5778c&o
Atlas GP40-2 #4164...
The last GP40-2 of the first order
for Chessie (4100-4164), these units were built originally with
ACI cards and no slotted battery box cover. Over time some ACI cards were removed and some
battery box cover doors were replaced with the famous slotted
door. They all came
with the classic Chessie rock pilot on the front under the
coupler and a wedge shaped rear plow, since foot boards
were outlawed. #4164 is shown here in its post-April
1984 standard Chessie Paint, typical for a Phase I
GP40-2. Before 1984, this unit was numbered GM50,
and was painted all gold. It kept the 4164 roster
spot, the entire time it was GM50. For the photo I
had of the unit below, the ACI card was removed and the
original battery box was still installed.
To
make the unnumbered Atlas unit more correct I
added "B&O" and "4164" decals on the cab and "4164" for
the four numberboards. I added a Details West rear
wedge plow.
I painted the MU hoses the correct
colors, silver on the tips and red, yellow and green
at the tops. I also painted the wheel faces
and the couplers rust color. Something I do to
all locomotive models that make photos look better
is to paint the back sides of the steps and pilots
and the underside of the sills black. See the
bottom photo to notice how dark the area on the
inside of the rear pilot looks. This area
comes painted yellow out of the box and would really
stand out, had I not painted it black. Also,
the coupler knuckle basket can be seen in the
prototype photo below. It is on the walk way
behind the first vertical stanchion behind the
cab. I have ordered this part from Plano, but
it is not installed in my model photos below.
This was a feature on this entire order of
GP40-2s. I weathered the unit after adding the decals to
show some road use.
