10-08-2011, 07:16 PM
I am trying to adjust my layout into the early years of the 1980s to overcome some space problems.
My problem is the possible use of Santa Fe engines for switching local industry. I need four engines to utilize all four tracks of the staging yard.
2 * CF7 (Santa Fe, NOT LAJ in the early 1980th) and one GP7u.
The fourth engine could be a GP30 or a GP7 with Billboard color scheme.
My doubt is as follows
a. The GP30 was to new and possible updated to GP30u at that time. I find lots of photos with GP30 running speedy trains over the Cajun pass after 1980. It is unlikely Santa Fe would use such a valuable engine for local switching.
b. The billboard color scheme has been replaced in 1972 with the yellowbonnet scheme. The last photo of a GP7 with the billboard color scheme I could find is dated 1978. The early 1980s might be to late for that old scheme.
What is your advise?
a. use the GP30
b. use the GP7
c. use both
d. use none of them
ps. The time frame of the early 1980s is given by the CF7 and my cars and automobiles. The CF7 fleet got on sale after 1985 and my cars and automobiles do not fit well into e.f. 1970. My be I have to take a compromise and stay with 1978 (CF7 in use and photo of GP7 with billboard scheme found)?
Thanks for your opinion
My problem is the possible use of Santa Fe engines for switching local industry. I need four engines to utilize all four tracks of the staging yard.
2 * CF7 (Santa Fe, NOT LAJ in the early 1980th) and one GP7u.
The fourth engine could be a GP30 or a GP7 with Billboard color scheme.
My doubt is as follows
a. The GP30 was to new and possible updated to GP30u at that time. I find lots of photos with GP30 running speedy trains over the Cajun pass after 1980. It is unlikely Santa Fe would use such a valuable engine for local switching.
b. The billboard color scheme has been replaced in 1972 with the yellowbonnet scheme. The last photo of a GP7 with the billboard color scheme I could find is dated 1978. The early 1980s might be to late for that old scheme.
What is your advise?
a. use the GP30
b. use the GP7
c. use both
d. use none of them
ps. The time frame of the early 1980s is given by the CF7 and my cars and automobiles. The CF7 fleet got on sale after 1985 and my cars and automobiles do not fit well into e.f. 1970. My be I have to take a compromise and stay with 1978 (CF7 in use and photo of GP7 with billboard scheme found)?
Thanks for your opinion
Reinhard