Gregg Fuhriman HO ATSF GP30u 2711

ATSF GP30u 2711
I built this model circa 1990 to complement the GP35u I built around the same time.
This was a Front Range product that paired a beefy drive with a Bachmann shell.
I donated this loco for use on a holiday-themed layout built by the
Carquinez Model Railroad Society club for the San Francisco public library.

This unit represents an early-1980's GP30u with intake shields behind the cab and exhaust lifters on the top, scratch-built from sheet styrene.
I built this model many years ago, before my more methodical research and modeling skills developed. So 2711 has at least one major
inaccuracy - it still has a "V" profile windshield. But it does have the correct horn cluster and reworked fuel filler/cutoff brackets.
More recently, I built a new GP30u, unit 2728, with a "flat-profile" windshield and many other improvements.

Below: I opened up the 48" fan housings and installed fans made from Athearn semi-truck wheel hubs and styrene-strip
blades. The grills are an etched brass product from Detail Associates. The 36" fan is a Precision Scale part.

Left: The front received Details West
and Detail Associates ATSF-specific
details typical of the early 1980's.
The cab-side mirrors were hand-made
from styrene and brass wire.

Right: The rear received the usual
upgrades - drop grabs, drop steps,
coupler lift bar, MU receptacle and
air hoses. Campbell scale chain was
installed on the handrail openings.

Below: Photos of Santa Fe GP30u 2711 seem to be quite rare
for whatever reason. This is the only one I found, excerpted
from a larger image found on the internet. Note the exhaust
lifters, intake shields, horn cluster, and flat-profile windshield.

Below: Here's a sharper photo of sister unit 2710. Note it has
no smoke lifters or intake shields. 2710 is one of the few Santa Fe
GP30's to keep the original "V" profile windshield, "split" horn
arrangement, and large fuel filler/cutoff brackets below the sidesills.