"That article had drawings of the engine, also."
I'd be interested in getting a copy of the plans from you whenever you find it.
"Jim also had an article published in Model Railroader a number of years ago on kitbashing Athearn SW-1500's into ng diesels including N4700. "
I built the loco in HOn3. I'll need to look for the article. I also was inspired to take an Athearn Trainmaster body and hack it onto the SW-1500 frame. I guess I'll need to unpack my HO.
Thanks a lot.
As for diesels, I love the GE 44-tonners and would like to see the White Pass shovel noses and road switchers. I'm not biased to steam or to diesel.
The most interesting loco I've heard about was the German hybrid steam/diesel from about 1930 era. I saw a photo of it once and as I recall it had steamer wheels, side rods, and cylinders BUT one half of each cylinder block (as I recall there were two cylinder blocks, ahead and behind the drivers) was set up as a diesel engine instead of set up for steam. It was trying to get the diesel and the steam loco's best charactaristics in one loco but as expected it just brought out the worst in both. It was scrapped or rebuild about 9-12 months later.
Doug