Atlas N scale SD-45

[propmeup1]

I’m thinking about the N scale Atlas SD-45.  Honestly, does it have any balls ?  I have the GP-30 and hardly gets out of its own way with five cars on my 1.34%.   Can the SD-45 do better or shall I not spend the $200 + ?  Thank you.

[Dupesy]

While I haven't run it, the undec I have seems pretty heavy.  I suspect it'll pull well.

[Missabe]

I can’t speak to performance on a grade but 2 of the Atlas SD45s easily pull 24 cars and a caboose on my layout. They have been excellent runners for me.
The only problem I’ve had is that the undecorateds were glued together at the plant so I had to mask all the windows and paint them assembled.

[propmeup1]

Thank you for that info.  I usually run doubleheaders and some triple so it shouldn’t be an issue.  Thank you.

[EmdFan]

I can’t speak to performance on a grade but 2 of the Atlas SD45s easily pull 24 cars and a caboose on my layout. They have been excellent runners for me.
The only problem I’ve had is that the undecorateds were glued together at the plant so I had to mask all the windows and paint them assembled.

Atlas does have replacement body shells available that are not glued together. If you call customer service they should be able to mail one out to you.

Steve W

[Missabe]

Definitely an option Steve, I do use the Atlas parts store on occasion.  Fortunately my patience with masking these worked and I’m currently working through decaling.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

I've had no complaints with mine.

[propmeup1]

New Question regarding the SD-45. Bachmann made one as well and in PRR. Who has what to say which they think is the better, Bachmann or Atlas ?  I'm still undecided on which to get.

[nickelplate759]

If you don't know the spookshow site, it has reviews of both locos (and others too): 
https://www.spookshow.net/locolist.php?diesels=6&traction=2&nonbrass=3&sortby=4&Submit=Submit.

The short version is that his reviews rate the Atlas higher.

Note that Bachmann has done at least two releases of the SD45 (the second added sound I think).

[Mark5]

New Question regarding the SD-45. Bachmann made one as well and in PRR. Who has what to say which they think is the better, Bachmann or Atlas ?  I'm still undecided on which to get.

I think the Bachs ride a bit high, but worse is that they totally got the "flared" radiators wrong.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

New Question regarding the SD-45. Bachmann made one as well and in PRR. Who has what to say which they think is the better, Bachmann or Atlas ?  I'm still undecided on which to get.

The Bachmann one was a JOKE. Don't waste your brain cells even thinking about it.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

If you don't know the spookshow site, it has reviews of both locos (and others too): 
https://www.spookshow.net/locolist.php?diesels=6&traction=2&nonbrass=3&sortby=4&Submit=Submit.

The short version is that his reviews rate the Atlas higher.

Note that Bachmann has done at least two releases of the SD45 (the second added sound I think).

Did the second include the traction motor blower duct that was missing from the first one? That's a pretty big thing to omit.

[propmeup1]

Atlas one is on order. Thanks for the info.  I'll give report.

Keith

[garethashenden]

I used one briefly at an ops session last week. It was staged as a helper, but in my way for some switching I needed to do. So rather than just move it, I used it to pull a couple of cars. The slow speed performance was pretty good. There was a good amount of inertia in the settings of that particular engine, but it was predictable enough that I could couple up without moving the car and place cars precisely in front of loading doors.

Because the guy who really likes running the helper wasn't there, that train ran unassisted. It made it up the grade, but only just. Having a big engine like this pushing on the back makes a huge difference.