Atlas U23B kit review
Atlas
U23B...
The Atlas version of the General Electric(GE) U23B was
originally offered in just the C&O blue paint scheme. Atlas has
recently come out with a U23B in the Chessie System scheme. Prices
for the Atlas kits run in the $70 range. I got lucky and got mine
on eBay for $30. I have only done the C&O blue U23B, so I can
not comment much on the Chessie painted unit. The only thing I know
that is wrong with the Chessie version is the side numbers and "C&O"
letters are too big and too thin. This is really minor and can easily
be overlooked or stripped and redecaled.
Keep in mind that there were only 30 of these units.
There were hundreds of GP40-2's. You only need one of these to be
representative of the fleet. Throw in an Athearn U30C or U25B and
you basically have the GE fleet done. GE units tended to stay near
Virginia, so to find them on the East End was not an every day occurance.
If you are modeling a C&O line, then these units would be more common.
Remember to be a prototypical model railroad you need the feel of the line.
Too many GE units will give the line the feel of Virginia not Maryland/West
Virginia.
GE units had two main problems in the Chessie era.
One, their paint was absolutely dismal. It faded, peeled, and rusted
through all the time. Two, they are not preferred by the crews for
their slippery handling and noise level. So, with this in mind your
GE units can be either dummies or powered, but most likely a dummy is an
economical way to go. GE's tend to be trailing units in a consist.
Place the GE in the middle of the pack for a prototypical look. Newer
engines tend to be on the point of a train. Engineers like to ride
in new seats and clean cabs.
Below is a pic of a GE U23B. It is a Dean Heacock
pic. Notice that this unit is not at the front of the train, and
there is an even older GP9 behind it. This is typical of a Chessie
consist.
As for what needs to be done to this kit. Primarily
you will just need to weather it and paint a few things the right colors.
There is no need to do any cutting with this kit. Atlas has done
a fabulous job with it. I highly recommend this kit in either the
blue or the Chessie paint. I really like the blue paint job when
it is dirty and faded, so that is how mine looks.
Below are two a pics of my U23B, #2324. For more
information on this see either my Atlas
U23B tips or 2324c&o
locomoitve page. The Atlas U23B page has a complete article on how
to make this locomotive.
