Norfolk Southern SD40E pull local trains?


Diesel-Electric

Diesel-Electric

Member
Hello there,


Around two weeks ago I got an Athearn new products announcement. In that one of the new products were their RTR SD50 locomotives.

Among the new road numbers was Norfolk Southern's SD40E (3 road numbers), and upon further research and seen pictures of them I couldn't help but really want one to haul longer trains on my layout.

It seems they are been used to replace SD40-2 locomotives in helper service, so I was wondering, since the SD40-2s were also used for local trains, would a SD40E (de-rated to the same horsepower as the SD40-2) be used to haul a local freight occasionally on a branch line?

I ask this, as I'm saving up to buy one next year and I do like to be at least (to a certain extent) be operationally prototypical (can't help myself:eek:).

Also, what are the problems I should watch out for with the Athearn RTR SD50?


Information would be appreciated.


Regards,


DE.
 
not sure about the ns but I can tell you on the BNSF a lot of GP 39s are used for locals because a lot of industry tracks are restricted to only 4 axle engines, but in Minot they have been using a lot of sd 60m's for their locals, on some of the NS oil trains they have some SDs in the consist, In the yard here in minot and mandan, they have been only using sd 40-2's as their switch engines, even the RCOs have been sd 40-2.
 
I dont think so, the SD50 frame is a little longer than an SD40-2. Looking through the pictures it seems the run them in sets. I want to say they are used quite a bit as helper sets.

Doesnt mean they are never on the point. I would say it's safe for them to be in road train service for you! I have seen a couple come through New Orleans going to the UP.
 
Hello People,


Thanks for the information.

I would just like to say that I'm not really modeling a industry line but a single track mainline with a few spurs.

But since it is a freelance Norfolk Southern railway I could say it's 'my railroad' and run a NS SD40E with a short train and enjoy it.

That said I'm still open for information regarding the topic.

BTW: Hey High Speed Kurt:

Doesnt mean they are never on the point
Click to expand...

what do you mean by "on the point"?


Regards,


DE
 
DE - I suggest you take a look through the many photos at rrarchives and see if you can get a feel for where the trains are spotted and figure out what they are doing. I just looked at a high-hood engine which had a ton of pictures, and the first few listed are taken of the engine within yard limits, pulling locals.

http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/locoPicture.aspx?id=34034

I use this site a lot for conducting research on engines I'm modeling or planning to model.
 
Seems that, as has been mentioned, most are used as pusher sets on coal trains in PA. But hey, it's your railroad and they are cool looking locos...
 
Hello there!


But hey, it's your railroad
Click to expand...

Yep, I see Your point...........


they are cool looking locos...
Click to expand...

Reason I want to get one. I simply find that long carbody with the 'clean' long hood (dynamic brakes were relocated from in the SD50 series right???) and 'standard' cab very appealing.:).


Regards,


DE.
 
Hello there,


After going thru rrarchives as suggested by PApat, I got the answer:

http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=3114680

http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=3082147

http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=3047451

http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=3238479

http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=3158936


Yes, they are used on local trains, and as the last two pictures show, sometimes as the only locomotive powering the train. So it is prototypical after all :).

Of course, most of the time they are used in sets.


Thanks to everybody for the information!


Regards,


DE
 
You must log in or register to reply here.



Back
Top