Well, I just paid for my ScaleTrains SD40-2 Preorder

[lock4244]

Someone got it right...

https://www.ebay.com/itm/155337898646

[chessie system fan]

Hey, that's the same picture I posted. 

I wouldn't be surprised if the tank bottom was curved because of the structural stability of arches compared to flat surfaces. Perhaps it allowed less interior scaffolding which in turn allowed greater fuel volume?

[DeltaBravo]

I can confirm that I have the same issue with two spots on my layout, one of which is Kato superelevated curves on my helix. The engines just stop, they catch on the end plate of the fuel tank which has less than a MM of clearance. I also experienced the shorting issue. I don't have these issues with any other engines either. I may have to modify my fuel tanks as well. I think I would prefer to start with the end plates before a full filing of the tank. One of mine also had the herky jerky stutter when I first started running it. I also reduced the volume to a setting of 60.

[garethashenden]

GP7s and 9s have fuel tanks like that I believe. At least I've seen drawings that show them that way. Must be an EMD thing. @sd45elect2000 your thoughts?

[GonzoCRFan]

Ordered a BN unit to support the cause since one of the numbers they produced didn't have ditch lights by '97. The locomotive they shipped me has its rear pilot/walkway/handrails bent. Of course, the only appropriate road number is sold out on their website...

[pjm20]

Could it be for some sort of baffle system to keep fuel from sloshing around?

[sd45elect2000]

GP7s and 9s have fuel tanks like that I believe. At least I've seen drawings that show them that way. Must be an EMD thing. @sd45elect2000 your thoughts?

Old Geeps had a bunch of different fuel tanks. Some were as small as 500 gallons and some as large as 2500 gallons. They are pretty specific to the locomotive.

As GP9s were rebuilt the fuel tank style of changed also. GTW put an entirely different style tank on their rebuilds for example.

There are no baffles in fuel tanks. There are structural members inside for bracing but they do not impede sloshing.

Randy

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Ordered a BN unit to support the cause since one of the numbers they produced didn't have ditch lights by '97. The locomotive they shipped me has its rear pilot/walkway/handrails bent. Of course, the only appropriate road number is sold out on their website...

Let em know. I'm almost certain they'd reserve some for that type of issue.

[arbomambo]

Quick video compilation of Denise's Chessie running on the T-TRAK layout in Jacksonville, FL last weekend...

[Ike the BN Freak]

I had seen "Big G's" video before it was linked here and I could only roll my eyes. I understand that he's upset because his brand new 250 dollar loco's have issues on his layout, but by his own admission, his trackwork is 'not perfect'. The only thing that ST is guilty of is making a model that is too close to scaled down prototypical dimensions with out taking into consideration the ability the end user of their product has in building a layout. A little extra clearance would help on the fuel tank when the loco runs on roller coaster style trackwork.
As for the 1/16th inch grooves. He filed those into the plastic and he admitted to it in the video.

He's deleted my comments about how the "grooves" in the tank are a detail, not a fix multiple times, guess he's one of those if he's not right, he'll delete any negative against him.

[wmcbride]

My second Chessie arrived with a missing bell. I had opened it carefully and searched the clamshell and box but no bell.

I emailed Scale Trains support and they responded within 24 hours saying they were mailing me a new bell.

Bill McBride

[wmcbride]

Apropos of nothing except I had my scale handy (and thinking the ST SD40-2s feel light), I weighed some engines I had nearby.

Here's the results:

ST C39-8 (DC)           100g
ST Tier 4 GEVO (DC)   100g
ST SD40-2 (DC)   80g

Recent Intermountain F7A w Sound  100g
Earlier Intermountain F7A (DC)        115g

[GonzoCRFan]

Let em know. I'm almost certain they'd reserve some for that type of issue.

Nooope, no extras. Maybe I should've kept my extra CR units because I certainly don't have any goodwill about ordering from them any longer...

[peteski]

Nooope, no extras. Maybe I should've kept my extra CR units because I certainly don't have any goodwill about ordering from them any longer...

Getting parts from Scale Trains is not as easy as from Kato, ot Atlas.  I broke the steps on one of my GTEL turbines and the replacement steps they sent me (from a parts loco they had on hand) were also fractured.  They told me they get very few spare parts made in each model run.  I had to wait couple of years for then next run of those models to get my steps.  They do respond to emails, but if they have no parts, that is not very helpful.

[milw156]

Intermountain SD40-2 85gm
Kato SD40-2               97gm fuel tank shortened to Milwaukee specs
Kato SD 40 (stock-nothing removed from frame) 100gm