New Sunset SD7/9 ....Yeah!

Thank you.  I just ordered a UP 3-rail SD-7.  After the ToT I want more 3rd Rail diesels.  

That's going to be a great model, but I'm not sure I'm willing to spend that kind of money for that or any other diesel. We'll see if I can resist temptation. Maybe if my ads on the Buy/Sell board work out...

I think of it as, if not a bargain, a dang good price.  It does have an ABS body, and at first that put me off a bit, but I trust 3rd rail to provide its usual detail, etc.  For that o get a scale, accurate, detailed model with cruise, sound, smoke, and all-wheel drive, etc. So I rate it as somewhere north of Legacy - all the features and Vison-like detailing.  And if it runs half as well as the ToT's loco, it is a jewel.   

Just to say...the "China drive' (really? Same drive philosophy as on Lionel PW diesels;

why not "Jersey drive"?) is just fine.

I have a 3rd Rail GE Dash-9 with the much-lauded single-motor/driveshaft/universal

mechanism. While in the process of painting/testing the loco, the drive failed (shaft/u-joint).

Lost interest in the project; sits in a box; brass ship ballast. Wish it HAD been a 'China".

I've reserved a 3rd Rail R-2 NYC electric; here's hoping. If I could just buy the body shell...

Thanks for the heads-up about the announcement, Jaygee. To be honest, the price is a little high for my liking, but I might have to look into reserving a Union Pacific SD7 or either a Chicago & North Western SD9 or the Southern Pacific "Black Widow" SD9. This will be my first 3rd Rail locomotive in my roster if I do make the reservation. 

Don't forget, if you would like another paint scheme, such as the SP Bloody Nose or Tiger Stripes, send Scott an email with your request. If he gets enough requests for the paint scheme, it's always a possibility to produce them. Such as the F7 Yellow Bonnets Those were not on the original order form.

My experience is that those drives are pretty easy to fix, so it might be worth diving into that project.  

Any decent RC hobby shop cab fix you up with various sizes of U-joints.  I can't wait to see my PRR 8588 SD7 (ES15a)  slugging it out with Madison Hill at about .003 SMPH, with that big 567BC mill wound out in notch eight!   EMD forever !

I'm believing for photo-etch safety tread walkways and no zinc- shrink truck sideframes!

Also like to see rubber (insulation matl.)  air hoses  and MU cables on the pilot ends.  And how about six, tiny, scale D47 traction motors with 65:12 gear sets on each axle, working interior cab gauge lights, a fully functional crank hand brake on the long hood......ohhhhhh never mind !

Those of you that keep requesting EMD Demonstrator models, now is your chance to get the fantastic looking Red & Maroon, SD7 Demonstrator #990. Sunset/3rd Rail/GGD requires at least 20 reservation/orders to produce the Demonstrator model, so lets get behind this stunning model!

I have pulled-out the original EMD Styling & Painting drawing for this, and will be furnishing a digital scanned copy to Scott Mann at the Chicago O-Scale March Meet.

Got excited initially when I noticed that they're also offering it in Espee, but unfortunately it looks like they're only offering it in Black Widow (would prefer the bloody nose paint scheme).

Oh well.

i'm sure you can get one in Daylight, John!   

Not a problem, as Scott will offer whatever he receives 20 reservations for. The SP would have had three different paint schemes, i.e. as delivered SD7 ('Switcher' Tiger Stripes), SD9 as delivered Black Widow, and later "Bloody Nose" styling.

Think 20 of each!

"And if it runs half as well as the ToT's loco, it is a jewel."

and yet...yours is on a shelf.  what a waste!  

I will NOT support THAT!!!!

LOL, aside from the fact that unlike Lionel, Scott at 3rd Rail would never compromise his company's standards by selling railroads short including the SP by using inappropriately applied paint schemes like that, I'd leave that to those prototypically deranged and challenged heretics/heathens like Brian, Hancock52 and everyone else who jumped onboard that diabolical bandwagon. 

Neither would Scott.  He actually has class. 

I hope that in addition to roadname-specific details, that Scott will also make sure to model the railing stanchions that are specific to the SD7 (cast metal "T" bar type) and the SD9 (sheet steel) respectively.  Historically in O gauge the manufacturers tended to just use one design (the sheet steel) for both versions which while accurate for the SD/GP9 and later prototypes, isn't accurate for the GP7 & SD7.  It may be subtle, but it is noticeable nonetheless and is one of the quick identifying features to tell the difference between the two prototypes.

Don't worry John, that detail will be correct as well as the different ladders and class light arrangements.

Speaking of Daylight freight engines, how about an SD-9 painted in the "Kodachrome"  paint scheme designed for the SPSF merger that never happened? It's not quite a Daylight, but the colors are similar and it would give the bright color junkies something prototypical to play with.

You know, as big of an SP fan that I am, I've never been that keen on the Kodachrome paint scheme; just the very idea of seeing SP engines with warbonnet-derived styling is somewhat off-putting to me (and the Santa Fe is also one of my favorites).  As an aside I never cared that much for SP's experimental "Popsicle" paint scheme used on their TE70-4S MK rebuilds either.

I also like SP's Daylight scheme very much.

But frankly, if given the choice between Kodachrome and a fictional "Daylight" scheme that Forrest above alluded to I'll take the Kodachrome any day of the week, simply because that's what was used in real life. 

