The prototype: 1803 was produced by the ICG/ Paducah Shops for the Alaska Railroad in 1976 and was the last incarnation of US ARMY 1826. Built as GP7L builders number 15696 she carried frame number 7012-6 . The Alaska Railroad installed the Dynamic Brake blister and fan on 1803 and 1804 and had plans to do the same on other GP7u locos. Plans changed however and the Dynamic Brakes were never made operational. The forward fan on the roof received a sheet metal cover and the rear one was under the winterization hatch. 1803 was still in service as of 1986 and her final disposition is not recorded in my roster.

The model: For reference see Keith Ardinger's photograph of 1803. The model of 1803 started life as a Walther's 1809. The top of the short nose was flattened and the cab roof angled. Beacon, electronic bell/horn, firecracker antenna, and roof vent added along with five chime horn. The double winterization hatch, and two tall stack extensions were added to the roof after the center section to the rear of the Dynamic Brake Blister was removed. The rear fans from a Life Like GP7 body shell were cut out to fill the hole in the roof before the winter hatch was added. On the engineers side the cab door was opened up to camouflage the goofy casting job that Walthers made at that point. I built the door from styrene using a Life Like cab door as a pattern. The appropriate step was added along with unique grab irons and hose connections on the pilot. The original paint job was saved and enhanced with touch up and weathering. The last digit in the cab number was a 9 on the Walthers model. Using the fine polishing surface of an emery board intended for artificial nails, I was able to remove the 9 with out damage to the blue paint. A Microscale 3 is a perfect match to finish the job.

Happy modeling! Pat Durand