• For Z Scale:
  • ? :-)

• For N Scale:
  • Arnold once made a GP7/9
  • Atlas have released a GP9 in Black Widow paint.
  • Atlas have released a Passenger GP9 aka "Torpedo Boat"
  • LifeLike made a GP18 that could be backdated,
    • and will likely make an N Scale GP9

• For HO Scale:
  • Athearn unit has a GP7 and a 'fatso', ( but if your not fussy, it's a proven unit), that could be modified.
  • Front Range GP9's are still available from various suppliers. Trains Unlimited with Athearn compatible chassis, and Proto-Power West are two that I know of.
  • E & C Shops have released their Phase II and III GP9's - see January Model Railroader page 170.
  • A LifeLike GP18 can be backdated to a GP9 - parts from Detail Assoc. and Train Station Products are available.
  • LifeLike has released a Southern Pacific GP9 in in Blood Nose paint,
    and now announced a Cotton Belt unit in Black Widow.
  • Atlas has released their GP7, it could be reworked to a GP9.

• For S Scale:
  • American Flyer
  • American Models perhaps a GP9

• For O Scale:
  • Red Caboose made a GP9, and available in Black Widow.
  • Lionel in 1996 and 1998 made a GP9 in Black Widow paint.

Lionel information kindly supplied by Britt Johnson

Additional N Scale Model Info supplied by John Barnhill