January 23, 2025 New Products
Unfortunately we could not make the Big E show in Springfield, but we do have some new parts!
Valve Pilot Corporation Speed Recorder Drives
The Valve Pilot Corporation was a steam era company – known for developing a device that rode on a steam locomotive wheel in order to give a speed and optimal reverser position. They would go on to adapt this technology to the diesel era, with a cable drive speedometer, which also acted as an early event recorder, plotting speed on a tape recorder. At some point Barco bought the rights to this line, and it was used into the early 1970’s. The drive was a very simple right angle drive off of a journal. We are offering this in two sets, an Alco/GE and an EMD.
In the Alco/GE set, you get 4 options (one of each): On the 8 bolt, angled oil bath journal box cover, with a left or right variation. These were typically on the older Alco RS engines, as well as early GE’s. The second variation is mounted to the later 6 bolt cone style journal cover, and once again in a left or right variation.
In the EMD set, you get two options: A simple direct mounted journal drive, or the flange mounted version. Two of each are included. These can be rotated to be clocked properly. Use of these seemed to dwindle by the early 1970’s on new equipment.
Southern Pacific, Great Northern (into BN), ATSF and Erie Lackawanna were some of the bigger users of these. Thanks to our friends over at the Washington, Idaho & Montana Railway for helping us with some field research! We have a few more speed recorders/generator drives in the works for a multitude of eras.
Alco/GE Mount – https://gothamrailmarine.com/product/valve-pilot-co-speed-recorder-drive-alco-ge-set/
EMD Mount – https://gothamrailmarine.com/product/valve-pilot-co-speed-recorder-drive-emd-set/
Two new sand filler options!
Canadian Rectangular Sand Fillers
A prevalent sand filler used on numerous Canadian engines built by GMD. This version is the rectangular, side hinged one. This set includes 4 with a mounting pin for the nose, and 4 for the rear, which are correctly flared into the hood end. https://gothamrailmarine.com/product/canadian-rectangular-sand-fillers/
SD7/9 Sand Fillers
Because why would they be the same as the GP7/9’s? The SD7/9 sand filler is a square cover, which is hinged over a piece of offset round pipe. This sand filler was specific to the SD7/9 only, as it is smaller than the later square one used on late GP9’s-GP30’s and the SD18/24 (that one is available in our other early sand filler set). Includes 8 sand fillers. https://gothamrailmarine.com/product/emd-sd7-9-sand-fillers/
More Ditch Lights!
We are adding to our line of ditch lights with 3 new generic pilot face mounted options.
– Pyle Style, with horizontal channel mounts
– Pyle Style, with vertical channel mounts
-Universal Style, with horizontal channel mounts
Each of these comes in a 5 pack, with clear lenses and mounting wire.
Western-Cullen-Hayes Flipover Derail -2 Pack
We are offering another version of our popular hinged derail kit. This kit includes enough parts to build two complete derails in either double ended, left or right throw. It does NOT include the signpost or decal sheet. https://gothamrailmarine.com/product/western-cullen-hayes-flipover-derail-2-pack/
January 15, 2025 New Products
I am very excited about this one! We are kicking off a whole new lineup of lighting equipment! I originally was planning to start this series with the Oscitrol lights last week, but these got delayed a little bit, and I already leaked those anyway.
Without further ado – The Pyle National 20585-D Flush Mount Gyralite! A ton of homework and testing went into making this light as accurate, and to-scale as possible. This version of the 20585 is the flush mount (“D”) version – which was mounted inset on the cab or nose of the locomotive. This initial release includes two versions: With glare shields, and without glare shields. This is one of SEVEN versions of this Gyralite we will be introducing in the coming months including various mounting and glare shield versions.
Our model of the 20585 features a recess to use specifically with a 0402 LED. We include the clear lenses as well, so you can model the light as a 20585-DC which used one clear lens on top, and red on the bottom, or as a 20585-DW, which had two clear lenses. While we had to sacrifice one of the cross pieces in the glare shield, we assure you will be happy with them – they are .003” thick after all. Full hinge detail, mounting bolts and thumb screw detail is present.
As I said, this is just the start – We have more then 25 new lights coming, including various versions of Mars lights, Pyle lights, headlights (Pyle/Trans-Lite, Mars, Mercor, etc.), class lights and marker lights. These lights have been in the works for some time, and lots of research is going into making the most highly detailed lights ever offered.
We are working on a big restock as well for several products out of stock, including the switcher cab interiors, SW900E kits and more.
