Model Railroading > Walthers to produce WM chop nose GP9s

Although not the most attractive diesels, I am sure some Western Maryland fans would be interested in these Phase II chop nose GP9 models.  They will be available in the WM black & yellow and red & white ("circus") schemes.

https://www.walthers.com/search/?q=western+maryland+gp9

Renders of the units are shown towards the beginning of their March 2025 video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=apBnxBAb69s

I have often thought that these were some of the ugliest attempts at cutting down that high short hood, but glad that they are coming out in model form.

I find it funny how the lack of the overhanging "brow" with the number boards and headlights above the windows makes a locomotive "ugly", but a locomotive with that feature makes it looks "great". I guess it falls into expectations and what we expect a locomotive to look like. Although with the middle windows being higher than those to either side and a chopper nose that is a bit "taller" than a typical low nose doesn't improve the looks either. The CLC GP7 here was never a Wild Mary unit, but a former NKP that kept it's high nose as a Chehalis Western locomotive, but lost it when it came to the Columbia & Cowlitz in a home made nose job.

Ted Curphey
Ontario, OR

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You have to wonder how much harder it would have been to cut another one or two feet off the short hood so the engineer would have improved visability especially approaching grade crossings.

Finally!  This is one locomotive I have always hoped someone would do, being a WM fan and seeing these so often growing up.  Really never thought anyone would ever do them.  I reckon I will have to set aside some $$ for a couple of these.

Will be great if they do this scheme!

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PHall Wrote:
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> You have to wonder how much harder it would have
> been to cut another one or two feet off the short
> hood so the engineer would have improved
> visability especially approaching grade crossings.

Depends on how much room there was in the nose for the toilet. Might have to take a whiz while hunched over.

Ted Curphey
Ontario, OR



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/13/25 18:39 by funnelfan.

Figures, after I have kit-bashed at least two in the last couple of years.
CR

Posted from iPhone

WM1977 Wrote:
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> Figures, after I have kit-bashed at least two in
> the last couple of years.
> CR
>
> Posted from iPhone

Nah, you just proved the law that as soon as you build one it will be released as a RTR model.