Hallmark Brass GP50

Although I'm currently building a pair of modern geeps using Railpower GP60 shells, I couldn't resist picking up a second-hand bargain on ebay.  This is my second brass locomotive and it is a Hallmark GP50 factory painted for Santa Fe.

 
A pretty decent model, slightly let down by the lack of see-through fans and the distinctly oversized truck gearboxes that prevent the trucks from looking properly see-through like an Athearn or Atlas as the gearbox is visible as a square shape behind the truck sides.

This model was released in the early 90's and compared to most of the models of the time it would have been very impressive.  The various road-specific details include antenna frame, air conditioner and (non-operational) rooftop beacon.  There are no air-hoses or lift rings, and the walkways do not feature etched treadplate.

I don't model SF, but I'm sure this model won't be difficult to repaint and convert into a Norfolk Southern locomotive in the black scheme.

I'd really like to add some more brass locomotives to my roster, especially an SD40 or a Dash-9, so I will continue to keep an eye out for more ebay bargains.

Brass in pocket...

I've often seen adverts or photographs of brass locomotives in magazines, almost every issue of Model Railroader features a full page spread from Overland models listing $500 EMD behemoths, but I didn't really know much about them - other than they are very expensive!

So I was intrigued when I saw an HO Sunset Models Southern Pacific GP9 listed on eBay recently, with a very low starting price.  The locomotive was clearly in need of some tlc, and didn't have a box, but seeing as it was listed low (even below the cost of a regular Athearn Blue Box) I thought it was worth taking a punt on it.

Well I won the auction and here it is, my first ever brass engine, and very nice it is too.  Dating from some time in the early eighties, this Korean made engine is very nicely detailed and this high level of specification must have been incredible at the time.  The locomotive has all the usual details, grab irons, mu cables, drop steps, truck piping etc.  but it also has some really neat extras, including real chains above the steps, see-through grilles (although not see-through roof fans) and etched tread plate.

Obviously the locomotive is all-metal construction, but I still found it surprising what a difference that makes.  This model is heavy, really solidly made, and with the amount of detail I would be very interested in seeing how it compares to the new Athearn Genesis version.  I reckon this model would give the new plastic releases a run for their money, despite being at least thirty years old.

This geep has clearly suffered since losing its original box and it was supplied to me in an old Athearn box (which may have been why it sold so cheaply as it looked like an old plastic Blue Box at first glance) and with such poor storage and the weight of the model it has bounced around over the years and ended up losing the front nose top light and some bent handrails, with one of the handrail stanchions snapped.  Being soft brass, the handrails were easily straightened, but the broken stanchion will need some work.

Having been idle for years, it runs poorly and will need some time on the bench for dismantling and cleaning, also I will need to find a way to fit it with DCC and bring it up to current specification.

I'm very pleased with this purchase, and it's fun to have a brass engine after so many years of reading about them, and although it's not right for my modelling era or road, I think I will be keeping hold of this one.