Prototype History
In January 1972, Electro-Motive Division (EMD) of General Motors would build the first production models of a locomotive design that would prove to be legendary: the SD40-2. The flagship of the “Dash-2” series of 1972, the SD40-2 would build upon the lessons learned from its predecessor, the SD40. While the sixteen-cylinder 645E3 turbocharged prime mover remained the same from its SD40 cousin, the SD40-2 boasted a modular, solid-state electrical system, which featured removable “cards” in place of troublesome relays in its high-voltage cabinet, greatly simplifying electrical troubleshooting and repairs.
Externally, the biggest change was the use of the new HT-C three-axle truck in place of the Flexi-coil C of the SD40. The new truck promised greater adhesion, and was longer than the Flexi-coil C, necessitating an increase of the length of the SD40-2s frame to an overall length of 68’, 10” over the couplers. This also had the effect of giving the SD40-2 its characteristic long walkway “porches” at each end. Other small external improvements, such as longer battery box compartments, rear overhang on the cab roof, and drip rail over the front cab door, added to the list of external differences between it and the SD40.
Domestic production of the SD40-2 continued until July 1984 making it one of EMD’s most popular locomotives of all time. Many remain in service today, both with original owners as well as secondhand operators. Within the last five years, Norfolk Southern and CSX have rebuilt hundreds of SD40-2s to extend their operating life. This will ensure this venerable locomotive’s presence on U.S. rails for decades to come.
Rivet Counter SD40-2 Locomotives Also Feature
- Fully assembled
- Multiple road numbers
- Printed and LED lighted number boards
- Dimensionally accurate truck centers
- Scale sectioned treadplate detail on the walkways
- Underbody frame rail with separate plumbing and traction motor cables
- Accurate hood door and long hood detail
- Accurately profiled dynamic brake housings
- See-through dynamic brake intakes with resistor grid detail
- Detailed cab interior with separate floor, rear wall, seats, and standard AAR control stand
- Sliding cab windows
- Factory-applied wire grab irons, wire lift rings, windshield wipers, snowplows, horns, coupler cut levers, trainline hoses with silver gladhands, sand hatch covers, and much more
- Semi-scale coupler buffer equipped with ScaleTrains.com durable metal semi-scale E Type knuckle couplers
- Directional LED headlights
- All-wheel drive
- All-wheel electrical pick-up
- Motor with 5-pole skew wound armature
- Dual flywheels
- Printing and lettering legible even under magnification
- Color matched to Tru-Color Paint colors whenever possible
- Operates on Code 70, 83 and 100 rail
- Packaging safely stores model
- Minimum radius: 18”
- Recommended radius: 22”
DCC & sound equipped locomotives also feature:
- ESU LokSound 5 DCC & Sound decoder with “Full Throttle” feature
- Dual cube-type speakers
- EMD 16 Cylinder 645E3 prime mover
- ESU designed “PowerPack” with two super capacitors***
- Operates on both DC and DCC layouts
DC/DCC & sound ready locomotives also feature:
- Operable using a DC power pack
- DCC-ready with 21-pin connector
* These features only function with an ESU DCC decoder installed while operating in DCC
** During DC operation, class lights illuminate in white. Access to other colors and the ability to change colors requires an ESU DCC decoder while operating in DCC
***“PowerPack” feature only compatible with ESU decoders while operating on a DCC layout
Road Number Specific ScaleTrains
- Era:1980’s
- ATSF Series 5125-5140, built 11-12/80 Phase IIIb2
- Road number 5126
- “ATSF-Style” Repaint
- Shape and placement of Santa Fe lettering different than factory EMD lettering
- Data and data placement variations
- Blue stepwell lights
- Blue exhaust silencer
- Road number 5129, 5130 and 5133
- As delivered paint scheme
- Shape and placement of Santa Fe lettering different from Santa Fe painted units
- Data and data placement variations
- Silver stepwell lights
- Silver exhaust silencer
- Operating LED Prime PM-8901 Stratolite beacon*
- Operating LED front tricolor stand-off class lights**
- 123” “snoot” low short hood with wheel handbrake, stand-off radio compartment access door, and sandbox cleanouts
- Vapor Corp. cab roof HVAC
- Locotrol antenna ground planes on cab roof with small Sinclair Excalibur “ice skate” antennas and conduit
- Large Sinclair Excalibur “ice skate” antenna (communications) on ground plane on dust bin
- Front EMD-style low pilot plow with MU hose doors and grab irons
- “Tall” stepwells with see-through steps
- Narrow “blunt” front anticlimber
- Late “fixed” rear drop step
- Round front walkway light and rectangle rear walkway light (non-operating)
- Bolted battery box doors with wide louvers and stiffener rib
- Late cab sub-base doors with lift-off hinges
- Standard EMD headlight in number board housing
- Dash two Cab with welded side window panels
- Standard EMD sunshades and short sunshade tracks
- Rear cab side vent on left side
- Tall mirror mounted fore of cab side window on both sides of cab
- Leslie RS-3-LR Horn mounted on number board housing
- Late electrical cabinet “zig-zag” seam, closer to rear of cab
- Late welded ECAFB
- Late inertial air intake grilles with top and bottom drip rail
- “Post 1980” extended-range dynamic brakes with exhaust silencer
- Corrugated radiator intake grilles
- 48″ radiator single-speed “Q” Fans with fan blades visible inside
- Angled radiator fan grab iron
- Straight uncoupling levers with loop handles front and rear and four inner and two outer brackets
- Handrail set with anticlimber front and outward facing rear end rail mounting brackets and chain
- 3-hose MU hose clusters with silver gladhands
- Pilot face mounted MU receptacle
- Notched pilot faces with high angled lifting slots
- Short jacking pads (late)
- Aft engineer’s side sidesill notch
- Tab-mount EFCO
- Reward facing handbrake chain mount for HTC trucks
- Frame-mounted steel bell
- Salem air filter (accordion style)
- 4,000-gallon fuel tank with fuel fillers, vertical gauge and round gauge on stand
- Detailed HT-C trucks with Hyatt bearing caps, late center axle snubbers, sanding lines and brackets, and D-77 traction motor and air duct details
- Speed recorder mounted to third axle right front
Order Due Date: April 15, 2021
Anticipated Delivery Date: October 2021
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