New MTL Passenger Cars and SD40 Update.

Joe D'Amato Apr 2, 2007

  1. SJ Z-man

    SJ Z-man TrainBoard Member

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    Joe,
    I'm in for the easiest way to buy as many passenger cars an we can. You know our "plywood plains" so we need as many as we can to string together. I am sure that you'll be selling 5-6 car sets with those single option cars like RPO, dome and sleepers that all of us can flex out what we need. :)
     
  2. jvnwhite

    jvnwhite TrainBoard Supporter

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    Joe,

    I was thinking about something this weekend as I was visiting an HO Operations Seesion on Saturday and a N Scale Operation Session on Sunday.

    A good bit of us in teh Z community have six axle locomotives that we are using for high speed main line runs on our layouts or (future layouts). A good bit of us have four axle locomotives that we are using for mid speed main line action or slow speed local runs. With regards to the new MTL six axle SD40-2, I would like to ask the following questions:

    1) Will its gearing be compatilble to the current six axle locomotives that are available?

    2) Will its gearing be compatible to the current popular four axle locomotives that are available such as the GP35?

    3) Will its gearing and speed be different from both types of existing locomotives.

    Again my reason for asking is that some of us are into mainline service using six axle locomotives (be it DC or DCC) in both a mixed consist and helper services operations. My thoughts are that for us to get these type of lash-ups to work successfully there might need to be a similar gearing within the six axle locomotive community that is seen over a broader portion of the locomotive's operating range.

    Lets us know your thoughts.

    Regards,
    Jeffrey
     
  3. Joe D'Amato

    Joe D'Amato TrainBoard Member

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    Gearing

    At the moment, the gearing is near the same, I don't have the ratios at hand, but the 35 was 1-1 in the gear tower where AZL and our F7 is more like 2-1 owing to the large main gear at the top of the tower. The new truck in the SD40-2 is 1-1 as well as all the gears are the same size. The Worm gear has much to do with this as well, but I believe ourse and theirs is near the same. The F7 is a whole nuther' ball of wax, not sure what the gear ratio from the engine to the gear tower is with that bell gear.

    The goal is to have things operating near each other for those lash ups. Please don't hold me to any of this, again I am on my first cup of coffee and don't have the files at hand. :eek:)

    Cheers

    Joe

     
  4. jvnwhite

    jvnwhite TrainBoard Supporter

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    Thanks Joe...keep us posted!
     
  5. Joe D'Amato

    Joe D'Amato TrainBoard Member

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    Jeff

    Hey Jeffery,

    Miss you man..when are we going to see your smiling face again??? Are you going to Detroit?

    Cheers

    Joe

     
  6. jvnwhite

    jvnwhite TrainBoard Supporter

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    Hey Joe,

    In miss everyone as well! I will give you a call this weekend probably Sunday.

    Regards,
    Jeffrey
     
  7. RSmidt

    RSmidt TrainBoard Member

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    Just lilke Jeffrey, when he does have a minute and pops up from out of the blue, he always has something extremely relevant. ;-)

    Randy
     
  8. StevenWoodwardNJ

    StevenWoodwardNJ TrainBoard Member

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    Joe D,

    Please forgive me if this has been clarified elsewhere, but I have a question...is it going to be an SD40 or SD40-2? There's actually quite a difference between the two. Thanks!
     
  9. Joe D'Amato

    Joe D'Amato TrainBoard Member

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    SD40-2

    Yep, there's a big difference! Someday I'd like us to do the 40 as well.

    Cheers

    Joe

     
  10. DPSTRIPE

    DPSTRIPE TrainBoard Supporter

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    Steve,
    I believe it was the -2. I only remember this because The pennsy didn't buy any, and I think CR's -2s were all converted, not purchased new, so the wheelbases are wrong.
    Dan S.

    oops, must have been typing mine while Joe was posting his.
     
  11. Michael R New York

    Michael R New York TrainBoard Member

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    Gee Whiz-another thing we can't buy Dan!

    P.S. Found a set of Waddell Hoppers thanks to an angel on this board!
     
