PROTOTYPE INFOThe EMD GP18 began production in late 1959 and was based on the builder’s extraordinarily successful GP9, although the latter model was still in production at the time. The GP18 is considered the last of the builder’s “first generation” models. Similar in appearance to the GP7 and GP9, the GP18 was slightly more powerful and came with the option of a low or high short cab hood, something that had only been upon special request with EMD’s first two road switcher models. It used the final version of General Motors first locomotive prime mover, the 16-cylinder model 567D1 which could produce 1,800 horsepower, the most powerful in the series up to that time. At just over 56 feet in length the GP18 was the same length as its predecessor models and was visually very similar, with the exception of new radiator grills which were also used on the GP20.While thousands of GP7s and GP9s were produced just a few hundred GP18s were ultimately built for a little more than two dozen railroads. Today, several GP18s remain in operation on numerous shortlines and industrial operations around the country. LOCOMOTIVE FEATURES:• Trainline and MU hoses• Coupler cut levers• Drop steps unless noted• MU stands• “Nub” style walkway tread• Bell placement & type per prototype• Wire grab irons• Lift rings• Windshield wipers• Sander lines• Fine-scale handrails for scale appearance• See through cab windows and full cab interior• Etched metal radiator intake grilles and fan grilles• Air tanks mounted below sill unless noted• Detailed fuel tank with fuel fillers, fuel gauges, breather pipes, and retention tanks• Blomberg-B trucks with appropriate bearing caps• Speed recorder unless noted• Fully-assembled and ready-to-run•Tsunami2 sound decoder equipped
• Scaled from prototype resources including drawings, field measurements, photographs, and more• Accurately-painted and printed paint schemes• Body mounted McHenry operating scale knuckle couplers• Genesis driveline with 5-pole skew wound motor, precision machined flywheels, and multi-link drivetrain for trouble free operation• All-wheel drive with precision gears for smooth and quiet operation• All-wheel electrical pickup provides reliable current flow• Wheels with RP25 contours operate on all popular brands of track• Bidirectional constant LED lighting so headlight brightness remains constant• Heavy die-cast frame for greater traction and more pulling power• Packaging securely holds the model for safe storage• Replacement parts available• Minimum radius: 18”
• Scaled from prototype resources including drawings, field measurements, photographs, and more• Accurately-painted and printed paint schemes• Body mounted McHenry operating scale knuckle couplers• Genesis driveline with 5-pole skew wound motor, precision machined flywheels, and multi-link drivetrain for trouble free operation• All-wheel drive with precision gears for smooth and quiet operation• All-wheel electrical pickup provides reliable current flow• Wheels with RP25 contours operate on all popular brands of track• Bidirectional constant LED lighting so headlight brightness remains constant• Heavy die-cast frame for greater traction and more pulling power• Packaging securely holds the model for safe storage• Replacement parts available• Minimum radius: 18”
