@Rich Montague posted:

Fortunately Scott didn't act on your suggestion to cancel the project. (But maybe we'll let you live that down when the models are delivered...).

RM

Well he actually sounded like he was ready to pull the plug … and I hate “forever” to get done projects so I was ready to move on even though I had orders for MP and Frisco.  The committed $s would have just rolled over to another of Scotts projects. Then he changed his mind. Thank goodness.    I’m ready for these babies as I’ve already sold off my MTH MP SD40-2s !!!

@GG1 4877 posted:

Rich,

It is a really mixed bag.  For the Santa Fe models we settled on the roughly 1986 appearance.  No ditch lights, no class lights, but the roof mounted beacon, the ac unit, and the 88" hood for a phase II unit.  This was decided due to the need to get enough units with the same tooling for the ATSF blue bonnet and Kodachrome units into a single group.

Jonathan,

Thanks for the update. That approach makes sense and sounds good to me.

RM

Well folks, some new updated pix on the 3rd Rail web page. Perhaps version specific representations for those “in the know” to check out.  😜
Perhaps Really close to closing reservations. 🤔
Cheers

The website photos have been updated to be specific to the units being produced.

So to ask the question another way... which models are going to have ditch lights? From the photos it looks like the BN and the Conrail Quality have them. Is that it?

Any idea what the unpainted version is going to be based on? I'm a fence sitter for a useable configuration for patching one out.

I saw the SD40-2 page got updated to say Mid-2022.  Is that for delivery or when reservations close.  Extremely excited for these.

@rplst8 posted:

I saw the SD40-2 page got updated to say Mid-2022.  Is that for delivery or when reservations close.  Extremely excited for these.

Send Scott an Email with your question.  Avoid the opinion...go for the answer.

@dkdkrd posted:

Send Scott an Email with your question.  Avoid the opinion...go for the answer.

Scott and/or Jonathan often reply here.  By asking here, everyone gets the benefit of the answer.

The only information I can provide at the moment is that I am waiting to receive the first set of design drawings with all the road specific details and variations based on research I submitted in November to do a thorough review.  I expect to receive those drawings prior to the Chinese New Year.

Just an update from the 3rd Rail site:

EMD SD40-2 & SD40T-2 TUNNEL MOTOR
DIESELS (COMING Q1/Q2 2023)
(Design is in the final stages.) 9-6-2022
HIGH HOOD AND TUNNEL MOTOR VERSIONS TOO
ADDED - D&RGW, Ferromex,  C&NW, SP, UND (UNPAINTED)

http://www.3rdrail.com/reservation.html#SD402

How many road numbers are there for the MoPac SD40-2's?

Should be four for Mopac:

MOPAC: Road numbers 3217, 3229, 3255, 3264 in their mid 1980's paint scheme

It’s been a Long Road to see these models get done. It’s nice to see the finish line showing on the horizon !!!  

@TrainBub posted:

It’s been a Long Road to see these models get done. It’s nice to see the finish line showing on the horizon !!!  

Indeed! I have two W&LE, one Conrail, and one Conrail Quality ordered.

I’m very excited for this project. When I was young I used to watch the Conrail versions go back and forth on helper duty from Cresson on the former PRR.

From 3rd Rail Website

EMD SD40-2 & SD40T-2 TUNNEL MOTOR
DIESELS (COMING FALL 2023)
(Design is in the final stages.) 01-22-2023

Jonathan,

If you see this - Will these units have snowplows?

@EMD posted:

Jonathan,

If you see this - Will these units have snowplows?

Yes.  Where prototypically correct snowplows will be on the units. 

A quick update on the project.  This has been through a lot of revisions, but it is getting close to having the tooling started so there is really some progress happening!

Thanks for the update Jonathan!

Got an email from Scott yesterday that production has started on the SD40-2!  It will take a few months given the different car bodies, variations, and road names, but should be worth the wait.  Good stuff!

