ScaleTrains to announce all-new N Scale locomotive at NSE Nashville

[sundowner]

Not so fast. Fast Forties were snoots with long hoods. ST artwork shows a standard 88 inch low nose on the UP units. I asked, but haven't received a reply yet.

You sure about that, the last 25 had 88” noses, here a proto photos of two of the numbers ST is doing.

http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=3489919

http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=3517162

[basementcalling]

You sure about that, the last 25 had 88” noses, here a proto photos of two of the numbers ST is doing.

http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=3489919

http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=3517162

Some of them were. I assumed they all were but looks like that was wrong.

[C855B]

Yeah, Peter, he's right. 8075-8099 had 88" noses. Honestly, redoubling my research on this tempers my enthusiasm a little for these models since they are nearly 10 years out of my modeling period. They were built in 1979, and the Centennials were worn out, nearing EOL and not seeing nearly as many expediters like the VAN and Super VAN. These high-number 8000s were run mostly in in-kind lashups. The expediters were a fading business model, anyway, so the high-speed gearing was out of step with the general operating policies at the time.

Also, these 8000s were renumbered into the normal SD40-2 series in 1980-81. That's an awfully small era window. So, yeah, ST is correct, but these models really serve a small number of UP modelers when it comes down to it.

[basementcalling]

Yeah, Peter, he's right. 8075-8099 had 88" noses. Honestly, redoubling my research on this tempers my enthusiasm a little for these models since they are nearly 10 years out of my modeling period. They were built in 1979, and the Centennials were worn out, nearing EOL and not seeing nearly as many expediters like the VAN and Super VAN. These high-number 8000s were run mostly in in-kind lashups. The expediters were a fading business model, anyway, so the high-speed gearing was out of step with the general operating policies at the time.

Also, these 8000s were renumbered into the normal SD40-2 series in 1980-81. That's an awfully small era window. So, yeah, ST is correct, but these models really serve a small number of UP modelers when it comes down to it.

Yea, sadly the Centennials were literally run into the ground on the high speed service.  I was remembering the first fast 40s, the lower 8000 series, which definitely were snoots as they needed the extra space for electronics or some such. Shame of it is, with better unit number selections, ST could have made an SD40-2 in UP that was around for a long period and with more appeal to UP modelers. I wonder why they selected these two numbers? That would be interesting to learn.

I will probably buy a CSX unit before the UP ones, given the that -3 look is cool and those are still running.  If either UP unit is still running, it's been renumbered to hell and back.

[learmoia]

There was a guy on Groups.IO unloading his Intermountain SD40-2  collection... so I'm gonna guess (hope for) SD40-2....

Called it!!!!    Finally, something to go with my C39-8!

[robert3985]

Well...THAT decision saved me a boatload of cash!

However, I am certain this will be another sellout for ScaleTrains.  I'd like to see what they'd do with a Centennial, even though I wouldn't be buying any.

Cheerio!
Bob Gilmore

[sundowner]

From what i have read about the fast forty were tack on to larger UP orders but we higher gearing. Originally UP was looking at a SD40-2B to run with the Centenials but the cost and usefulness of having a cab was more practical.
They have done other UP schemes in HO so if they follow suit we will see those, but no SD40-n yet.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Which Southern version is best for the late 70s/early 80s?

[Mark5]

Which Southern version is best for the late 70s/early 80s?

Southern began the switch to Dulux on the lettering in 1978, but see Note 1. here: http://www.hosam.com/srr/hoodpnt.html

[packers#1]

Went ahead and preordered one each of NS and the Southern with Dulux lettering. If I need a second NS one I’m sure eBay will have a plethora of options, but the Southern Tuxedo scheme is just too sexy to pass up 

One thing that I haven’t seen pointed out yet; the Norfolk Southern ones are Admiral Cabs, which the Scaletrains site says began in 2011. Each road number will probably have a different in service date. So heads up for you Gen X/early millennial types modeling the 80’s and 90’s, those SD40-2’s won’t be accurate for your era.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Went ahead and preordered one each of NS and the Southern with Dulux lettering. If I need a second NS one I’m sure eBay will have a plethora of options, but the Southern Tuxedo scheme is just too sexy to pass up 

One thing that I haven’t seen pointed out yet; the Norfolk Southern ones are Admiral Cabs, which the Scaletrains site says began in 2011. Each road number will probably have a different in service date. So heads up for you Gen X/early millennial types modeling the 80’s and 90’s, those SD40-2’s won’t be accurate for your era.

Seems like gold is the way to go then.

Thanks!

[Mark5]

Seems like gold is the way to go then.

Thanks!

Well ... the first batch Southern received (#3201-3254, blt 1972-1975) certainly would have been delivered in "gold".
The second batch (#3255-3328, blt 1978-mid 1979) kinda straddles the switch to "dulux".

So to your original question:

Which Southern version is best for the late 70s/early 80s?

I think either/or is the answer. 

Mark

[packers#1]

Seems like gold is the way to go then.

Thanks!

Dulux is the brighter one, whereas gold is pretty dull. Either way it’s gonna be a drool worthy addition!

[High Hood]

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[Mark5]

Thanks HH - looks sweet (hopeful that this means they really did change the couplers for future releases!)