GP35 or GP30 w/alco trucks.

[jward]

many gp30 and gp35 units were built with alco style trucks from traded in fa's. now that we have a bachmann fa on the market, has anybody tried using the trucks from one under a gp30 or gp35? if so, does the whole truck need to be changed or just the sideframes?

[Tom M.]

On the prototype, the axle spacing is different between the Alco trucks and the EMD trucks.  I don't recall the exact difference, but I believe the axles are spaced 9" or more furher apart on the Alco truck.  For years, Athearn and some other manufacturers cheated by using the same truck gear box and simply shortened the length of the Alco truck sideframes to fit.  Proto2000 was one of the first brands to correct this condition.  If Bachmann did their Alco trucks correctly, a sideframe swap would not be possible.

However, if you look at the photos available at the Bachmann on-line parts store for the GP30/35 and Baldwin Shark (uses an Alco-style truck), you will see that the truck mounting method for the truck types appears to be the same.  As such, installing the Alco-style truck on the GP30/35 should be possible.  Of course, compatibilty of drive shaft length and truck swing would have to be confirmed (especially if the Alco truck is done with the accurate axle spacing).

Tom