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There were Canadian National GP40-2W diesel-electric locomotives.

They ended up in Watco paint schemes. 

Andrew

Realistically Sunset has to announce reservation requests for another diesel to gauge the demand, weather it is a GP 40 series, FAs or a modern GE EVO to assess the current market. JMO

I'd like to see a RSC3 in Seaboard Air Line colors, but other than SAL, SCL, and Soo Line the only other owners were foreign.  It would be nice to have those A1A trucks!

Now somebody has decided that they might switch to the GP7 or GP9 if there are not more reservations for the SD40-2 soon. 

If they switch to the GP9 diesel then I would have to get Grand Trunk Western in Blue, red & white as painted during 1970-1992 in the 4900 series. 

Andrew

Recently done SD9   Change to GP 7/9 would be a low cost offering for Thirdrail with existing molds.  IMO.   ?? $800 ?? diesels may be the problem.  

Part of the problem with SD/GP 7/9 is that Atlas has recently done that model.   A custom paint Atlas model.

I believe price is the biggest hindrance. I'm not saying their models aren't worth that kind of money, but it's hard to find enough people willing to pay almost double the cost of a Lionel or MTH model. 

Nobody has produced a factory painted O scale model of a SOO LINE GP7 diesel-electric locomotive. 

Either in the original maroon and gold scheme or the 1960's red and white scheme. 

The Illinois Railway Museum has restored The Rock Island GP7 diesel-electric locomotive 

Andrew

Falcon Service

EBT Jim posted:

hibar posted:

It seems to this point Sunsets niche market is late steam and first generation diesels, perhaps FAs and Alco RS3, RSD4 and5s, bear in mind the Atlas units have oversize hoods and the Weavers suspect drives. JMO

Numerous requests have been made for ALCO road switchers over the years .... Scott feels that the market is saturated with them. 

I would have splurged on a couple of these expensive models.

Well I know four ALCo models that have yet to be done....

The C636, C430, T6, C415

I can easily see sales of the C636 and C430. Since Atlas O only did "two shot" run of the C628 and C630, C424 & C425 so those models as well are fair game. Lionel only has the C420 and MTH only done a botched ex Weaver models "C628".

falconservice posted:

Now somebody has decided that they might switch to the GP7 or GP9 if there are not more reservations for the SD40-2 soon. 

If they switch to the GP9 diesel then I would have to get Grand Trunk Western in Blue, red & white as painted during 1970-1992 in the 4900 series. 

Andrew

I would be in for a "low nose" Conrail- Paducah built unit and a PRR GP9 and GP9B ! Lionel really compromised their PRR Legacy GP9's.... A far cry from their excellent GP7 done two years earlier.

I also would be interested ONLY in a "Torpedo Tube GP7 " #8551-#8553 as well. [ Atlas O did a superb job on a regular GP7 as well as the Lionel Legacy model.]

Larry Neal posted:

rheil posted:

Scott and I talk on average every couple of weeks about what projects to do and the SD40-2 seemed to be a good candidate to attempt for a more modern diesel than what has typically been offered by Sunset/3rd Rail. But the SD40-2 did not come close to having sufficient reservations.

As has been noted in previous comments on this forum possibly modern power (meaning after steam power was gone) is not a good fit for Sunset / 3rd Rail. With that in mind look for what we consider to be a "good" diesel announcement from Sunset early next year.

Although the only thing I have purchased from 3rd Rail was an ACL express reefer, I have had some interest in the locomotives, just not the funds. Seeing what has been put out by Atlas, Lionel & MTH, there does seem to be plenty of overlap of similar models. 

Here is what I propose as possible "transition era" diesel locomotives:

GP30 - Lionel has put this out for several years, but with some issues. I think a properly done, scale version, with LH/HH and DB/NDB versions should sell well. Railroads seemed to skip the GP18 and GP20 models, making the GP30 extremely popular in the 1960s - 70s era. Non-Powered units would need to be offered since many railroads ran them in 3-4 unit consists (or lash-ups?) on their fastest time freights.

