|
|
 Posted - April 20 2007 : 7:57:29 PM
|
I was looking at Ebay when I found this:
At first I couldn't tell why it stood out, but then I looked at my CN GP-20 and figured it out. This one has grey truck frames, while mine and most of the other ones I've seen in pictures had black truck frames. I know Tyco was very inconsistent when it came to making all their engines of the same mould and paint the same (number font, etc...), but did they have any sort of system for what colour truck frames they put on? Or was there a year where Tyco switched from using black frames to using silver?
-cheez
|
Country:  Canada ~
Posts: 3445 ~
Member Since: September 22 2006 ~
Last Visit: February 24 2026
|
Alert Moderator
|
|
|
|
Posted - April 20 2007 : 8:27:25 PM
|
The style of font used for the road number on that example, is very consistent with late-production (as it were) GP20's. Compare it to the Silver Santa Fe, and BN examples, both of which appeared relatively late.
So... that very clearly means this CN GP20 has a PT drive. And ALL the PTs I have seen, have the same silver plastic for the trucks, regardless of what type of trucks (EMD Blomberg B, AAR, "Vampire", SD24) they are.
The earlier black trucks, in my experience, are always found on Mantua MU-2 motors. The EMD/Blombergs (GP20, F7/9) were available black while the AAR (Alco 430) were silver.
Note that sideframes from MU-2 vs. PT trucks are DIFFERENT lengths... so they cannot be swapped seamlessly.
Hope that info is helpful.
|
Country:  USA ~
Posts: 2175 ~
Member Since: July 15 2006 ~
Last Visit: January 31 2010
|
Alert Moderator
|
|
|
|
Posted - April 20 2007 : 8:45:18 PM
|
Yes that helps. All my engines other than this one have silver trucks, but they're all either alcos or PT engines.
You said that Tyco MU-2 frames and PT frames were different lengths. My GP-20's looks exactly like the ones in the pic from ebay except they're black. Did Tyco have two different lengths of this style of truck?
-cheez
|
|
Country: Canada ~
Posts: 3445 ~
Member Since: September 22 2006 ~
Last Visit: February 24 2026
|
Alert Moderator
|
|
|
|
Posted - April 20 2007 : 9:00:46 PM
|
My Santa Fe - Freight GP20's have Silver trucks. They are Mantua powered as are my CN ones.
-Gareth
|
|
Country: Canada ~
Posts: 4200 ~
Member Since: January 08 2006 ~
Last Visit: November 09 2021
|
Alert Moderator
|
|
|
|
Posted - April 20 2007 : 9:06:50 PM
|
Yeah... I think most of the black ones were on F-units, although I have seen a GP-20 or two with them as well.
The differences in length, are because the PT motor is actually bigger/longer with more space between the wheels, so the sideframes had to be lengthened. It's subtle but obvious when you compare them side-by-side. The Blomberg trucks look worse for this than the AAR (alco 430, Shark) trucks do.
|
|
Country: USA ~
Posts: 2175 ~
Member Since: July 15 2006 ~
Last Visit: January 31 2010
|
Alert Moderator
|
|
|
|
Posted - April 20 2007 : 9:18:27 PM
|
Hey GIC:
Don't you love how Tyco variations just keep on giving! [:D] [:D] [:D] [:D] [:D]
G.
|
|
Country: Canada ~
Posts: 4200 ~
Member Since: January 08 2006 ~
Last Visit: November 09 2021
|
Alert Moderator
|
|
Home
Forums
Events Calendar
Forum Admins & Mods
Register
