BN GP39E

In the early 1990s, BN rebuilt a series of GP30s and GP35s into GP39Es (if EMD did the work), Vs (if VMV did the work), or Ms (if MK did the work). If the GP30s originally had a low hood there was little external difference when the rebuild was finished. If, however, the donor locomotive was a former high nose the difference was quite dramatic.

Follow along as an ordinary GP30 becomes a GP39E.

Here is a Proto2000 Phase I GP30 'before' photo. The prototype for this locomotive looked very similar after its rebuilding except it was renumbered BN 2751 and the middle radiator fan was plated over. I am modeling one of the former Southern locomotives so a little more modification is necessary.

After an hour or so of minor disassembly. "Say, do you feel a draft?"

Another hour of cutting. "Are you sure you don't feel a draft?"

"I don't feel quite as drafty but the ammeter isn't reading. Say, where is that pesky electrical cabinet?"

And you thought you had acid rain problems...it stripped the paint right off. Now, the time we have all been waiting for, it is time to start gluing things together. The parts are just taped together so they look crooked. Well actually, the battery boxes need just a little modification, then we'll glue.

The long hood is now glued together and the middle fan filled. I didn't realize it right away but all the P2K grabs were installed upside down. They were all removed and the holes filled to be redrilled, which is the next step.

A few more things have gotten done. The grab irons were replaced and a couple custom ones were bent for the end of the long hood. The Cannon fans have been added (see the next photo) as well as the radiator grills. They are shortened Cannon grills meant for the SD45-2. Some paint was added as well. I was trying to get the locomotive finished for the RPM meet in June but it is now July so we can see how that went.