Price: $479.95 Min Curve: O-31 Cmd Low: 2.5 smph Cnv Low: 5.1 smph High: 54.6 smph Drawbar pull: 1 pound, 10 ounces Features: Two can-style motors, coil couplers, smoke unit, DCS command and sound system Current-production road names: Baltimore & Ohio; Chicago & North Western; EMD Demonstrator; Gulf, Mobile & Ohio; Milwaukee Road
The GP30 is a 2,250-horsepower diesel that incorporated improvements beyond the original 1,500-horsepower GP7 dating from 1949. These included a boost in horsepower, a redesigned layout for ease of maintenance, and an improved central air system and turbocharger, which required more space – raising the roof of the unit. There were also subtle changes to the body: rounded cab roofs, a curved leading roof edge, and the hump behind the cab. This softened the angles compared to the GP7/9 and its kin.
Between 1961 and 1963, GM built 948 GP30s for North American railroads. Few, if any, remain in freight service, although many have been preserved. Several are reportedly in occasional excursion service on tourist railroads.
Opening the box
This O gauge model from MTH is a pretty solid little brick coming out of the box. I noticed something nifty once I had placed the diesel on our test track: It had Alco trucks and not EMD trucks. The Milwaukee Road’s GP30s rode on trucks from traded-in Alco road switchers. I double-checked the catalog artwork, and sure enough some have Alco and others have EMD trucks. Cool.
The vintage of the original means the pilots have the brakemen’s steps of death on the front, as well as the typical brake and control hoses and an add-on uncoupler arm. The handles of all the safety appliances, including the uncoupler arms, have the initial grab-point accented in white.
The handrails and grab irons are wire, and there is a lowered drawbridge and a gap in the handrail protected by a chain. All the decking on the model has cast-in safety tread texture. The low nose has classification lights installed, a nose grab iron, and a sand filler cap on top. On the fireman’s side, you’ll find a hand pump (at least on the Milwaukee Road version) for manual pumping of the brakes.
The cab windows are open, and you can see two crew figures. There are window shades above the window, and the rooftop has gentle curves. The headlight and number boards hang over the front of the cab, and there is a strobe situated in the center of the cab roof. The roofline has add-on lift rings and nice detailing for the exhaust (smoke unit) and cooling fans.
The sides of the cab are well done, with clear latch, hinge, seam, and louver detailing. The front and back screen detailing is excellent. The rear of the long hood has add-on grab irons for roof access, number boards, marker lights, and headlights.
Below the deck you’ll find a fuel tank with a red accented cap and sight gauge. The Alco trucks look superb with brake system detailing as well as separate fluid lines.
On the test track
Fire this model up and you get a deep rumble that may have you reaching for the volume control!
Rolling forward, the classification lights stay green on the GP30, the headlight turns on, and the roof light remains on. The smoke unit opens up fill tilt and will rapidly fog up a confined space!
Motor and command response was excellent, and the command-only features tested out fine. The nimble diesel did a great job weaving in and out of the switches on our test track, and the front and real remote uncoupling was fun.
If you have a hankering to model Kennedy Era transportation, check out this smooth-running diesel.
