GP35s Union Pacific had a small original group of GP35s. 740-761 were delivered between May and July 1964. 762 and 763 arrived on the property in May, 1964, but had been built as EMD demonstrators 5652 and 5654 in July and August, 1963. They had been built to accompany the EMD DD35 demonstrators 5653 and 5655, which also went to UP. The ex-demonstrators, due to their earlier build dates, were Phase Ia GP35s. The production order were Phase 1b, A Phase Ia GP35 has more latches in the hood doors, and it has a different style grille covering the engine air intake. The 23 original UP units lived uneventful lives in the general freight pool and were retired by UP in the mid-1980s. Western Pacific acquired 22 GP35s in three orders. 3001-3010 were built by EMD in November and December 1963. 3011-3012 were built by EMD in November 1964 as wreck replacements for an F7 and GP20 lost while running on the SP. 3013-3022 were built by EMD in April 1965. WP 3007, 3011, 3016, and 3021 were wrecked and scrapped as WP units prior to 1980. WP 3018 apparently was wrecked and scrapped subsequent to that time. WP units differed in appearance from UP units primarily due to WP's former use of a steam style headlight. This resulted in the headlight area between the numberboards over the cab front being wider than on GP35s of other railroads. The rear headlight was mounted in a unique, barrel shaped extension from the rear hood. By the time of merger with the Union Pacific in 1982, the WP had also sent the GP35s for rebuilding to GP40-2 standards (although horsepower was not increased). The external evidence of this was an air conditioner mounted on the cab roof and a nose-mounted rotating warning light. Following the merger, WP 3001-3022 were renumbered UP 782-799. At this time, UP was retiring its original GP35s. The long hood from one, 763, was used to rebuild 798 following a wreck; the cab from an MP GP38-2 was also used in this rebuild. The warning light on the nose of the ex-WP units was blanked out by the UP as the units were shopped and repainted, but the air conditioner was retained. The ex-WP GP35s were the last UP GP35s in service, being retired in the early 1990s. In general, a UP GP35 with smaller hood lettering and a slogan on the cab side would be from the 740-762 series. Large hood lettering and shields on the cab side were applied to some of the 740-762 units and all of the 782-799 series of ex-WP units. The 740-762 series was delivered with horns mounted above the radiator cooling fans on the rear of the unit. They acquired warning beacons on the cab tops about 1970. About 1980, the horns on UP units were relocated to the cab roof front. At the same time, canvas cab window sunshades were replaced by trapezoidal metal sunshades. If you are modeling one of the 740-762 series, you should check photos to determine exact details on these units. Missouri Pacific acquired 50 GP35s either as MP or Texas and Pacific units. Following the splitup of the Chicago and Eastern Illinois between the MP and the Louisville and Nashville, 18 C&EI units went to the MP, officially as Texas and Pacific units. The ex-C&EI units had dynamic brakes; MP units did not. Following the UP-MP merger in 1982, MP GP35s continued to operate in MP lettering and in the MP 2500 and 2600 series. No ex-MP units were renumbered or relettered UP. MP 2603 and 2606 were repainted yellow and gray but retained MP numbers and lettering. UP leased the ex-MP GP35s to other railroads, including those in Mexico, and sold them or traded them in during the mid 1980s. Southern Pacific had a small number of GP35s remaining at the time of merger with UP. These continued in use lettered and numbered as Southern Pacific units for a short time following the merger, but were removed from service as quickly as conditions would allow and were not relettered or renumbered for UP. HO Scale Model GP35s Athearn Athearn introduced an HO scale GP35 in the early 1960s soon after the prototype was introduced. While acceptable for its time, its hoods are about a scale foot too wide. Prior to the introduction of better-quality GP35 models, some modelers went to considerable lengths to correct the model's deficiences. However, this is no longer necessary, and the Athearn model is probably no longer an option for new "hobby quality" purchases. Bachmann Plus Bachmann offers a GP35 painted for the UP. This is an inexpensive but acceptable low-end model. It does have some dimensional inaccuracies. Kato Kato introduced a GP35 in the early 1990s. The model has been offered in Phase Ia and Phase Ib variations, painted and lettered for the UP with correct numbers for each phase. While relatively expensive, the model is the best currently available, and painted versions can be made into good UP units with the addition of aftermarket detail parts, additional decals for numberboard numbers, builders plates, etc., and paint touchup. Rail Power Products Rail Power Products makes a basic GP35 plastic shell and a die-cast frame. With aftermarket parts, the RPP shell and frame can be used to build a model as basic or as detailed as the modeler chooses. However, the parts provided with the RPP shell will provide only a very basic model, which must be painted when complete. RPP shells are increasingly used as bases for adding extensive aftermarket detail, which often results in a model expensive both in cash outlay and modeler time. An RPP shell could also be used for upgrading an existing Athearn model. References Cockle, George. Union Pacific 1990. Halifax, PA: Withers Publishing, 1991. ISBN 0-9618503-8-8 EuDaly, Kevin. Missouri Pacific Diesel Power. Kansas City, MO: White River Productions, 1994. ISBN 0-89745-99-1 Strack, Don, and Dover, Dan. Union Pacific Railroad All-time Roster. Extra 2200 South Issue 68 (April, May, June 1979) pp. 20-25. Strapac, Joseph. Western Pacific's Diesel Years. Muncie, IN: Overland Models, 1980. ISBN 0-916160-08-4