I asked Athearn,and got this reply

[C855B]

... I would likely buy one just because it was the last type of unit regularly ran on the San Joaquin Daylight, which ran through my home town until the advent of Amtrak.

Similar story here. My "formative years" as a railfan were seeing #52 almost daily with an SDP45 on the point, maybe trailing an F7B if it was a longer train. I'd be up for one or two as models because they hit square in my modeling period. I can even justify them as pool power with my UP stuff - after Amtrak, the 3200's would sneak away from the SF Peninsula commute pool on weekends to work freights. No doubt some made it past Ogden and maybe even as far as North Platte.

The biggest problem with the SDP45 as a production N model is two carbody variants and... well... only five road names. It's a niche model and I even wonder how they're expecting enough volume in HO to justify the up-front costs. I guess there must be more SP fans in HO? I dunno. You could say the same thing about the F/FP45, I guess, but Santa Fe seems to have more cachet in N.

[Ike the BN Freak]

Actually 3 body styles, being SP had some of the former EL units rebuilt to SD40M-2 specs.  I had pics of one in Vegas as local power when I first moved there...but that hard drive crashed and I lost all kinds of pics.

[Wlal13again]

When Athearn jumped into N scale I spoke with a Rep who said "we plan to offer everything we make in HO in N scale as well" I took that with a grain of salt..But I would like to see this one..

[Puddington]

With due respect to the GP-40 2L and 2W fraternity members (Nah, no respect..... it's just a CN thing.... ) I think the SDP 45 is a good choice; albeit we are, I beleive, starting to see a bit of a market pause for new locomotives.... the critical mass of major locomotive have been offered (yes, some are old, not modern and need to be retooled and re-issued but they have been done) and I think manufacuring compnaies are now forcing themselves to pause and see if they wnat to get into more unique, specialized units, smaller runs at perhaps higher MSRP's or engage in a re-tool and modernization of more mainstream units and gamble that the market will embrace a newer version of the model and forgo their older units in favour of new, more modern ones.

The question is (I guess, I'm just "spitballing") Would a SDP 45 (with only five roads, several variations and a relitive "handful" of units made) be more profitable/less risky than tooling up, say, a U Boat that has been offered circa 1985 ?... Does DCC on board, thinner handrails, more roadname specific details, etc... on a "re-run" make more "cents"....?

Food for thought - off to work.............

[lock4244]

The SDP45 for EL would get me to buy, in all likelyhood, one of every number they release, EL being my 2nd choice to CN/CP. That said, and it bears repeating, GP40-2L/GP40-2W first.

Pud, your lack of faith in CN is disturbing... I'm telling Jason on you 

[Puddington]

The SDP45 for EL would get me to buy, in all likelyhood, one of every number they release, EL being my 2nd choice to CN/CP. That said, and it bears repeating, GP40-2L/GP40-2W first.

Pud, your lack of faith in CN is disturbing... I'm telling Jason on you 

Oh, he knows.................HE KNOWS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 

[Catt]

The EL units are good for 5 railroads all by themselves The SP type was SP GN BN UP.Sounds like a good start to me.

[Leggy]

4 versions, GN/BN had a different type of steam generator (and GN specific details 'course) than the SP/UP units and then there's the EL/PC/CR variant without a steam generator and point long hood end, low fans, etc and then the SP rebuilds of those EL units.

[C855B]

... The SP type was SP GN BN UP. ...

The SDP's made it into yellow/gray?

[Leggy]

Yup.

[C855B]

Ah. Thanks. I didn't see any "SDP45" listings for UP on RR archives... it looks like they're calling it an "SD45-2M". Interesting to know.

But doesn't affect me personally. I model the real UP... but not the UP as interpreted by ex-MP managers.

[Catt]

Actually they are SD40-2Ms (rebuilt from SDP45s)

[nkalanaga]

Leggy:  Are there any major differences in the SP and GN versions except the rooftop steam generator details?  If not, they could make it as a separate hatch.  From the couple of pictures I have it appears that the BN units kept the side vents when the steam generators were removed.  If so, a blank hatch would do that version as well.

[Leggy]

The SP units had the obligatory SP light package and as delivered featured the L window version of the EMD cab so I'd say a later SP version that had the L window modified to the normal windows would be a better idea. I'd think an interchangeable sill and rear end would be the best way to go (maybe seperate fans like Kato does with some models (SD70MAC eg) to do the EL low profile fans).

Quite alot of variation in just one model....

[robert3985]

Wellllll.....PERSONALLY I'm hoping for a U.P. Baby Turbine, both with and without tender, with different venting on the sides and top details....then maybe your SDPWhatever...then a Veranda.  I'm thinkin' Athearn's HO model introductions should give them plenty of evidence what will sell and in what order.