Intermountain SD45-2 has arrived....yes, really

[kiwi_al]

Got my NSE  bicentennial AT&SF units. Have not run one yet. Quality of decoration is nice. Colors seem a little weak, especially the red. Still quite beautiful. - Rob

Did you notice if the new run has walkway treads or are they as bald as Ed's L&N model?

[Smike]

I'm intrigued by the R&N units.

So incredibly frustrating they did this R&N scheme in the SD45 which were short lived and long been replaced by  Dash-2’s on their roster.

Still waiting on Dash-2’s in R&N yellow/green. Been begging them (and ST too) were they probably will start blocking me 😂

[Ed Kapuscinski]

So incredibly frustrating they did this R&N scheme in the SD45 which were short lived and long been replaced by  Dash-2’s on their roster.

Still waiting on Dash-2’s in R&N yellow/green. Been begging them (and ST too) were they probably will start blocking me 😂

Wait, I don't understand, didn't these things stick around for a bit?

[Missaberoad]

Wait, I don't understand, didn't these things stick around for a bit?

Retired by 2002 it seems.

https://groups.io/g/loconotes/message/26153

[Mark5]

R&N 3601 made it to March 28, 2001:

https://www.trainorders.com/discussion/read.php?2,286758

[Randy Hein]

I received my AT&SF Bicentennial units (only ordered 3) but all of them have the same issue, won't move without a nudge.  Doesn't take much, sometimes just a touch, but once stopped, consistently won't move without help when power is reapplied.  Happens in forward or reverse.  Surprisingly, they usually start fine when coupled together.  Cleaned wheels, cleaned track, issue persists.  Anyone else experienced this with them (or any other locomotive)?  By the way, walkways are smooth.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

R&N 3601 made it to March 28, 2001:

https://www.trainorders.com/discussion/read.php?2,286758

Ahh right. Ok. I knew they were 90s units but didn't remember how long they lasted.

[spookshow]

I received my AT&SF Bicentennial units (only ordered 3) but all of them have the same issue, won't move without a nudge.  Doesn't take much, sometimes just a touch, but once stopped, consistently won't move without help when power is reapplied.  Happens in forward or reverse.  Surprisingly, they usually start fine when coupled together.  Cleaned wheels, cleaned track, issue persists.  Anyone else experienced this with them (or any other locomotive)?  By the way, walkways are smooth.

Check the dimples in the axle-end wipers for blackening that needs to be cleaned out. A common pickup malady these days.

-Mark

[Randy Hein]

Thanks Mark, I'll take a look when I have time to get the trucks off.  Sounds like a distinct possibility.

[GM50 4164]

So how do these newer runs compare to the earlier version? I was told by Intermountain that they had been waiting for a redesigned truck causing some of the delays. How do they run? Look?

[spookshow]

I didn't realize that these had been redesigned for DCC Sound, so although a little late to the party I did finally pick one up. One thing I noticed right off the bat is that pickup is a bit iffy as delivered (despite the fact that the wheels are nice and shiny). One potential problem is that they wiper strips on the chassis could be misaligned and not making contact with the sticky uppy ears on the axle wipers (this was the case with one of my contacts). But the main problem with mine is that the dimpled axle wipers are covered with that blackening crap and the dimples themselves are absolutely full of the stuff. However, once I cleaned all the crud out of the dimples mine can now creep along at speed step 1 without any problems.

-Mark

[kiwi_al]

So are these made any better than the first run? I have 6 of the first run and wasn't impressed by the build quality. Are these new ones any better?
First run annoyances: Glass glued in, cab glued to the nose which is glued to the sill, the carbody is glued to the sill. The walkways do not have molded tread - they are smooth. The paint is very thick - strip one in alcohol then look at how much detail is showing compared to the painted model. Adding DCC and sound is much like putting lipstick on a pig. The first run is not their finest hour. Having said all that they run pretty much like an Atlas model.

[peteski]

We are really spoiled by Kato's precision designed glue-less snap-together model shell (even if they are not prefect dimension- and detail-wise).  All the older and more recent models made in China by other companies like Atlas, IM, Athearn, Scale Trains, and any others use lots of glue for keeping all the parts in place.  I doubt this run of those locos will be any different than the previous runs.

[randgust]

I was quite surprised to finally see these ship. They had been sitting with an "In Production" status on Intermountain's website for quite a few years.

For those not afraid of some milling/filing/fettling, the Kato SD40-2 Mid Production chassis can provide a useful upgrade for the Intermountain shells.

I've documented this, and @randgust was the inspiration…

https://www.therailwire.net/forum/index.php?topic=55139.0

Cheers

I've got two of them - the 'original' and proper pinstripe scheme (which I felt was the wrong blue) and a second bicentennial that's really a shelf queen for display.  But it is just so pretty I had to have one.

I'm DC on the ATSF so to get good MU of a 3-unit consist the mechanisms have to be similar in gearing and RPM, and the IM mechanisms are 'fast Atlas'.   My original Atlas 6-axle SD50 drive (in my FP45) died of clicking gear disease, so I did go through the exercise of changing the chassis in the IM over to the Kato SD40-2 mech, and it's, as usual, rock steady and DCC resistant.  My six-axle EMD and GE fleet is essentially all various Kato mechanisms that get along well with each other and are incredibly durable and hard-pulling.   My current count is 12 chassis with various shells on them.   No Atlas 6-axle mechs have survived in service except my SD24.

My gripe with the original ATSF unit was paint color, I have yet to see an IM unit I'm more tuned in to color than exact detail.   And of course, like everything I own, I tore the plastic handrails off and redid in brass wire.  And yes I hated the glued in windows.



Link:  http://www.randgust.com/5649_Flagstaff_2.jpg

[GM50 4164]

I didn't realize that these had been redesigned for DCC Sound, so although a little late to the party I did finally pick one up. One thing I noticed right off the bat is that pickup is a bit iffy as delivered (despite the fact that the wheels are nice and shiny). One potential problem is that they wiper strips on the chassis could be misaligned and not making contact with the sticky uppy ears on the axle wipers (this was the case with one of my contacts). But the main problem with mine is that the dimpled axle wipers are covered with that blackening crap and the dimples themselves are absolutely full of the stuff. However, once I cleaned all the crud out of the dimples mine can now creep along at speed step 1 without any problems.

-Mark

It sounds like you got one of the units still rocking the older Atlas SD50 trucks under it. Some of the units, looks to be the new paint schemes, are coming with the redesigned trucks which includes the traction motor jutting out from each end of the trucks. These trucks use the newer profiled wheels and the axle ends poke through the wheel wipers like that of the Broadway stuff.