Prototype History
In January 1972, Electro-Motive Division (EMD) of General Motors would build the first production models of a locomotive design that would prove to be legendary: the SD40-2. The flagship of the “Dash-2” series of 1972, the SD40-2 would build upon the lessons learned from its predecessor, the SD40. While the sixteen-cylinder 645E3 turbocharged prime mover remained the same from its SD40 cousin, the SD40-2 boasted a modular, solid-state electrical system, which featured removable “cards” in place of troublesome relays in its high-voltage cabinet, greatly simplifying electrical troubleshooting and repairs.
Externally, the biggest change was the use of the new HT-C three-axle truck in place of the Flexi-coil C of the SD40. The new truck promised greater adhesion, and was longer than the Flexi-coil C, necessitating an increase of the length of the SD40-2s frame to an overall length of 68’, 10” over the couplers. This also had the effect of giving the SD40-2 its characteristic long walkway “porches” at each end. Other small external improvements, such as longer battery box compartments, rear overhang on the cab roof, and drip rail over the front cab door, added to the list of external differences between it and the SD40.
Domestic production of the SD40-2 continued until July 1984 making it one of EMD’s most popular locomotives of all time. Many remain in service today, both with original owners as well as secondhand operators. Within the last five years, Norfolk Southern and CSX have rebuilt hundreds of SD40-2s to extend their operating life. This will ensure this venerable locomotive’s presence on U.S. rails for decades to come.
Rivet Counter SD40-2 Locomotives Also Feature
- Fully assembled
- Multiple road numbers
- Printed and LED lighted number boards
- Dimensionally accurate truck centers
- Scale sectioned treadplate detail on the walkways
- Underbody frame rail with separate plumbing and traction motor cables
- Accurate hood door and long hood detail
- Accurately profiled dynamic brake housings
- See-through dynamic brake intakes with resistor grid detail
- Detailed cab interior with separate floor, rear wall, seats, and standard AAR control stand
- Sliding cab windows
- Factory-applied wire grab irons, wire lift rings, windshield wipers, snowplows, horns, coupler cut levers, trainline hoses with silver gladhands, sand hatch covers, and much more
- Semi-scale coupler buffer equipped with ScaleTrains.com durable metal semi-scale E Type knuckle couplers
- Directional LED headlights
- All-wheel drive
- All-wheel electrical pick-up
- Motor with 5-pole skew wound armature
- Dual flywheels
- Printing and lettering legible even under magnification
- Color matched to Tru-Color Paint colors whenever possible
- Operates on Code 70, 83 and 100 rail
- Packaging safely stores model
- Minimum radius: 18”
- Recommended radius: 22”
DCC & sound equipped locomotives also feature:
- ESU LokSound 5 DCC & Sound decoder with “Full Throttle” feature
- Dual cube-type speakers
- EMD 16 Cylinder 645E3 prime mover
- ESU designed “PowerPack” with two super capacitors***
- Operates on both DC and DCC layouts
DC/DCC & sound ready locomotives also feature:
- Operable using a DC power pack
- DCC-ready with 21-pin connector
* These features only function with an ESU DCC decoder installed while operating in DCC
** During DC operation, class lights illuminate in white. Access to other colors and the ability to change colors requires an ESU DCC decoder while operating in DCC
***“PowerPack” feature only compatible with ESU decoders while operating on a DCC layout
Road Number Specific ScaleTrains
- Era: 2011 to present
- Series 3204-3243(broken), rebuilt starting in 2011
- All road numbers have unique data labels and placements
- Operating Front and rear deck mounted alternating LED ditch lights*
- Curry Rail services built “Admiral Cab” design low short hood, cab and sub-base
- High front headlight
- Juniata Shops designed anticlimbers
- Front EMD-style low pilot plow with MU hose doors and grab irons
- “Tall” stepwells with see-through steps
- No drop steps
- Rectangle walkway lights, mounted between sandbox clean out doors (non-operating)
- Tall mirrors mounted fore and aft of cab side windows, both sides of cab
- Standard EMD sunshades and short sunshade tracks
- Nathan P5R24 Horn mounted to rear of dynamic brake housing
- Large Excalibur “ice skate” antenna (communications) and small Sinclair Excalibur “ice skate” (Locotrol/EOT) antenna mounted to cab roof
- Early electrical cabinet “zig-zag” seam, further from rear of cab
- Early stand-off ECAFB
- Intermediate inertial air intake grills with top drip rail
- Extended-range dynamic brakes with batten strip
- “Chicken-wire” radiator intake grilles
- See-through standard 48” radiator fan housings with fan blades visible inside
- Curved radiator fan grab iron
- Straight uncoupling levers with loop handles front and rear and four inner and two outer brackets
- Handrails set with front and rear anticlimber
- 3-hose MU hose clusters with silver gladhands
- Pilot face mounted MU receptacle
- Pilot face mounted battery charging receptacle
- Spare knuckle holders on rear pilot face
- Dummy MU receptacle pilot face dummy MU receptacle
- Notched pilot faces without lifting holes or slots
- Tall jacking pads with holes (early)
- Forward engineer’s side sidesill notch
- Sill-mount EFCO
- Handbrake relocated to left side of long hood and brake chain mounted to left rear sideframe
- Frame-mounted steel bell
- Salem air filter (accordion style)
- 4,000-gallon fuel tank with fuel fillers and dual vertical gauges and vertical breather pipe
- Detailed HT-C trucks with Hyatt bearing caps, early center axle snubbers, sanding lines and brackets, and D-77 traction motor and air duct details
- GE type speed recorder mounted to third axle on left side
- Tru-Color Paint match color: body TCP-010 Black
Order Due Date: April 15, 2021
Anticipated Delivery Date: October 2021
© 2024 Pacific Western Rail Systems