I have learned that running a model train business is not for the faint of heart. My wife is in sales, but sells products that are actually needed as opposed to just wanted. The stuff Scott shares with me would make most business minded people run for the hills, yet he still enjoys this work. I have to give him all the credit in the world for 1) putting up with a global economy in a niche market, 2) fickle buyers who expect perfection, 3) consultants (such as myself) who sometimes make mistakes that exacerbates number 2, and 4) taking so much risk with no guarantee of reward. I do hope Scott writes a book someday about his adventures in model railroading from a manufacturer's perspective. There are certainly some wonderful and also scary tales to tell about the nature of this business!
@GG1 4877 posted:I have learned that running a model train business is not for the faint of heart. My wife is in sales, but sells products that are actually needed as opposed to just wanted. The stuff Scott shares with me would make most business minded people run for the hills, yet he still enjoys this work. I have to give him all the credit in the world for 1) putting up with a global economy in a niche market, 2) fickle buyers who expect perfection, 3) consultants (such as myself) who sometimes make mistakes that exacerbates number 2, and 4) taking so much risk with no guarantee of reward. I do hope Scott writes a book someday about his adventures in model railroading from a manufacturer's perspective. There are certainly some wonderful and also scary tales to tell about the nature of this business!
I’d be a buyer of such a book. I think it would be fascinating. Even tidbits you share are interesting as you also give insight into the business. Perhaps you should contribute to it too. 😬
@GG1 4877 posted:W&LE units are still being researched.
Just please, no “gap-toothed” short fuel tank models…
http://www.nsdash9.com/WEroster/WE7019fs3.jpg
Blechh.. 
Actually, I like it, but it would be better if an equal "gap" were on the aft end also. That would make it a lot easier to model one of those that emigrated to South America (Brazil; Estrada de Ferro Vitória a Minas; EFVM) and converted to B-B + B-B meter gauge units.
@rplst8 posted:Just please, no “gap-toothed” short fuel tank models…
lechh..
@Tim Mc posted:I'm looking forward to seeing the phases and numbers for the Mopac SD40-2s!
Good to see you are still in the MP hunt Tim. I don’t expect the phases will be announced - but you might eventually find out via a note to Scott or Jonathan. I’ll be very happy with my two - with whatever phase shows up. Scott will typically will due as many as four numbers if there is an order for four units. Beyond that I don’t know. I’ll probably add a DRG for a coal drag too.
W&LE units will be former MOPAC units with the 4000 gallon fuel tank. Since they came to the W&LE via a circuitous route, the details are very different from when they were originally delivered.
Interestingly enough, the W&LE images showed up fine one my phone, but don't when I'm browsing from a PC this morning.
I can see the image as well on my iPhone, but not on my desktop (Google Chrome).
Cool, I have 4 W&LE on order thru Caboose Stop Hobbies. I don't know why I didn't just order them directly from Scott.
Jonathan, if you need more information on these units I would be glad to help. I floated you an email yesterday about the lineage of the 6 81" nose SD40-2's 3rd Rail will be considering for the W&LE.
Rob
Units #6353 and #6354 are interesting. Former Kansas City Southern units that were used in the movie Unstoppable. They also seem to have some sort of upgrade done to the cab windows to widen them to four panes. Looks nice.
http://www.nsdash9.com/WEroster/WE6354.html
http://www.nsdash9.com/WEroster/WE6353.html
All of the former MoPac units are great too. From what I can tell they have eight of those currently numbered: 7002, 7010, 7011, 7013, 7016, 7020, 7021, and 7022.
Project update. Research is going really well on this project and I want to thank all those who have taken the time to send me information to help move this project forward.
This project will be rolled out a little differently than in the past. We will post the details for each locomotive prior to it going into production including road numbers. That leaves some time for those of you on the fence to get your orders in and those who have already ordered the confidence that this project is moving forward successfully.
Here is just a teaser:
MOPAC: Road numbers 3217, 3229, 3255, 3264 in their mid 1980's paint scheme
W&LE: Road numbers 7002, 7010, 7013, 7016
Southern: 4 road numbers between 3201-3216 to be determined.
