Here we have a modified Life-Like Proto 2000 EMD GP20 representing one of the BN's examples that it received from the CB&Q. The BN had acquired some of it's fleet of EMD GP20s from the Great Northern and CB&Q when the roads joined in the BN merger. The model we have here is road number 2070, originally a CB&Q GP20 numbered 934. To match the prototype, photos were researched to see the appearance of the real locomotive, as well as figure which type of beacon and where it was placed.
Number 2070 featured a Federal 372 "Commander" rotary beacon, which the pattern was also with Western-Cullen as their model 312 rotary beacon. I purchased a Details West RB-126 pack, which depicts the Western-Cullen 312.
The model is in excellent shape, with the addition of it's additional parts bag being factory sealed, and the original paperwork pretty much all here. The upgrade to the model features the following;
- Accurate Western-Cullen model 312 Rotary Beacon, lit with a 0603 Warm White LED
- ESU LokSound V5 Direct with PowerPack, but powerpack function stopped working due to modification to make it fit in the locomotive.
- Cutsom sound profile written for the locomotive, based on ESU's Article No. S0723 [EMD 16-567D2-T] tuned to BN specs
- Leslie RS-3K as per most BN locomotives, backed by footage of a former BN GP20 in operation
- EMD Bronze bell confirmed from the same GP20 footage
- Custom cold start sequence recorded from a GP20
This model was somewhat of a restomod as this model was originally purchased as non-operating after attempting to test. Model suffered from 21 year old grease caking in the mechanism, everything was cleaned and re-lubricated and it runs like new! Model is a conversion from QSI Quantum fitted model, with now a LokSound V5 Direct on-board. The decoder installed is one with the built-in powerpack, but due to a modification that had to be done to make the decoder fit, the PowerPack system no longer functions...
Thanks for taking a look, and don't forget to check out the full model demo on YouTube!