Got my order in for a Milwaukee Road SD 7. After being thoroughly impressed with the GM ToT, there was no question I would invest in more 3rd Rail product; just didn't think it would be this soon!

I do believe Hot  Water will get his wish...if Scott will make them, I'll spring for both 990 and 991 in Big Red paint!   If this lokkie turns out as well as it has the potential to be, I'm seriously going to have to take out a loan to get all of these badd boys!  How about a pair of Espee SD7s in Black Widow paint on the front of those newly announced Sunset LTD. Budds, for a set of ailing Alco PAs! IIRC, about 1/3 of the Espee's had boilers.  Right now I'm looking at PRR 7s and 9s, and B&LE whatever he does....and those Big Reds would be awesome too !

The SP SD7 units were delivered in the switcher "Tiger Stripe" styling, and did not have steam generators. The SD9 units were delivered in the Black Widow styling and many were equipped with steam generators for passenger & commute service.

I, too, had mixed feelings about Kodachrome (though I have the MTH SD9's and the Atlas SD35 in that scheme). Growing up living near SP trackage and working near ATSF trackage I was bothered by the merger, but at least the heritage didn't disappear in the new paint job.

I used to think the "Popsicle" scheme was a Lionel fantasy until I spotted a photo of the prototype with this pattern on the web.

Yo, HW....Espee Into the '90s...Don Strack, IIRC....gives the full poop on the SD7s,  Mine is buried right now, but some of the 5300s did come with boilers.  As you said, All tiger stripes in the beginning.

You might want to loan that book to Scott.

What may be a better book would be Southern Pacific Historic Diesels, Volume 4, SD7 and SD9 Locomotives by Joseph Strapac.  I think he still has some copies available through his publishing company, Shade Tree Books. 

It will be interesting to see which details appears on the models as there were several variations headlights, Gyra-Lights, and emergency lights.  Some had barrel signal lights, some were delivered without any extra lighting.  Some had a single fuel tank, some had a dual fuel tank, some had a fuel tank/water tank combination. Quite the conundrum for Scott to decide which order of locomotives to produce.

As an SP fan, I can't wait for this highly anticipated model.

If you check the Sunset Thirdrail order page for the SD 7/9 offering here are the current choices, AM January 22, 2015.

Click on Choose Road

SD7

Demo

BO

CBQ

CNW

Chessie

Milw

DRGW

GN

NW

PRR

SP

South

UP

SD9

BO

BLE

CS

CBQ

CNW

DMIR

DRGW

GN

PRR

NKP

NS

South

SP

I asked Scott to design these locomotives so that the battery is located just below the roof of the locomotive and have a removable hatch to access the battery without having to remove the body shell as with the other diesel models. Lionel and MTH have been doing this for several years now and of course MTH Proto 3 locomotives don't use a battery at all.

I always thought that the 9 Volt battery was only important for those folks using conventional. Operating with TMCC/Legacy the battery isn't needed.

actually, i believe that battery is there to maintain rail sounds in case of a brief power interruption.  i have a couple of places on my layout where some steamers will lose sounds for a second or two. the battery prevents this from happening.

Scott has been including a battery already installed with all the engines, and I usually take mine out, but you have to take it apart to get it out. An access hatch would be nice, to easily remove or replace that battery. 

and now, my ignoramus question for the week.

i like diesels, but have always had my attention drawn to the cab units that fronted streamliners.

prior to this thread, i could not have told you what an SD7 or SD9 was or looked like.  why is there such excitement for these locos?

Well frankly, "excitement" doesn't fit me, at least.  for the Train of Tomorrow, yes, but for the SD7, just "mild enthusiasm."  For me, I  bought it and feel positive about it and look forward to getting it  because; 1) its a nice looking loco, b) it fits the timeline of my layout ('55) perfectly, c) it will be 3rd Rail - i.e., really good detail and quality, d) it will have sound, smoke, etc., etc., e) it will be UP - a railroad I model and finally, f) the cost seems very reasonable.   so . . . 

Because there are folks here who do know the difference.

Rusty

For me the attraction is that I've always liked the utilitarian look of "hood units" like the early SD and GP diesel-electrics,  and between the SD7 and SD9 my favorite road (SP) had a pretty sizable fleet of them (43 SD7s and 150 SD9) that mostly saw use hauling heavy lumber trains between Northern California and Oregon.  They were nicknamed "Cadillacs" by a number of SP's crew members because of their smooth ride.

Of note is that after a major fleet rebuild (GRIP), two SD9s (#4450 nicknamed "Huff" and #4451 nicknamed "Puff") were reassigned from freight duty (exception of 4450 which was assigned to the snowfighting fleet on Donner pass at the time) to the San Francisco-San Jose commuter train, both of which I believe were the only SD9s that retained their steam generators after the fleet rebuilds.  They were known as the cleanest looking SD9s in SP's entire fleet (because of their commuter duties that kept them constantly in public view).  Unfortunately #4450 was scrapped in Portola back in August 2013 after it was determined the amount of rust cancer she had and other mechanical issues deemed her unsuitable for a rebuild, while I believe # 4451 still exists under ownership of the Northwestern Pacific railroad which she was sold to many years ago, although from what I understand she's still mothballed, sitting very neglected amongst several other derelicts, probably will face the same fate as #4450 if there's no attempts to preserve her.