GEC's Duff Challenge

[Green_Elite_Cab]

Looks wise how is this different from a regular GP40?

Since these locomotives are derived from GP40s, they ARE similar in style and mechanical design. In fact, to be fair, almost everything in front of the radiators is exactly the same as a regular GP40 (except of course the continuation of the flared dynamic brake blister).

However, approaching the rear, its a totally different beast.

A quick list of the main differences:

1. GP40Ps are Much longer- though only slightly shorter than an SD45 coupler-to-coupler, the GP40P's body itself is longer than the SD45's body.

2. Flared Radiators- Again, similar to the SD45, it has the flared radiators (indeed, an SD45 could also arguably make a good starting point for this project, body wise). The GP40X had flared radiators as well, however, those radiators, and the doors below them do not match, and one would not be saving much time using that model as a starting point.

3. Steam generator housing- Not as obvious when the locomotive is running shorthood forward, but the blunt end of the GP40P's steam generator housing definitely stands out when the locomotives run "long hood front", as they freqently did.

4. Rear "ladder" steps- the rear pilots on these are a little unusual, since the steam generator housing takes up just about the entire rear platform, with only the extra added area of the anticlimber permitting you to walk around the long hood. Because of this, the rear steps are also weird, looking more like a ladder than a typical GP40 step.


A decent broadside view of 4103



A standard GP40 for reference



A 1979 photo of #4108, running longhood forward



Another good photo of the GP40P in action in 1979 at Elizabeth, NJ. Though it looks like a close race (and technically, the Arrow III MU is capable of higher performance), the GP40P is almost certainly going to overtake the MU cars in seconds. Other than Newark Penn station, these locomotives ran non-stop on the Northeast Corridor towards the un-electrified stations beyond South Amboy, NJ. This picture shows what I'm all about in an overall modeling sense. All its missing is some Amtrak and Conrail.