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I have looked for them and what I have seen are of the older before the Rio Grande Merger. Since the Majority of my collection is after the merger I was Looking for a speed lettered one. I know that the SP had SD40's but cant find many Pictures of -2's Did they have any and were there any Speed lettered units. I was wondering if the UP BLI would be a good unit to repaint into SP and if So what kind of modifications should I do to make it SP?
Buster,
The only SD40-2's that SP had were tunnel motors. In other words they were SD40T-2's.
Dan
I guess the real reason I wanted to know is I want a BLI SD40-2. I guess I will just get one In UP paint and leave it at that. However I could still paint it but I was just wondering if they had any. I know that they build some SD45's into the 40 standards. Also they had the SD40M-2 however I am not sure what that means. if anyone else does I was just wondering.
Been Nothin' Since Frisco
That's an SD45 carbody. The unit has likely been rebuilt to SD40-2 standards and is classified as such now.
Correction: That would now be called an SD40M-2, rebuilt by M-K.
Dan's correct, the SP only had the tunnel motor version of the SD40-2. If you want the BLI model, I'd leave it in UP colors. The UP had more SD40-2's than any other railroad but the BN and, with mergers, now owns the largest fleet of SD40-2's in the world. The UP really likes this engine and has kept them in service through rebuilding so it's common to see them in run-through or mileage workoff almost anywhere in the country. Before the merger, it was also common to see mixed UP/SP trains and the UP engine most commonly seen was the 40-2. Besides, I just think that UP colors looks really good on that model.
I really think your right there Jim. I have bid on one and will see If I get it. However a clean one will not be right I would think. It will have to recive some weathering as well
Well I won the UP SD40-2. Its a BLI unit and I have ordered the DCC Chip that will work with it and both should show up on the same day I hope. If not no worries as the most of the time show up when I am on the road anyway. Being that I am on the road for a week or two at a time.
I really do like the BLI units. The two that I have are very good runners and the sound is first rate. I am about ready to start building however I am still without a good track plan for the first room.
I have a few ideas rolling around in my mind as there will be a raised single track main for scenery only and a two track main that will run along with it but on the level with the regular portion of the layout.
There will be staging in room three under the main layout and I have plans to have them climb to the main thru two rooms before appearing in the first room. It will come in as if off a sub line. Also a couple of the rooms will have a main that will run around that room alone so I can just run a portion of the track if I dont want to run in all rooms. The Raised main will in room two come down to level with the rest of the layout for two switches then climb back up so I can switch trains onto it whenever.
Rooms one and Three will have yards one with a Three bay roundhouse and the other with a full roundhouse. The thee bay roundhouse will have a bay set for the programming track as well as a Diesel shop.
Well I guess I am rambling about my Layout plans instead of the SD40-2 I just got. I will post pictures of it when I get it.
That's an SD45 carbody. The unit has likely been rebuilt to SD40-2 standards and is classified as such now.
Care to elaborate? I've heard of this before but I'm not too sure what all this entails.
Thanks.
Been Nothin' Since Frisco
Care to elaborate? I've heard of this before but I'm not too sure what all this entails.
Thanks.
Sure. As BNSFdude pointed out above, it's actually classified as "SD40M-2" or some such designation, which is meant to express that the unit was rebuilt to meet the same standards as an EMD built SD40-2.
The SD45 originally came with a 20 cylinder diesel engine, which as you might imagine is less fuel efficient than the 16 cylinder SD40 or subsequent SD40-2. High horsepower units were popular in the '60s with many railroads, but as fuel economy became a priority, these high horsepower units became more of a liability than an asset. So, many of them were rebuilt with 16 cylinder engines to take advantage of the fuel savings.
The SD45 can easily be spotted because of its flared radiator grilles. While flared radiators have become common on modern locomotives, the SD45 was the most popular '60s and '70s era locomotive to feature them.
I would use the BLI SD 40-2's for the Milwaukee Road,but Haven't figured out how to cut down the fuel tanks,and BLI never got back to me on how to do them,has any one cut the fuel tanks down on the BLI SD40-2's? Let me know if you have.I understand they run pretty well and are good pullers,I'm not interested in using them for sound units.
Their sound is great, I think my friend cut-down his tank but I'm not sure... I'll have to ask him.
That will be great,let me know,I have heard these units are great pullers and run great,I like the Milwaukee billboard lettering scheme and the shade of orange they use on the units.
Thanks for the reply RCH. I never thought about it but I guess the body is just that and the prime mover and traction motors are what make it a particular type of locomotive.
I'm learning way to much here. Is there a test at the end?
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