Intermountain SD40-2

[jereising]

And UP 80s - 90s with sound...I count six numbers...small stock, though...

[jagged ben]

Got mine! 

[milw156]

I picked up one of these at this past weekends Madison Wisconsin show. I had no troubles at all with it other than having to drop CV 5 down to about 75 and decrease the master volume control to about the same value.  I may very well have some Kato Milwaukee units with shortened fuel tank to part with when the next run of Milwaukee arrives!

[chessie system fan]

Well, I couldn't resist any longer so I bought a Chessie unit.  Came in the mail today.  It's got the same lifting problem mentioned earlier.

[wazzou]

Is that what's causing the stress on the handrails?

[chessie system fan]

Yes.  It's hard to photograph but the handrails on that whole side are bent over due to the cab yanking them left.  And the cab door window is missing due to a small stress fracture where the door meets the nose.  The entire cab is pressing on that point. 

Fortunately, their service department promptly returned my email and it's going back to them for replacement.

This is a beautiful locomotive, but it's definitely best buying a new one so it can be replaced if needed.  Otherwise, I'd recommend buying only if there are excellent pictures.

[jagged ben]

Yup.

[mu26aeh]

I received my CSX YN2 8811 today.  Did not exhibit any of the aforementioned issues with fit/stress/etc.  It is missing a windshield wiper but that's not a big deal to me.  It's a CSX unit anyways.  They'd just steal on from the conductors side 

Edit:  I just found after putting unit on track, a ditch light housing is also missing.  One side just has the light tube sticking out..

[wazzou]

I received my CSX YN2 8811 today.  Did not exhibit any of the aforementioned issues with fit/stress/etc.  It is missing a windshield wiper but that's not a big deal to me.  It's a CSX unit anyways.  They'd just steal on from the conductors side 

Edit:  I just found after putting unit on track, a ditch light housing is also missing.  One side just has the light tube sticking out..

There is just no excuse really for either one of those things but the ditch-light is especially egregious.   

[daniel_leavitt2000]

I think it's more an issue with small parts de-glueing during shipping than anything else.

IM will replace any imperfect shell at their expense. They have one of the best service departments in the industry.

Just curious... has anyone tried to disassemble the shell to try and figure out what is going on?

[mu26aeh]

There were no loose parts in the jewel box so they disappeared before getting there.

[AKNscale]

I think it's more an issue with small parts de-glueing during shipping than anything else.

IM will replace any imperfect shell at their expense. They have one of the best service departments in the industry.

Just curious... has anyone tried to disassemble the shell to try and figure out what is going on?

I’ve disassembled one of these shells, but I haven’t seen those problems. They aren’t too hard to disassemble if you take your time but I wish they would stop gluing the bodies together though.

[daniel_leavitt2000]

Can you do a write up? I have tried to take the cab off my Conrail units and can't figure out where to begin.

[AKNscale]

I haven’t separated the cab from the body, though I can certainly attempt it then cover it for you. This is as far as I’ve broken down the body shell:


If I remember correctly, it looked as if the cab separated from the body much like most other brands. The main thing I did was take my time as for some reason they decided to glue it all together. I believe I didn’t attempt it originally because I was afraid of damaging the paint.

[Spades]

I haven’t separated the cab from the body, though I can certainly attempt it then cover it for you. This is as far as I’ve broken down the body shell:


If I remember correctly, it looked as if the cab separated from the body much like most other brands. The main thing I did was take my time as for some reason they decided to glue it all together. I believe I didn’t attempt it originally because I was afraid of damaging the paint.

On the SD40/45T-2 the cab is attached to the battery boxes.  I have replaced the cabs on mine with Atlas cabs.  You have to cut off the battery boxes move an electrical cabinet from the long hood.  Having gone this far I replace the SP headlight details with casting copied from some NSN details. Replace the huge access door on the dynamic brake blisters.  Adding some frame material below the walkway removes that floating on air/lift kit look.