These will be Great when they arrive !!! They’ve been a Long Time Coming !!! With the GP30 now being offered, perhaps we are seeing more demand for more recent diesels. That would be nice !!! 👍😜

Cheers 😉

In case anyone might be interested, there are two undecorated SKUs.  One with the HTC trucks and one with the Flexicoil trucks.  Specifically, there is the BN undecorated and the Contrail undecorated.

Received an email from Scott Mann on the SD40-2's earlier in the week.

"Estimating the completion date has always been challenging. They are
telling us they will be finished, tested and packed by April 30th. Then the
container takes about 1 month to arrive. We are now looking at a Late May
Arrival."

I got that email too.  Is it too early to ask for a re-run? 

@Tim Mc posted:

I got that email too.  Is it too early to ask for a re-run? 

If MKT units are included in a 2nd run then I'm in!

This is definitely a good example of needing a date in the thread title...

3rd Rail just announced SD40-2's   9/2016

@Texas Eagle 77 posted:

If MKT units are included in a 2nd run then I'm in!

I’ll ditto that !!! And try again to include Frisco !!!!!!!!

@MartyE posted:

This is definitely a good example of needing a date in the thread title...

3rd Rail just announced SD40-2's   9/2016

I would if I could. This thread is where the bulk of the discussion was on these locos so I wanted to update it.

Maybe our amazing moderators could change the title? @OGR CEO-PUBLISHER

@Texas Eagle 77 posted:

I would if I could. This thread is where the bulk of the discussion was on these locos so I wanted to update it.

Maybe our amazing moderators could change the title? @OGR CEO-PUBLISHER

OK...I updated the title however not sure this is what you wanted.  If you want something else, let me know and I will make the change.

@OGR CEO-PUBLISHER posted:

OK...I updated the title however not sure this is what you wanted.  If you want something else, let me know and I will make the change.

That looks good to me! Thank you!

Unreal that's it's been nearly 8 years since this thread began and those SD40s have yet to ship. Hopefully next month!

This project proved to be extremely complex with all the variations.  5 sets of tooling and of course no two road names are the same in terms of road specific detailing.  It is exciting to see that it is finally about the cross the finish line.

@GG1 4877 posted:

This project proved to be extremely complex with all the variations.  5 sets of tooling and of course no two road names are the same in terms of road specific detailing.  It is exciting to see that it is finally about the cross the finish line.

Thank you for all your hard work in making these models a reality!

Hopefully there will be photos and videos of all of the SD40-2 design Variations on the Sunset Models YouTube channel.

Andrew

@GG1 4877 posted:

This project proved to be extremely complex with all the variations.  5 sets of tooling and of course no two road names are the same in terms of road specific detailing.  It is exciting to see that it is finally about the cross the finish line.

Given the capital investment and time researching and modeling everything, I’d a hope a second run would happen in the next few years. Once people see the models and recoup some cash, I think there will be strong demand for another run.

I sat these out because my focus right now is on 50s vintage diesel power but I’d definitely like some tunnel motors at some point.

How many years will it take to have the GP30 locomotives produced?

Andrew

@GG1 4877 posted:

This project proved to be extremely complex with all the variations.  5 sets of tooling and of course no two road names are the same in terms of road specific detailing.  It is exciting to see that it is finally about the cross the finish line.

Jonathan,    
Thanks for the Diligent detailed work for All Those Variations !!!  It’s This Attention to the Specifics for Each Road that draws us to purchase 3rd Rain and GGD products. The delivered product always shows this !!!
Cheers 😉

I’m excited for these! 1st time ever…. CN wide cabs!! If a re-run is done I would consider Conrail/ Conrail Quality.

@Dj'sOgaugetrains posted:

I’m excited for these! 1st time ever…. CN wide cabs!! If a re-run is done I would consider Conrail/ Conrail Quality.

What is a "wide cab"? How can a locomotive cab be any wider than an AAR Clearance diagram?

@Hot Water posted:

What is a "wide cab"? How can a locomotive cab be any wider than an AAR Clearance diagram?

It’s a Nick-name. Google image a Canadian National wide cab SD40-2

Looking forward to my MP-DRG and DRG- SP lash-ups. 😜