Nothing like riding in the cab of a GP9 with a super Friendly Engineer.

He's having a good day.

scale rail posted:

He really is a great guy, this is his happy face. Don

scale rail posted:

He really is a great guy, this is his happy face. Don

This is definitely a GP7.

Notice the cab lights mounted on the rear wall.  Below the lights are the cab heaters and their rotary snap switches, which blew warm air on the necks of those seated in the cab (a perfect setup for a nap, either unintentional or intentional.  One of the pair of gauges above the first aid kit shows Control Air.  The large contactors, the reverser drum, and the dynamic brake contactors were opened and closed by compressed air cylinders, and that gauge showed whether there was enough air pressure to operate the contactors -- absolutely essential to operation.

GP9's had overhead cab lights and heaters mounted ahead of the cab seats, both of which were improvements.

I love seeing this old technology in your photos, Don.  It takes me back in time to the days of a flat stomach and dark hair, when one's railroad skills required knowledge, instead of training and a process (as did photography).  Thanks for posting.  And I like the Engineer's happy face, haha.

Riding in a first generation ALCO S-1 switcher (1940 vintage) on the Big South Fork Scenic Railway with a super friendly crew a couple of decades ago was very similar to your experience. Cab had a beaded board ceiling, and the engine had that inimitable ALCO whine! SORRY, no photos.

OOPS! Good eye, Ameen!  ☺

Tom, it's great having a real engineer on this forum. Thank you. This day was one of the best ever of the years we filmed the 2472. Matt (BOIN106) of this forum was doing sound. We were filming brake tests with the 2472 and the only place for us was ridding the top of the tender.  John the fireman thought it would be great fun to smoke us. We were covered with smoke, that's why we road back in the GP7. Don

This is the GP7 we were riding back in. It says so right above the GP7 sign in the cab. Thanks Ameen, good thing I'm a sharp eyed camera guy. Western Pacific 713. Niles also has another GP-?. that's beautiful. I'm not sure what model it is so I’m keeping my mouth shut. Maybe Tom knows.

Don

Note: This time I looked up the SP engine. It’s an SD9.

Looks like you sat on his lunch!

Just a part of our continuing education program...

There are no dashes in EMD diesel model numbers. The engine in this thread is a GP7, not a GP-7.

The only place where EMD used dashes in their model numbers was in the “Dash 2” series, as in SD40-2, or GP40-2.

Thanks teacher, what do I know, I just play with toy trains. I thought it was kind of like a DC-3. Thanks for clearing it up. Don

Miss the old Geeps. Thankful I was in them/ran them during revenue service for their original owners and ran survivors during my final full time years.

My first time in the seat of a GP7. All I had in my stash was a horrible old Argus snap shot camera:

I've had nearly a life long love affair for EMD's GP7's (and 9's). Tough, dependable, and that roots blower sounded oh so sweet.

Andre

scale rail posted:

Thanks teacher, what do I know, I just play with toy trains. I thought it was kind of like a DC-3. Thanks for clearing it up. Don

OK, you are learning. Now, how about editing your title to reflect "GP7" instead of GP9?

Hot Water, you are missing the entire point of the story. It's Dave and his look not what loco is involved. Anyway I don't have time to change things with two hurricanes head our way. Don