Without Glare Shields – https://gothamrailmarine.com/product/pyle-20585-d-gyralite-flush-mount-without-glare-shields/
With glare shields – https://gothamrailmarine.com/product/pyle-20585-d-gyralite-flush-mount-with-glare-shields/
Be sure to check out each product page for more photos!
January 10, 2025 New Products
Today we are announcing “Beehive” type spark arrestors!
As the name implies, these cycloidal style spark arrestors resemble a beehive. I believe these were made by Harco (if anyone can confirm this please do!), and started to be used in the late 1950’s. This version is the larger one, used on switchers. Predominantly used on EMD’s, it was seen on Alco’s as well. Our version, measured right from the prototype, features the corrected stacked elements of the main body with the drain plug on the side, and full bolt and spacer detail on the mounting flanges.
These spark arrestors mounted directly to the exhaust pipe, and thus the outer shroud (the part we see on the models) is almost always cut down to access this pipe. We have included 3 different styles of mounting plates depending on your prototype: welded, flange mount with 4 bolts, and flange mount with 8 bolts.
https://gothamrailmarine.com/product/beehive-spark-arrestors/
We will be releasing the other, smaller switcher version, as well as the EMD GP mount version later down the road.
At left is the welded mount, right is the 8 bolt flange mount.
At left is the welded mount, right is the 4 bolt flange mount.
This are in the shop now, and will begin shipping next week!
January 1, 2025 New Products
Happy New Year! 7 New Announcements! But First…
Gotham Rail & Marine turns 10! Yup – This is our 10th year producing parts! GR&M was founded in the fall of 2016, thanks to the new service that debuted, Shapeways. I thought hey, this will be great! I can finally print some scale marine parts I have long wanted. So, I taught myself CAD, and away we went. Thankfully, at home printers broke on the stage in a hurry, and things have just exploded from there! By 2021 the writing was on the wall with Shapeways, and in 2023 we moved all of our production in house. With this we significantly expanded the line. Thanks to everyone who has supported and helped along the way. This is just the start – lots more to come!
On to the new parts, first up, Oscitrol lights!
The Oscitrol light came about in 1974 with the thought to phase out the Pyle and Mars lights with then “new” technology, using solid state components. Pyle and Mars lights have a ton of moving parts inside of them, and this new light had none. Ironically, it was developed by the same gentleman that worked for both Pyle and Mars, Arthur Heehler. The lights would be sold through Power Parts Co. out of Chicago.
The Oscitrol PPC-11200 light was a set of 3 lights stacked vertically – the upper two lights pointed out at 3 degrees, one left and one right. Each light would flash 50 times a minute, and more closely resemble alternating ditch lights than a light in motion. The lower light pointed straight and was activated manually or with a pneumatic control switch, turning on and flashing when the train was in emergency. Unfortunately, the Oscitrol lights never really caught on and only a few railroads used them.
PPC-11200 on an FEC GP40-2. F.Seidl Photo
We are offering 3 versions of the PPC-11200, each comes in a 2-pack.
– No glare shields, used by FEC and ATSF
– With glare shields, used by FEC and ICG
– E/F mount, used by Amtrak
All of the above lights include a mount to directly fit an 0402 LED (Evans “Pico”), as well as clear lenses.
1984 saw a resurgence in Oscitrol lights. Southern Pacific ordered a batch of GE B36-7 as well as EMD GP40-2’s that would use custom standalone Oscitrol lights, the PPC-11300. Two of these lights were fitted to a plate which mounted in place of a normal Gyralite. A handful of SD45R’s were also fitted with the lights, however the rear lights were mounted individually, directly to the 5-light housing, not on a mounting plate.
We are offering the SP version of the PPC-11300 in two ways:
– 1 pair of vertical lights, with glare visors and no LED mount (good for retrofits)
– A kit with several options, all setup for 0402 LED’s. Includes 1x light without glare shields, 2 lights with glare shields, a horizontal light with glare shields (GE Rear) and 2 of the standalone lights for the rear of the SD45R’s.
Two new horns!
In recognition of the FEC Oscitrol lights, we are doing the FEC modified RS-3L horns. These horns use the regular 25/31/44 bells of the “L” chord; however, they are mounted on 5-chime manifolds with all the bells facing forward. I chose the arrangement that seemed to be the most common that I could find.
Second, is a very common horn of the late 60’s through the 1970’s, the basic Leslie SL-3L-R. Mounted above the numbers of tons of EMD’s, this horn is mounted on the low manifold, with the 25 bell on the right.
All of the above will start shipping early next week. We are very close to announcing our custom horn as well as custom scales programs, hopefully by the end of the month.