Intermountain SD40-2 !!11!

[lock4244]

I have IM tunnel motors and the SD40-2W. The SD40-2W is a vast improvement over the tunnel motor. I don't like the trucks and the lights are too bright and too blue, but otherwise they are really nice locomotives. I bought enough Kato SD40-2's as chassis transplant's if the -2W was a real dog, but the run well enough to me that I now have seven Kato's that are fodder for something else.

This SD40-2 announcement is far better than the one that Atlas or Athearn or whoever else hasn't made.

[lock4244]

Hee hee, I need to go sit at the CP tracks to confirm they actually are in use.  Fresh snow today, I`ll bet there are no tracks!   I`ll probably see an ICE loco first time though...

Additional context:
1.  Why wait to see it to judge.  We know everything 
2.  E.g., if it is not Atlas, we bash it.  Bachman may be getting into the good books and some resistance to bashing might emerge 
3.  Only Atlas locomotives look good and are above TRW criticism 
4.  And they are too expensive, darn it.  We want to buy these in the cheap bin at Walmart 
5.  How dare they, that panel has nine rivets and a variant built after a wreck added two smaller rivets 
6.  Have to mention Pennsy steam at all times, regardless of relevance or market interest. 
7.  All TRW members know that Kato hates the eastern roads.  They throw darts at Conrail pictures in their corporate offices 
8.  Yet, we still buy them, seemingly in droves, and breathlessly ask for more.  Only uncool rivet counters point out the height issue 

FAIL! You did not use enough Troll smileys in this post... fined 25 internets 

[RockGp40]

If in subsequent releases there are CNW or Rock Island (red/yellow scheme or a foobie bankruptcy blue), I'm in for one or two.

I hope these deliver!

[flight2000]

FAIL! You did not use enough Troll smileys in this post... fined 25 internets 

Where's the stinking "Like" button when you need it....   

Brian

[asarge]

I surely hope they do High Hoods sooner than later. The Southern fans are just chomping at the bit for some of those puppies!

[Scottl]

My bad, not enough troll! Now that I know there is a deficiency, I'll correct myself ( ):

Hee hee, I need to go sit at the CP tracks to confirm they actually are in use.  Fresh snow today, I`ll bet there are no tracks!    I`ll probably see an ICE loco first time though...

[trainforfun]

I have IM tunnel motors and the SD40-2W. The SD40-2W is a vast improvement over the tunnel motor. I don't like the trucks and the lights are too bright and too blue, but otherwise they are really nice locomotives. I bought enough Kato SD40-2's as chassis transplant's if the -2W was a real dog, but the run well enough to me that I now have seven Kato's that are fodder for something else.

This SD40-2 announcement is far better than the one that Atlas or Athearn or whoever else hasn't made.

Not as smooth as a KATO but acceptable like you said , these wide cabs were badly wanted here !!!!!
My minus point on these are the side handrails they become loose sometimes , not easy to glue back .
On the plus side they are thin .

[Scottl]

I have a tunnel motor and the handrails are the same as you describe.   They do have a very nice thin profile though.

[High Hood]

I surely hope they do High Hoods sooner than later. The Southern fans are just chomping at the bit for some of those puppies!

  I'm hoping for some N&W ones myself!

[Rossford Yard]

These threads....so predictable.  No wonder this was started on (or near) Ground Hog Day! (and repeats, and repeats, and repeats)

I guess its a good thing that no locomotive ever lives up to our expectations.  It sure shows our passion.

Funny thing is, Frank of IM is about the most open and caring person in the biz about the challenges of being in the MR mfg. business.  If these somehow fall short, its sure not for lack of trying.

And, I don't get how an Atlas mech is so reliable in an Atlas loco, but runs rough when purchased by IM under agreement with Atlas for their locos? What could be different?

[mplsjct]

These threads....

Funny thing is, Frank of IM is about the most open and caring person in the biz about the challenges of being in the MR mfg. business.  If these somehow fall short, its sure not for lack of trying.

Agreed, Frank is a great guy, met him in 1999, lots of enthusiasm.

As far as Intermountain quality, they definitely have their ups and downs.

[peteski]

And, I don't get how an Atlas mech is so reliable in an Atlas loco, but runs rough when purchased by IM under agreement with Atlas for their locos? What could be different?

Funny that you mentioned this. Couple of years ago, friend of mine had couple of poorly running IM SD40s.  He replaced the trucks with ones he bought from Atlas (like you mentioned - identical to IM) and the locos run much better. No, I don't know if he ever did a postmortem of the poorly running trucks.

[chessie system fan]

And, I don't get how an Atlas mech is so reliable in an Atlas loco, but runs rough when purchased by IM under agreement with Atlas for their locos? What could be different?

I think it's at least partly because IM is basing their locos on the SD50/60, which are known to have issues (especially in the trucks).  If they were based on the SD35 or GP40 I don't think there would be any problems.

[Rossford Yard]

I suppose that's possible.  Back when I had Hallmark Brass (actually still have it on the shelves) they were reputed to be poor runners.  Well, all my 4 axle Hallmark ran well, but those 6 axles always bound up, etc.  I suppose there is just a little more wobble in a longer motor shaft?

The other possibility is that IM buys parts for trucks from Atlas, and the QC on putting those together is a bit less in the IM factory?  As in Atlas throws out the worst 20% (or whatever) of the truck parts with flash or other issues, whereas IM throws out 5% or less?  In computer some discount chains are said to buy the rejects of the high end computers for individual sales for motherboards etc....not sure how true, and suppose the defect rate is only slightly higher, but enough to notice on the return rate)

So, I have had a few less smooth runners in IM, and not sure why either, so I understand those who have issues.  For my money, Kato still runs smoothest, Atlas second and IM a close third, based on my mixed fleet.  And, my few LL GP60's seem to match Atlas geeps.  Haven't put a decoder in my FVM GP 60's yet to see how they match, nor do I have any FVM EVO's to compare and complain about.....

[daniel_leavitt2000]

As far as I know, the only parts IM uses on their SD that are shared with Atlas are the trucks. I believe that they even stated the motors were (slightly) different. The frames are totally different.