First taste of MTL SW1500

[johnh35]

I am amazed. All this oohing and ahing over a picture that you really can't make out the detail on. Is the the same crowd that lambasted the announcement of the IM SD40-2? Don't get me wrong, I am happy to see it but as I look at the picture I have to wonder if the long hood is scale width. Any chance of a shot from the front?

[Philip H]

I am amazed. All this oohing and ahing over a picture that you really can't make out the detail on. Is the the same crowd that lambasted the announcement of the IM SD40-2? Don't get me wrong, I am happy to see it but as I look at the picture I have to wonder if the long hood is scale width. Any chance of a shot from the front?

johnh FTW folks!

[lock4244]

johnh FTW folks!

+1!

[peteski]

Yes, this warm welcome is kind of funny after the IM -2 thread.   Maybe because MT has a decent track record with the quality of their N scale model locomotives. Um, a single locomotive (FT). 

[JoeD]

Flexicoil trucks and light package for the SP, plus the alternative version with the handrail on the shell is phase two.  This modified chassis will fit the standard SW1200/9 series just fine.  Digitrax is will be doing a drop in decoder. 

Hope this answers some of the questions here.

...so you don't have to hold your breath     

Joe

[garethashenden]

Will the chassis be available separately?

[JoeD]

at this point probably not for awhile.  We will be pulling out all the stops just to take care of pre orders...I may request conversion parts for repairs and for folks wanting to swap their chassis innards.

Joe

[u18b]

On behalf of the Railwire community.... let me just say...

[Dave Schneider]

Joe,

Thanks again. Quick question, working headlights in front/rear or just the front?

Best wishes, Dave

[ryan_wilkerson]

Yay! Glad to hear about the SP-specific details Joe.
Question about the decoder...are you only talking with Digitrax or are other manufacturers also in the know?

Flexicoil trucks and light package for the SP, plus the alternative version with the handrail on the shell is phase two.  This modified chassis will fit the standard SW1200/9 series just fine.  Digitrax is will be doing a drop in decoder. 
Hope this answers some of the questions here.

...so you don't have to hold your breath 
Joe

[wcfn100]

Hope this answers some of the questions here.

That RI has Roller Bearings.

So, yes on that?


Jason

[jmlaboda]

Hmm... you could do one or two of the last group of SW1500s the Southern acquired.  Obtained when the SOU purchased the Kentucky & Indiana Terminal, some of the earliest K&IT SW1500s had AAR-A trucks while all of Southern's were Flexicoil equipped.

http://rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=3183032

[johnh35]

Flexicoil trucks and light package for the SP, plus the alternative version with the handrail on the shell is phase two.  This modified chassis will fit the standard SW1200/9 series just fine.  Digitrax is will be doing a drop in decoder.

As the hood width is narrower on the SW1500, when you say the mechanism will fit the standard SW1200/9 does that mean with a spacer between the mechanism and the shell?

[johnh35]

BTW, I remember someone on one of the forums suggesting that the chassis from the LL SW9 was being used for this effort. I am beginning to wonder if there is some truth to that since the pic shows the SW fuel tank and possibly the trucks from the later run. Is this a modified LL mechanism, or possibly just parts thereof?

[TiVoPrince]

Flexicoil trucks and light package for the SP, plus the alternative version with the handrail on the shell is phase two.  This modified chassis will fit the standard SW1200/9 series just fine.  <snip> pctures</snip>
Joe

Nice...
Couple of follow up questions.
1. Do you expect drop in decoder to support more than just two headlights?
2. Will cab with number boards be available as a spare part?
This is good news for me.  But not for Mr. Wallet...