Performance of Newly Tooled Atlas Gold SD-9

[Rivet Miscounter]

Curious if anyone has one of these in-hand and can speak to performance....in general, and also with respect to its predecessor?

I'm sort of new to the "Age of Sound" for N.   I recall one of the early knocks is reduction of weight, so I'm wondering if the locos purpose-built for sound (or one--like the Atlas SD-9--that has been redone...because of sound or otherwise) would address this issue.  (if it is, in fact, a significant enough problem to warrant being addressed.)

I want one to use as a (solo) switcher for a small yard, so just wondering if it's up to the task, or could be made to be fairly easily.

For that matter, I've never had an SD-9 before.  What was typical of a purely DCC version, pulling-wise?  Maybe should have led with that question.  I would think that among locos that were traditionally *commonly* used as switchers, (e.g. not SD40-2's or other large six-axle power that we have now) these would have to be about the best case as an N-scale model locomotive.

[ednadolski]

I don;t have any myself, tho I always thought SD9s were one of the way cool features of the POTB 

/>
Ed

[Curtis Kyger]

The mechanism was totally redesigned for this production run.

The pulling quality is very good in my opinion. There are a whole group of issues that determine the number of cars a N-Scale locomotive can pull and shove beyond only the weight of the locomotive, including the grade on the layout, consistent correctly gauged track, maintenance of wheel spin resistance in each car truck, weight of the cars, etc. and et.al. , however for a "small" yard (however you may define that), this unit should be more than just up to the task. I have been very pleased with my units.

I did have to decrease the sound volume significantly; something that was extremely easy to accomplish on my esu LOK Programmer, but needed to do nothing more.

[Albert in N]

   Doug, I really like mine. It runs quietly at all range of scale speeds and is gorgeous!  There is no sign of hesitation going over turnouts.  The grab irons and step edges are white and nicely painted.  Mine is the silver DCC ready version, but has the same mechanism and even has the built in speaker on the bottom of the light board, but absent sound and DCC. The AccuMate couplers are fastened to the body with a tiny phillips screw with ample space to replace with a MTL magnetic coupler (1015 or Z 905 should work).  I will swap out for MTL so I can switch cars with my new SD-9.  SD-9 and SD-7 locomotives were used on BN's old Burlington branch lines in North Texas and the South Plains (Wichita Falls, Childress, Lubbock, Dimmit, etc.)  I loved to see them shifting cars and pulling short branch line freights back in the early 1970's.  Here are a few layout photos, including two running, one forward and other backwards.  Note that the cab end has stripes and the long end does not, which is prototypical.  The other is a still side view.

[Albert in N]

Doug, comparing the new 2023 atlas SD-9 to the old Atlas/Kato 1990's one shows how far we have come in N scale.  My three old Atlas/Kato SD-7 and SD-9 units run well but noisy and fast; well, like most older Katos.  Also, they came with Rapido couplers and blank clear number boards.  It was left up to the owner to buy and install number board decals and purchase MTL magnetic coupler conversion kits.  Here are a couple of layout photos with my old Atlas/Kato SD-7 coupled to an old early 1980's Atlas/Roco (Austria) Blatz beer car both still with Rapido couplers.

[Rivet Miscounter]

Awesome feedback, thanks gents.

Just picked up a BN.   I've wanted an SD-9 for as long as I can remember, but it never really fit in with what I was doing until now.   It's still more "plausible" than "probable", but doggone-it I wanted one. 

[Rivet Miscounter]

SD-9 and SD-7 locomotives were used on BN's old Burlington branch lines in North Texas and the South Plains (Wichita Falls, Childress, Lubbock, Dimmit, etc.)  I loved to see them shifting cars and pulling short branch line freights back in the early 1970's.

Albert....YES!  The Fort Worth & Denver has their fingerprints all over this locomotive, which is part of the reason I love it.   I don't think they were prevalent in the area during the late 80's though, but like I said it's certainly feasible.    They did make a comeback of sorts in the early 2000s on BNSF, with at least a couple of units (still in BN paint but patched) frequenting the areas north of Fort Worth and adjacent locales.

I'm planning to use it as yard/local power at Wichita Falls.   Normally a job held by various Geeps including a GP30 and GP15-1 during the timeframe I'm modeling.   But it's too poetic not to have an SD9 at the helm.  (and yes, I *can* talk myself into anything!  )

[Albert in N]

   Doug, when I worked in Haskell TX 1970-1972, BN ran SD-7 (and probably SD-9) units Wichita Falls to Seymour TX (and probably on to Abilene TX).  However, I only saw light switchers (NW-2 and SW units, sometimes two) pulling short freights to Spur and often thru Haskell on the way to Abilene.  When I was transferred to Littlefield TX, I saw BN SD-7 units pulling the daily short round trip freights from Plainview to Dimmitt TX.  Normally, all freights had a Burlington silver wide vision caboose.  BN had a small locomotive shop and yard in Childress during the branch line era.  In 1975, I changed jobs for another company in Lubbock TX and regularly saw SD-7 and 9 locomotives switching cars there, even with street running in the east downtown area.  BN (was FW&D/CB&Q in this part of Texas) ran both Chinese red Burlington and Cascade green BN locomotives.  The SD-7 and 9 locomotives spread their weight by having six axles and were easier on the branch line track than four axle Geeps.  By the time I was transferred to DFW in 1990, both BN and Santa Fe had mostly shed all of the branch lines.  Unfortunately, I did not take many photos due to work time schedules and the high cost of Kodak color film and processing.  Digital cameras were not available in the good old days.  At least, I can run N scale trains reminding me of my younger days.  If Atlas makes a new run with Chinese red Burlington SD-7 or 9 locomotives, my wallet better hide!