SW1200 / 1500 - This switcher would be perfect for those who have limited space but want the quality and look of a scale model. Most switchers made are NW2 or SW8/9 versions, and these were made, depending on model, from 1954 - 1970s. 

I would also add GE U Boats, but the their 1960s era models - U25B, U33B and U36B were somewhat limited by railroads that purchased them. 

I know the thread is about the GP40-2 but my 2 cents would be for the GP20. MTH is the only company that makes them and if produced by Sunset I know they would be one to buy. I speak not only for 3-Rail but 2 Rail as well where I don't find many at all.

The Grand Trunk Western purchased GP18 locos, then skipped the GP20 and GP30. 

Andrew

I know I am super late to the party, but for what it's worth I would certainly purchase a GP40-2 if they offered one.  Any phase is fine.  These are more attractive than the SD40-2, because in O-scale I prefer 4 axle diesels.  Perhaps I'm not alone in that?

In HO I have built and detailed every phase of GP40-2, which was a lot of work to be accurate!  Although I could do it again in O-scale, I would prefer to just purchase a factory one if available.  Maybe two!

falconservice posted:

There were Canadian National GP40-2W diesel-electric locomotives.

They ended up in Watco paint schemes. 

Andrew

I think KCS had some for a time in gray.

Mike CT posted:

Recently done SD9   Change to GP 7/9 would be a low cost offering for Thirdrail with existing molds.  IMO.   ?? $800 ?? diesels may be the problem.  

Part of the problem with SD/GP 7/9 is that Atlas has recently done that model.   A custom paint Atlas model.

 

I think the overall fan configuration is different between the GP9 and SD9.

Also, I think the SD40-2 had three different low nose lengths!

Dominic Mazoch posted:

Mike CT posted:

Recently done SD9   Change to GP 7/9 would be a low cost offering for Thirdrail with existing molds.  IMO.   ?? $800 ?? diesels may be the problem.  

Part of the problem with SD/GP 7/9 is that Atlas has recently done that model.   A custom paint Atlas model.

 

I think the radiator fans on the SD9 are at the rear of the long hood,  GP9 in the middle.

Ummmm...

http://www.3rdrail.com/reservation.html#GP79

Rusty

Seeing as this thread is two years old and Scott still doesn't have the reservations needed to swing into production it seems that the price point folks are willing to pay for SD40's is lower than what is financially successful for them to begin production. 

Clarification:   I redid my post about the fans.  The radiator is in the rear.  But the total fan configuration betwrrn the two is different.

BobbyD posted:

Seeing as this thread is two years old and Scott still doesn't have the reservations needed to swing into production it seems that the price point folks are willing to pay for SD40's is lower than what is financially successful for them to begin production. 

Yes, and I also wonder how many of the original reservations would still be valid, given the time elapsed.  At this point a new tally might have to be created, and it could be the case that the responses are even less than before.

That said, I was not part of the original SD40-2 call, but likely would be interested now.  I guess I'm an outlier.  However, as I stated above I would be much more interested in a detail accurate GP40-2, due to my preference of 4 axle diesels.

It seems everyone owns a Big Boy nowadays, and I'm really glad folks have the space to run large equipment!  But, for me an SD40-2 would primarily be a static display piece, given the curve radius to make it look right.

Dominic Mazoch posted:

Also, I think the SD40-2 had three different low nose lengths!

Not to mention SP's tunnel motors' long snoots and D&RGW's somewhat shorter ones.

I know what is going to happen once 3rd Rail announces these SD40-2 ~ Lionel will announce a BTO Scale SD40-2 as well as MTH will announce a "New Tooling" SD40-2.

SPSF posted:

I know what is going to happen once 3rd Rail announces these SD40-2 ~ Lionel will announce a BTO Scale SD40-2 as well as MTH will announce a "New Tooling" SD40-2.

I doubt it but I might be interested.  I have 2 Lionel SD38s that I am putting Sunset SD9 drives into but there is no comparable -2 drive available.  And P48ing the Lionel rigid SD trucks is just a waste of time.  GP40s I replace the trucks with the PD hobbies.