The GP40-2W's are in....

[lock4244]

Just got a request to pay for my pre-order, they are now at the store. The culmination of what, 10-12 years of waiting? Saw at Trainfest, look beautiful 

[Scottl]

Wait, what?  What manufacturer?

[Wardie]

I saw some of the stuff from the same container on the Atlas store over the weekend. I have been using* modeltrainstuff.com lately and am waiting for them to be available so I can purchase my quartet.

Atlas N scale Scottl

[squirrelhunter]

Did they have the mechanism on display at Trainfest? These have the short fuel tank and I'm hoping it is compatible with other Atlas shells allowing for swaps with GP38/39/40 serise shells that need short fuel

[Ed Kapuscinski]

I'm hoping it is compatible with other Atlas shells allowing for swaps with GP38/39/40 serise shells that need short fuel

[lock4244]

Did they have the mechanism on display at Trainfest? These have the short fuel tank and I'm hoping it is compatible with other Atlas shells allowing for swaps with GP38/39/40 serise shells that need short fuel

They were only displayed fully clothed. Cory was offering less attired views in VIP but I wasn't gonna pay the extra $5.

[Scottl]

Wow, those do look great.  Might need a pair for a retro 1990s intermodal train.

[lock4244]

Wow, those do look great.  Might need a pair for a retro 1990s intermodal train.

You know, I hated these things as a kid in the 80's because they more often than not lead the big MLW's if there was a one available to lead it seemed. I hated them in the 90's because they were even more common somehow (probably as the MLW's were retired and new units pushed more geeps east). I began to appreciate them in the 2000's as they seemed to disappear almost overnight from the mainline. A couple weeks ago one was here in Cedar Rapids coupled to the usual SD60 downtown... a glorious sight 

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Oh wow. I think I might even need one: https://conrailphotos.thecrhs.org/conrail-info/known-early-conrail-leased-units

[Ed Kapuscinski]

You know, I hated these things as a kid in the 80's because they more often than not lead the big MLW's if there was a one available to lead it seemed. I hated them in the 90's because they were even more common somehow (probably as the MLW's were retired and new units pushed more geeps east). I began to appreciate them in the 2000's as they seemed to disappear almost overnight from the mainline. A couple weeks ago one was here in Cedar Rapids coupled to the usual SD60 downtown... a glorious sight 

Ain't that the way she goes?

[lock4244]

Oh wow. I think I might even need one: https://conrailphotos.thecrhs.org/conrail-info/known-early-conrail-leased-units

Technically none of those are GP40-2W's 

[lock4244]

Ain't that the way she goes?

Almost always. I have been a fan of CN's SD75I (and the SD70I) since they were delivered, and never complain when I catch one. Was the same way with CR SD50's, just loved seeing them no matter how often.

[Wardie]

Ain't that the way she goes?

Twenty years ago, I could have cared less about SD-40-2’s, 50’s and 60’s, now I see a CP SD-40-2 in Maine and it is an exacting day.

[lock4244]

Twenty years ago, I could have cared less about SD-40-2’s, 50’s and 60’s, now I see a CP SD-40-2 in Maine and it is an exacting day.

The remaining SD40-2's on CP in Ontario seemed to have a wake of foamers tagging along close behind them as they rolled along. I was one of them for a while, but eventually realized I had enough shots of them on CWR and ballast trains 

There's a daily transfer here on UP between the Beverly yard on the former CNW main and the North Yard downtown serving Quaker Oats, Cargill, and the IANR interchange. It's a short trip and ranges from 25-65 cars, but is usually powered by a single or pair of SD40N's, though sometimes a GP38 will fill in for the second SD40. When a single SD40 is assigned and the train is heavy enough the downtown based switcher (usually a GP38, but a GP60 was on it last week) will push on the rear of the transfer to Beverly. Have never seen anyone out shooting it... SD40's still too common on UP I suppose.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Technically none of those are GP40-2W's 

Oh snap.

Whew!