Conrail: Will have Flexcoil truck sideframes.
Milwaukee Road: Road numbers 184, 193, 205, 209 with their dinky 3200 gallon fuel tanks.
This list will grow as the picture becomes clearer, but at least a start.
Enjoy your weekend and play with your trains!
Jonathan: do you plan to produce the CN unit?
@GG1 4877 posted:Project update. Research is going really well on this project and I want to thank all those who have taken the time to send me information to help move this project forward.
This project will be rolled out a little differently than in the past. We will post the details for each locomotive prior to it going into production including road numbers. That leaves some time for those of you on the fence to get your orders in and those who have already ordered the confidence that this project is moving forward successfully.
Here is just a teaser:
MOPAC: Road numbers 3217, 3229, 3255, 3264 in their mid 1980's paint scheme
W&LE: Road numbers 7002, 7010, 7013, 7016
Southern: 4 road numbers between 3201-3216 to be determined.
Conrail: Will have Flexcoil truck sideframes.
Milwaukee Road: Road numbers 184, 193, 205, 209 with their dinky 3200 gallon fuel tanks.
This list will grow as the picture becomes clearer, but at least a start.
Enjoy your weekend and play with your trains!
Oh I DO LOVE THE FIRST TEASER !!! 😜😜 MOPAC to be done - is looking “official” !!!
EEE- HAAA !!!! Made my day !!!!
🙂😬🙂😬🙂😬🙂😬🙂😬🙂
@HiramO posted:Jonathan: do you plan to produce the CN unit?
Yes. The CN unit will have the Canadian wide cab.
Hi Jonathan,
Many thanks for the update
Any idea of the Conrail / Conrail Quality road #s
If it is too early, don't worry about it
Thanks again to you and Scott
@GG1 4877 posted:This project will be rolled out a little differently than in the past. We will post the details for each locomotive prior to it going into production including road numbers. That leaves some time for those of you on the fence to get your orders in and those who have already ordered the confidence that this project is moving forward successfully.
I think this is an excellent idea. Kudos to Scott and you for making this move.
@EMD posted:Hi Jonathan,
Many thanks for the update
Any idea of the Conrail / Conrail Quality road #s
If it is too early, don't worry about it
Thanks again to you and Scott
Right now I just have them in the 6441-6482 which was the 2nd order Conrail made for SD40-2s. Just need to nail down the exact numbers.
The photo shown for the past 6 months of the CN SD40-2 was pf a standard cab model built for the CN then sold to the KCS then sold to the GTW and repainted in the 1990's CN scheme.
What road numbers and schemes will be on the CN SD40-2W?
Andrew
I just added one of each Conrail and Conrail Quality liveries in 3-rail to my order of two WLE units.
These will likely be the most accurate models of an SD40-2 ever made in 3-rail, and maybe even all of O-scale. Having representations of them with both Flexcoil and HT-C trucks will be cool. Part of me wants to also get a tunnel motor and snoot nose version, but I think that’s to much for my wallet in one order and I’m not even sure a snoot is in the works.
In the GP7/9 thread the question of wheel size in the HT-C trucks came up.
Two seemingly reliable sources say they have 42 inch diameter wheels, and then @catnap found another source that said they were 40 inch. FWIW the Wikipedia page says that they are 40 inch as well, but there doesn’t seem to be a citation for that.
Sources that say 42 inch:
https://utahrails.net/loconote...-RT-3_March-1972.pdf
https://heritagerailalliance.w...S-AXLES-1987-OCT.PDF
Source that says 40 inch:
http://tcrc320.org/MEMBERS/SD40-2_Operator_Manual.pdf
I’m curious what others think on this question. Although I am NOT going to quibble over two scale inches in a 1:48 model that rides on 1:43.5 tracks.
@TrainBub posted:Oh I DO LOVE THE FIRST TEASER !!! 😜😜 MOPAC to be done - is looking “official” !!!
