Atlas SD50/IM SD45-2 wheelbase?

[LV LOU]

 I have a few Atlas SD50's that I'm not really using,but I can use SD45-2's.How close is the wheelbase on these models to swap shells?

[Scottl]

I have a SD40T2 and the trucks are the same,  but the wheelbase is different from the SD50.  I thought to do something like that too.

[LV LOU]

I have a SD40T2 and the trucks are the same,  but the wheelbase is different from the SD50.  I thought to do something like that too.

Scott,does the t-2 use the same frame as the SD45-2? On the real locomotives,the SD50 and SD45-2 only have a 7" difference between truck centers,but the SD50 body is longer by 2 feet.The wheelbase on the real T-2's locomotives is over 2 feet longer..

[Scottl]

I'm not at home so I can't look, but the wheel base was definitely very different on the 40T2.  I ordered an Atlas fuel tank, thinking I could convert the IM unit to a SD50/60 and discovered the difference when the part arrived.

I don't know if the 40T2 and SD45-2 use the same frame-  I have always assumed they did but can't confirm it.

[sirenwerks]

Hmmm, what about the SDP40 wheelbase...?  I need some and it's a model that will doubtfully ever be produced.

Never mind, I found it: 40' truck center to truck center and 65'8" coupler to coupler.  Anyone know of someone that's done a N scale SDP40 kitbash?

[Ike the BN Freak]

Hmmm, what about the SDP40 wheelbase...?  I need some and it's a model that will doubtfully ever be produced.

Its the same as the SD40/45

[sirenwerks]

The one measurement source I can find online for the SD40 - http://www.thedieselshop.us/Data%20EMD%20SD40.HTML - and the SDP40 - http://www.thedieselshop.us/Data%20EMD%20SDP40.HTML - has the same overall length but the truck center of the SD40 is 3 1/2 feet longer than the passenger unit.  Did they have different bolster situation? Maybe the SD40's off-center?

[Catt]

Tony Hammes (SP) in N scale Railroading several years ago.

[EDIT] January /Febuary 2010 issue page 43.

[bbussey]

Why not just use the IM SD45-2 units as is?    I've seen complaints regarding the body tooling and paint finish, but I've never seen complaints regarding the mechanism.

FWIW, I have run the IM SD45-2 with an Atlas SD60 and Kato SD40-2 in consist without incident.

[Robbman]

The one measurement source I can find online for the SD40 - http://www.thedieselshop.us/Data%20EMD%20SD40.HTML - and the SDP40 - http://www.thedieselshop.us/Data%20EMD%20SDP40.HTML - has the same overall length but the truck center of the SD40 is 3 1/2 feet longer than the passenger unit.  Did they have different bolster situation? Maybe the SD40's off-center?

SD40s and SDP40s have the same 40' bolster to bolster wheelbase.  The Diesel Shop drawing is incorrect (cab in the same spot as an SD40), as is the data.

[sirenwerks]

SD40s and SDP40s have the same 40' bolster to bolster wheelbase.  The Diesel Shop drawing is incorrect (cab in the same spot as an SD40), as is the data.

Good to know, thanks Robbman.  I know I have drawings of the SDP40 from a mag somewhere, and found a drawing online too.

[Robbman]

Drop me a line... I have the EMD catalog outline drawings... not much, but gives a really good idea of the changes.  At one time I shopped two of them together to show the differences (for a thread here no less)... should still have it