ScaleTrains HO and N Amherst "pre-announcement" announcement

[jagged ben]

I assume sundowner meant the AC4000CW but he is not correct that there were more of those than the SD40-2.

AC4000CW would be welcome, especially in SP.   

[sundowner]

Yep the AC44000, I phrase it wrong but if you count -9 like sd40-2 then yes there are more -9. The SD40-2 includes the Tunnel motors for Sp. AC44 is a AC -9 and so are the AC4460 that UP has.

[James Costello]

Would a C40-8 and a C40-8W be a drop on the new C39-8 mech?

[ai5629]

Would a C40-8 and a C40-8W be a drop on the new C39-8 mech?

Maybe.  From Withers Conrail Motive Power 1986-1991...
C40-8: 70' 8".  4500 gallon fuel tank. 
C39-8: 70' 8".  5000 gallon fuel tank.
The trucks on each appear to be the same, but I am not sure of the name of each type.

[wazzou]

The SD40-2 includes the Tunnel motors for Sp.

I'm not sure that's accurate.

[sundowner]

Sd40T-2 is a SD40-2 with different radiators.

[daniel_leavitt2000]

Would a C40-8 and a C40-8W be a drop on the new C39-8 mech?

That was kind of my thinking too... mechanism is already there, though they would need to change the fuel tank. I'm not sure if they could carry over the frame details. Anyone know if the frames on the T4 was separate from the chassis or cast in place?

But if they made a C40-8/W.... god help me. I have like 10 of the Atlas and a few of the second generation Bachmanns that were heavily upgraded. I don't NEED more... but if they made them, I certainly would find a way to purchase them.

I'm really hoping they do some U-boats. Or a C30/36-7/A.

[mu26aeh]

Going to take a lot for me to get excited.  I'd like some of the 5188s but not ordering them.  Sorry... 

[jagged ben]

Sd40T-2 is a SD40-2 with different radiators.

In terms of prototype internals they belong to the same family, but the body is way too different to consider them the same model for a model train manufacturer.  The same is true for the dash 9 and AC4400, albeit a bit less so.

The C40-8 is an interesting prospect.  I was thinking something they could reuse the ET44 trucks on, but I forgot they also have the trucks and mech for the C40.

[wazzou]

Sd40T-2 is a SD40-2 with different radiators.

I get that, I just don't think they combined production numbers, but again, I do not know this to be fact.

[squirrelhunter]

I spoke to Shane yesterday at the Plano show ( he was very kind and let me talk to him for a good bit right before lunch)

A few things-

They will announce 2 locomotives this year with a river counter and an operator level for each.

The river counter locomotives may have a somewhat higher price going forward. It sounded like the operator locomotives would be around $100.

Shane wanted to know if n scarlets would pay almost HO prices for a river counter locomotive- I told him I wasn't sure, that I doubted the modelers needing fleets of locomotives for big home layouts or N Trak would do it, but there are also a lot of modelers who will pay for road specific details.

Shane said the new operator locomotives would have things like tread plate detail and would have overall detail on par with Atlas offerings.

He also mentioned they would have a revised coupler soon.

I asked for the 4785 hoppers in MKT, he said they are planning a 2nd run.

He also mentioned tooling 5 cabs for their new loco, which makes me think it is some kind of wide nose, like a C44-9W, AC 4400 or SD70M of some sort.

I also suggested N scale could use a new SD40. He seemed sceptical, but I noted the Kato model has wide hoods, does not have a non dynamic brake version,  is run infrequently and there are many road names that could be done. He mentioned they only ran 900 total units on the C39-8, and I expressed my surprise that Conrail modelers didn't buy the heck out of them. I also suggested that the limited 10 or so year window where they roamed across the nation my have hurt.

I really appreciated Shane's time (the show was busy) and I really like their approach to going to major regional shows vs onky national conventions.

[cfritschle]

A circa 2000 version of the SD70M would be nice.   UP took delivery of 285 that year alone.   

[jagged ben]

...

He also mentioned tooling 5 cabs for their new loco, which makes me think it is some kind of wide nose, like a C44-9W, AC 4400 or SD70M of some sort.

...

Ha, interesting.  Let's see... (off the top of my head)

GE C44 (AC or DC)
- gull wing 3-window
- gull wing 4-window  (AC version only?)
- standard 3 window
- standard 4 window
- standard 3 window low number boards
- high headlight (NS)
- Canadian windows

SD70M
- door with window on the conductor's side (demonstrator)
- door with window on the engineer's side (SP, UP repaint, demonstrator)
- door without window on the engineer's side (UP)
- 'FIRE' cab
- SD70I

Well, they could either be doing the SD70M/I or short shrifting on something GE.  That doesn't narrow it down..   

[daniel_leavitt2000]

C40-8/Ws

Conrail - high headlight low number boards
Post - merger FRA delete
CSX/UP - low number boards low headlights
ATSF - Gull wing
Standard cab?

SD70/75/M/I us very possible.... Kind of a slap in the face to  Athearn though - Shane's previous employer.

[squirrelhunter]

My bet is C44-9w/AC4400CW