Good morning JHZ563!
For today’s SWSAT, I ran two Boston & Maine diesel switchers on my 12’-by-8’ model railroad. The larger engine, B&M GP-7 #1563, was made by MTH Premier (20-2211-1) with PS1. It appeared in the 1999 Volume 3 Catalog at an MSRP of $299.95 and was delivered in December 1999. The smaller engine, B&M GE 44-Ton #117, also was made by MTH Premier (20-20717-1) with PS3. It appeared in the 2017 Volume 1 Catalog at an MSRP of $449.95 and was delivered in July 2017. Quite a price increase from the larger engine to the smaller one!
B&M #1563 was built in February 1952, one of the second group of GP-7s (#1563 to #1571) purchased by the railroad. It was equipped for commuter service, had 1500 horsepower and was set up to run short hood forward. It was transferred to freight service in the mid-1950s.
B&M #117 was built in August 1942 at Erie, PA. It was powered by two Caterpillar V-8 diesel engines each with 180 horsepower. Its permitted maximum speed was 35 MPH. Up to its maximum operating weight of 44 tons, Federal regulations did not require it to have a fireman on board.
MELGAR
