 A photo of UP |
In the meantime, UP ordered standard GP30s. These arrived as follows:
800-830 July and August 1962. 831-874 August-October 1962 700-709 February and March 1963 710-734 March 1963 735 June 1963 (built as a wreck replacement for an F9Am)
Then UP began ordering unique GP30Bs, which arrived as follows:
700B-706B April and May 1963 707B-726B May and June 1963 727B-739B June and July 1963
727B-739B were equipped with steam generators. Since some of the F3Bs and F7Bs that were traded in on GP30s had steam generators, this was the UP's answer to the continued need for some steam generator-equipped dual service units. For a time after delivery, these units could be seen trailing E8s and E9s on secondary passenger and mixed trains, as well as on mail and express trains where steam heat was needed for the rider coaches.
All UP's GP30s except the "unphased" preproduction 875 were Phase II units. A Phase II GP30 has the cab side extended on the fireman's side to allow for a brakeman's seat. The GP30Bs, without cabs and with other distinctive and unique body features, are also unphased.
UP's GP30s operated system wide. However, the rail industry's preference changed to six-axle units for many types of service in the mid-1960s, and GP30s were downgraded fairly soon to branch, local, and yard service, where they remained until the late 1980s, outlasting both GP20s and UP's original GP35s (but not the ex-WP units). The B units, with less flexibility, were retired earlier.
GP30s painted for Southern Pacific and Denver and Rio Grande Western lasted long enough to operate after the Union Pacfic merger, were moved to the Los Angeles area, and operated until about 1998. However, none was repainted or renumbered for UP. All Chicago and North Western GP30s were retired prior to the merger with Union Pacific.
GP30s were hard to model until the mid-1990s, but with the release of the Spectrum and Proto 2000 models, there are now acceptable and very good choices, respectively, on the market. There is still no easy way to model a GP30B in plastic, however, since no conversion kit has been released, and the GP30B's details differ extensivly from the high-hood version of the GP30, which might logically be considered a near-relative.
Athearn
Athearn introduced a plastic GP30 about 1962. This had a metal geared chassis and followed Athearn design principles of the era, including a hood that was a scale foot too wide. In addition, the fairing above the cab, exhaust, and dynamic brake area was incorrectly proportioned. While acceptable for the time, other features like the handrails and the truck sideframes are now considered very crude. The GP30 tooling was re-used to produce the Athearn GP35 within a short period of time, so that Athearn GP30s are uncommon. While one may be found at a swap meet, its collector value is most likely greater than its value as a scale model locomotive.
Lionel
In the early 1970s, Lionel made a second effort to enter the HO market, this time with a GP30. The body of this loco was done to a very high standard for the time, but the chassis was a typical cheap 1970s effort with a pancake motor driving one power truck. It appears that Lionel dropped the effort to enter HO before very many of these locos had been produced, and the tooling was apparently later sold to Bachmann. Lionel GP30 bodies turn up from time to time at swap meets. While the Lionel model had a scale hood width and much better proportions than the Athearn version, a problem with the Lionel body was the lack of rivets on the roof access plates. Other issues with the body will be discussed under Spectrum.
Before the arrival of the Spectrum and Proto 2000 models, the best way to power a Lionel GP30 body was to use an Athearn GP35 chassis with slight modifications. Proto Power West offered a chassis with can motor and added weight with these modifications already made.
Proto 2000
Proto 2000 issued a GP30 in 1999. This is a Phase II version suitable for UP 800-874 and 700-734, and it is the best GP30 to date, without the fan spacing problem of the Lionel and Spectrum models. As long as the Proto 2000 units continue to be available, they are by far the best choice for HO modelers. An article covering UP-specific detail for this model is in the Picariello reference below.
Spectrum
It appears that Bachmann acquired the tooling for the Lionel GP30 and issued a much-improved model under its Spectrum brand in the early 1990s. This has a metal chassis with 8-wheel flywheel drive. This model has been issued in the Union Pacific "We Can Handle It" scheme, with typically thick Bachmann/Spectrum paint. If this is in fact the Lionel tooling, Bachmann added rivets to the access plates on the roof. However, a bigger defect with the tooling was incorrect spacing on the radiator fans. Viewed from the side, the radiator fans extend beyond either end of the radiator air intake grille. While this discrepancy is not a show-stopper in itself, it should help a modeler in a choice between the Spectrum and Proto 2000 versions. The Spectrum model also suffers from a problem common to other Bachmann and Spectrum diesels, the difficulty of mounting Kadee couplers. Finally, the Spectrum model is noisy and somewhat fast in its speed range, but it will run well in multiple with other Bachmann Plus and Spectrum models.
Other
Collector brass GP30s and GP30Bs have been offered by Alco Models and Overland Models.
References:
Go back to Union Pacific locomotive details
Updated: 7th June 2000
to Donald Kinney (EMail: kinney@ndak.net)