NS 7203...SD80MAC or SD90MAC ? What exactly do i have here?

NS 7203 is an SD80 Mac, formerly Conrail 4105

http://sd80mac.railfanusa.com/roster.html

That's a nice looking engine

First of all, all NS locos have the headlight above the windshield. The first red flag noted... second the windshield SHOULD have the teardrop but again, red flag.  Not to mention wrong cab design, yikes. Nice loco, ok, but if you want it correct please note my comments.  MTH should know this info but who is the curator in design info?? Probably nobody who knows the difference... sorry, had to state the obvious. 

Well 7203 is an SD80Mac on the current Norfolk Southern Roster, and it was the former Conrail #4105.  It will be rebuilt soon with a new cab and tuned up to 5500 HP as part of the SD80ACu program at the Juniata Locomotive Shop.

Now on the other hand, the 7302 is a former Union Pacific SD9043MAC - it was built with a 4300 hp 16 cylinder 710 series engine like the SD70s, and was to be converted to a 6000hp motor once they became available. Apparently when the SD90MACs arrived from EMD with 6000hp motors the UP was not satisfied and never upgraded the SD9043MACs (Don't burn me here Hotwater, just trying to explain in General terms - I don't know exactly what transpired at the UP). Only the UP, Canadian Pacific at some leading companies bought SD9043MAcs and SD90MACs and all were headed to the deadline and many even being scrapped by the mid 2000s.

NS experienced a big surge in traffic in 2014 and needed new power, but nothing new could be bought quickly from EMD or GE, and there were Tier IV regulations looming on January 1st, 2015.

NS bought about 100  SD9043MACs from UP (and another 10 from CEFX leasing including a few in Indiana Railroad Paint) that were sitting in the deadlines and waiting to go to the scrap heap. 

At the Juniata locomotive shops in Altoona, PA they are being rebuilt as part of the SD70ACu program - receiving new cabs from EMD (same cab as SD70ACes), rebuilt traction motors, engine repairs as needed  (and retaining their 4300hp rating) and new paint.

 Some are done while some are still running around unmodified as SD9043MACs with UP Paint but an NS number. 7302 is at Juniata now in the deadline awaiting it's turn for rebuild but still in UP paint. 

It doesn't explain why Lionel did what they did because it's not accurate either way, but I hope this adds some clarity (Not my photos). 

Thaddeus posted:

That's a nice looking engine

This is a good looking engine..I'll just say its been "Junitaized" to my liking

It looks like a Phase 2 SD90MAC cab.

The SD80MACs never had this particular cab.

It does look good though