EEE- HAAA !!!! Made my day !!!!
🙂😬🙂😬🙂😬🙂😬🙂😬🙂
Oh yeah TrainBub! I'm very excited for these. For anyone curious about Mopac's fleet, MP had (306) SD40-2s in total! (74) SD40-2s made in 1973-74 were in the early sawblade scheme. (232) Mopac SD40-2s made between 1975 and 1980 were delivered in the late scheme.
While I would have been OK with either the early non-DB, or late DB models (74), the non-DB SD40-2s being produced in the as-delivered late scheme are the most typical of Mopac's fleet (158 of 306, or slightly more than half of all MP SD40-2s).
The road numbers are survivors that lasted into the UP merger period in Jenks Blue and were found all over the system. According to Kevin EuDaly's book Missouri Pacific Diesel Power, these four were not repainted into the UP "canary" or "mop-up" scheme.
Pics of 3217 (Feb 85) and 3264 (Dec 85) can be found at the Screaming Eagle site:
http://trainweb.org/screaminge...oco_2gen_sd40-2.html
Pics of 3229 (May 89), 3255 (Jul 85) can be found here:
http://www.rr-fallenflags.org/mp/mp-300.html
Time to get the layout planned. The office loop won't do these justice.
Thanks Jonathan and Scott!
~Tim
The second order of Conrail units 6441-6524 had no plows. Since you have decided to do Conrail Quality, you have to be careful picking the correct road numbers as these had many slight variations. 3 different size Conrail Quality logos were used. Some got the Conrail Quality on the front nose but not the rear. Some got it on the rear and not on the nose. Early units and the Q towards the front. Since these will be later Conrail Quality Units can ERR enable working ditch lights? If you are not doing ditch lights then I suggest doing regular Conrail Paint.
The most attractive units were the ones with Conrail Quality on the nose, no rear painted Quality, Side panel Q towards the rear under the back fans rails going forward, white number boards, white front rear and side sills, top of the nose painted black (this was a mix of black and anti-skid sand but black will do).
- Crank
I was curious what road numbers from the range provided might be prototypical for the Conrail Quality SD40-2 engines. A little research located these pictures of potential numbers on the Conrail Photo Archive.
Conrail 6442 10/15/98 Hagerstown, MD
Conrail 6449 02/18/96 Altoona, PA (On flatcar after wreck)
Conrail 6451 4-21-94 Altoona, PA (Nose only)
Conrail 6451 02/14/98 Bear, DE
Conrail 6457 06/15/96 Gallitzin, PA (Rear "Conrail Quality")
Conrail 6457 02/14/98 Wilmington DE (Nose "Conrail Quality")
Conrail 6476 12/31/95 Edgemoor, DE (Only CONRAIL on nose)
There are probably other numbers that can be used, only included two even and three odd numbered engines.
If you want to know where the cutoff line between go and no go that I had to reserve for Ferromex is it is Conrail. So there is a REAL good chance,especially with the addition of the flexicoil trucks, that here will be only one physical version. Now Jonathan has to find 4 numbers where they all matched. If you want more detail differences there needs to be more reservations for Conrail, like double digit more.
Doing only one version (Quality or regular) is fine, as long as either is done correctly, which I am sure it will be. It will be great to have Conrail SD40-2s. Both paint schemes a pure bonus. I only made some points as it appears as if 3rd Rail is/was going to do two different Conrail paint schemes.
- Crank
Even though the second order of Conrail SD40-2s were not delivered with plows, almost all of them received plows. Add in the fact that the Q in quality is on different sides of "CONRAIL" on the right side of the locomotive depending on road number and the three different sizes of graphics, it is quite a challenge. Makes it very interesting to track down.
@falconservice posted:The photo shown for the past 6 months of the CN SD40-2 was pf a standard cab model built for the CN then sold to the KCS then sold to the GTW and repainted in the 1990's CN scheme.
What road numbers and schemes will be on the CN SD40-2W?