  12. DPSTRIPE

    DPSTRIPE TrainBoard Supporter

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    Michael,
    Believe me, I can use a few things that I can't buy right now. The good thing about not having anything new to buy is that it inspires me to be creative with what I have. OK, the good thing is that it lets me save money for when things I want come out.

    I'm glad you finally got a set of the Waddells. I was looking out for another set for you, but, as you know, they aren't the most available item. I'm hoping that someday Uncle Will will make some injection molded coal company cars. Maybe when he starts running out of railroads.
    Dan S.
     
  13. StevenWoodwardNJ

    StevenWoodwardNJ TrainBoard Member

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    Thanks Joe, I was hoping for the -2!
     
  14. Michael R New York

    Michael R New York TrainBoard Member

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    Yup-every new item that doesn't come out in PRR allows me to save up for more GP7's and eventually the GP9s....

    And of course, since I want to make a monster Northeast layout, I have to put away some $$$ for the Commodore Vanderbilt from Marklin.

    As far as Coal Co. hoppers, I'm hoping that you are right re: Uncle Will. I know that the 2nd set of Waddell road numbers are in limbo (there were 4 road numbers total in existence apparently) because Harald doesn't see that there is a market with Uncle Will producing them. However, if there was enough demand, Harald will produce anything; unfortunately with the US Dollar so weak vs. the Euro, it's not that cost effective...just a few years back a pair of FR Hoppers would have cost around $100; now they are close to $180 (.85 Euro to the US Dollar back then vs. .75 US Dollars to the Euro today...)

    Oh well!!!

    Michael
     
  15. rray

    rray Staff Member

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    The beauty about being in a club, is you can get away with buying anything, from any era, and run it on the club layout! Just say you like XYZ trains too!

    Even though I am an NP modeler, I will be getting the SD40-2 to paint up in BN, and CP Rail US Flag/Maple Leaf.

    PS: I like those Waddell Hoppers too! "During the 1950's the Waddell Coal Co. purchased 5 of these cars from the Ontario & Western and painted them in a bright orange, black and white paint scheme, numbered 101-105."
     
  16. Michael R New York

    Michael R New York TrainBoard Member

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    So true. In just a few hours I will be at the Tri-State Z Scalers. Unfortunately 3 of our members will not be there today :-( And I will not make the June meeting unless we move it to the following weekend...I'll be out in the SF Bay area...then have a wedding back in NY.

    Oh so it was 5 road numbers, not 4....hmmmmmmmmmm...I wonder how good the injection-molded ones would look next to the brass ones....


    Michael

    P.S. you are up awfully early Robert!
     
  17. rray

    rray Staff Member

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    If you use the Will Wright cars, and modify them to Vertical Brake Wheel cars like I did here, then they will look just fine!. I will make the decal sets up real soon.
    [​IMG]


    I also want to park them in a small breaker yard with a coal breaker about this size:

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]
     
  18. Chris333

    Chris333 TrainBoard Supporter

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    Robert,

    Tuck away a cars worth of decals for me :teeth:

    http://www.atlaso.com/images/specialruns/8463.jpg

    Usually I wouldn't want a bright orange car like that, but the O&W connected with the Erie so it would be possible to see one.


    Also, isn't the O&W the road that dumped powder on top of the loads making the coal look blue?
     
    Last edited by a moderator: May 5, 2007
  19. Triplex

    Triplex TrainBoard Member

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    CR SD40-2s were purchased new, but with trade-in Flexicoil trucks. They have the Dash 2's longer frame, but the Flexicoil trucks themselves have slightly shorter (and even) axle spacing.
     
  20. ben scaro

    ben scaro TrainBoard Member

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    SD40-2 chassis- shorten-ability?

    Hi

    I am just wondering if the MT SD40-2 chassis would be able to be shortened easily ? I imagine, like the 35, there is not much room there . . . but interested to know.

    Also, not sure how the idea to shorten the GP35 for an MP15 came out . . . was that you, Joe ? Pleased to know if it worked.

    Best regards

    Ben
     

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