As a Burlington Northern fan, I was fired up when ScaleTrains announced it was producing the Electro-Motive Division (EMD) GP39E in HO scale. The model, part of the manufacturer’s Rivet Counter line, depicts the four-axle road unit in its as-delivered appearance with Quantum Q2000 crossing strobes on the front deck.
The full-size version of our review sample, BN 2762, occasionally served as the power for the locals based out of my hometown through the first half of the 1990s. But enough about my memories. Let’s learn more about the ScaleTrains model.
Prototype history
Select road names in the latest run of ScaleTrains Rivet Counter line GP30s are based on prototype rebuilds. Burlington Northern 2762 was part of the railroad’s 2750 through 2778 series. The full-size unit was built in September 1962 as Southern Ry. 2532, a high-hood GP30. When Southern Ry. merged with Norfolk & Western in 1982, the four-axle locomotive became part of the Norfolk Southern fleet, retaining its pre-merger road number.
In October 1991, the locomotive was remanufactured by Electro-Motive Division, becoming BN 2762. The heavily rebuilt locomotive, with a new cab, low short hood, and upgraded electrical components, among other improvements, was reclassified a GP39E.
The unit became part of the Burlington Northern Santa Fe fleet following the 1995 merger between BN and Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe. It was renumbered BNSF 2752 on Oct. 20, 1999.
Model features
The ScaleTrains HO EMD GP39E features an injection-molded plastic shell and die-cast metal chassis. The front and rear pilots have factory-installed m.u. and train line hoses with the glad hands picked in silver, plastic uncoupling levers with the handles painted white, and a red m.u. cable. The front pilot has a snow plow; the rear pilot has spare coupler knuckles painted a rusty brown color.
The Dash-2 cab features sunshades, positionable side windows, and small mirrors. A Motorola ASP-16 firecracker antenna is located on the roof. The detailed cab interior has a floor, rear wall, seats, and a control stand.
Like the prototype, the long hood still retains some of its GP30 profile. A cast brass Leslie RS-3-L air horn, etched-metal lift rings, a 48” standard range dynamic brake fan, and two 48” radiator fans can all be found on top of the long hood on the BN GP39E. All of the fans have see-through grills. The dynamic brake fan has 10 blades; the radiator fans have 8.
Not to be overlooked are the plastic Blomberg-B trucks with Hyatt bearing housings. Freestanding parts include the sanding lines and brackets, swing hangers, and brake cylinders. The wheel faces are factory painted a light rust color.
Between the trucks is a 2,600-gallon fuel tank. A round gauge is located in the side of the tank on the engineer’s side. The fuel fill, sight gauge, and emergency fuel cutoff — all painted red — are located in the sill skirt on both sides. An air tank is located above the tank on both sides.
On the test track
Our review sample is neatly painted in BN’s 1991 scheme, featuring a white cab face and 2”-wide white stripe on the cab sides and long hood separating the Cascade Green and black (on the prototypes, this was Scotch-Lite reflective tape).
The breaks in the stripe for the door handles in the radiator section of the long hood are prototypical. Nice attention to detail! Later additions to the full-size unit included an all-weather window on the engineer’s side of the cab, an American flag on the battery box door (both sides), and a green Northtown shop stencil in the white part of the sill below the cab.
I did initial testing at the workbench using an NCE Power Cab. At step 1, the model crawled along at less than 1 scale mph. At step 28, the GP39E achieved a top speed of 62 smph. The maximum speed of the full-size units was 65 mph. With a drawbar pull of 3.4 ounces, the GP39E can pull 48 free-rolling freight cars on straight and level track.
I then took the ScaleTrains model over to our Winston-Salem Southbound layout. The GP39E switched the industries without issue, comfortably navigating the No. 4 turnout and 30-degree crossing.
Prototype photos show the EMD GP39E on mainline freights and locals, showing just how versatile these BN units were. And the four-axle units continue to earn their keep for successor BNSF today. ScaleTrains has done a wonderful job capturing the lines of these GP30 rebuilds.
Facts & features
Price: Direct-current model with 21-pin connector, $204.99; with ESU LokSound V5 sound decoder, $314.99.
Manufacturer
ScaleTrains
4901 Old Tasso Road NE
Cleveland, TN 37312
scaletrains.com
Era: October 1991 to October 1999 (as decorated)
Road names: Burlington Northern (GP39E); Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe (GP30u); Chessie System with Baltimore & Ohio reporting marks (Phase Id GP30 and GP30M); Chicago Great Western (Phase IIb GP30, as delivered); CSX (Chessie System patchout, GP30M); Penn Central (Phases Id and Ie GP30); and Union Pacific (Phase Ib2 GP30).
Features
- Body-mounted metal semi-scale Type E couplers, at correct height
- Metal wheel stubs on plastic drive axle gears, in gauge
- Minimum radius, 18”; recommended radius, 22”
- Weight: 14.3 ounces