Andrew
Haven't completely gotten to CN yet, but right now playing around with the units in the 5241-5363 series and the as delivered paint scheme. Scott has committed to do the wide cab so the web site will be updated accordingly.
@GregM posted:I was curious what road numbers from the range provided might be prototypical for the Conrail Quality SD40-2 engines. A little research located these pictures of potential numbers on the Conrail Photo Archive.
Conrail 6442 10/15/98 Hagerstown, MD
Conrail 6449 02/18/96 Altoona, PA (On flatcar after wreck)
Conrail 6451 4-21-94 Altoona, PA (Nose only)
Conrail 6451 02/14/98 Bear, DE
Conrail 6457 06/15/96 Gallitzin, PA (Rear "Conrail Quality")
Conrail 6457 02/14/98 Wilmington DE (Nose "Conrail Quality")
Conrail 6476 12/31/95 Edgemoor, DE (Only CONRAIL on nose)
There are probably other numbers that can be used, only included two even and three odd numbered engines.
Man I miss hearing those 645s coming up Cresson mountain through the Jewel of the Mainline at my grandmother’s house.
The fun starts around the 1:54 mark… 
Next teaser and kudos to anyone that can unravel this one. Not hard with a web search honestly.
CSX: 8836, 8838, 8839, 8842
Without looking I'm going to say they were ex-B&O (Chessie) units.
@rplst8 posted:Man I miss hearing those 645s coming up Cresson mountain through the Jewel of the Mainline at my grandmother’s house.
The fun starts around the 1:54 mark…
I've watched this video no less than a dozen times with the speakers at full volume. The Dash 8's sound pretty good, too, but nothing like the pushers.
@rplst8 posted:8836 is ex-Conrail.
Edit: actually, they all are.
All of the ex Conrail units either went to CSX or NS and were painted appropriately by their new owners. Not a single person has asked about getting them in their new owners livery.
If you want to see the difference between the HTC and Flexicoil trucks in action there is a video on Youtube [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=07vc1q73i-c] showing the differences in slippage. Both are SD40-2s and one is an ex Conrail unit. Wow!
@rdunniii posted:All of the ex Conrail units either went to CSX or NS and were painted appropriately by their new owners. Not a single person has asked about getting them in their new owners livery.
I don’t understand. I wasn’t suggesting they be delivered in their new owners livery. Johnathan asked if anyone could unravel that teaser he gave.
rdunniii, I guess nobody wants ex-Cons 
That wheel slippage video has been posted on here before
I believe it was a malfunctioning traction motor?
@EMD posted:rdunniii, I guess nobody wants ex-Cons
That wheel slippage video has been posted on here before
I believe it was a malfunctioning traction motor?
That is the question. Do people want ex-cons or ex-chessies?
@rdunniii posted:All of the ex Conrail units either went to CSX or NS and were painted appropriately by their new owners. Not a single person has asked about getting them in their new owners livery.
If you want to see the difference between the HTC and Flexicoil trucks in action there is a video on Youtube [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=07vc1q73i-c] showing the differences in slippage. Both are SD40-2s and one is an ex Conrail unit. Wow!
Wow, that was quite a show! Thanks for posting.
6422, 6463, 6465 .... NEXT! 
@EMD posted:rdunniii, I guess nobody wants ex-Cons
That wheel slippage video has been posted on here before
I believe it was a malfunctioning traction motor?
Maybe, but...all 6 motors are slipping. It is the difference between no traction control on the flexicoils and tractions control in the High Traction trucks. Everything else on the two units is the same.
@rdunniii posted:All of the ex Conrail units either went to CSX or NS and were painted appropriately by their new owners. Not a single person has asked about getting them in their new owners livery.
If you want to see the difference between the HTC and Flexicoil trucks in action there is a video on Youtube [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=07vc1q73i-c] showing the differences in slippage. Both are SD40-2s and one is an ex Conrail unit. Wow!
Sometimes a little independent helps with the wheelslip.
@GG1 4877 posted:That is the question. Do people want ex-cons or ex-chessies?
I would prefer ex-L&N with the nose headlight... 80XX-81XX's
