Pat Durand's GP-38 #2007

In May of 2005, the assigned yard switcher in Fairbanks was ARR GP-38 No. 2007. At that time I photographed the loco and sent roster shots to alaskarails.org. When Atlas released its Alaska Railroad GP38 model I bought their item # 8981 and began perusing its shortcomings. They were few and far between. It looked like the perfect starting point for 2007.

Adding ditch lights, sinclair antenna, firecracker antenna, dual horizontal headlights, switcher mirrors, etc were very straight forward items. The prototype dynamic brake blister was an extended type with a small hatch to the rear on the side. The junk box provided another hatch from which the extension with a styrene hatch door was fabricated.

A strange exhaust stack protruded at the rear above the right number board. This locomotive is equipped with an auxiliary diesel engine under the radiators that comes on and off automatically to maintain the prime mover engine block temperature above 38° F and charge batteries, when the prime mover is shut down. A small orange strobe light is installed on the right side at the top edge of the car body behind the dynamic blister to indicate when the auxiliary engine is running. There are also danger warnings inside the rear step wells and on the cabinets with the caution that this locomotive power plant can start and stop without warning.

The original paint was retained. All the modifications on the prototype had required some repaint on the original so touch up followed that pattern on the model. The top surfaces receive oily black residue from the diesel exhaust. The model came equipped with a decoder installed. The Atlas GP38 model produced in 2005 is an excellent model easily modified to represent Alaska Railroad road power. The factory package is great storage even after modifications are made. This is a great value.

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