What is the minimum track radius for Athearn’s 4 axle DD40?
Yes, I meant to say 8 axle DD40. I was thinking to the 4 axles on each truck.
I’ve run mine on Hornby 3rd radius curves, which are a little under 2ft radius - I’d guess they’re about 22in though I’m not sure. I wouldn’t recommend anything tighter as it wasn’t too happy - this is just my test track for running in new locos.
A couple of things I found with my DD40, not sure if they’re any help but they might be, so here goes:
When I first recieved the loco, it ran very badly - intermittently. I found that the metal pivot on the rear truck was bent, which also caused the loco to lean to one side. I also put a dab of petroleum jelly on each truck pivot to help with contact. It’s now fine - just need some Peco electrolube for the axle bearings now.
Also, don’t bother with the suggested mods for fitting Kadees - they suggest a 30-series coupler. I just fitted #5s into the stock pockets, they’re at the correct height and work fine, though I did need to remove a small piece of plastic from the front of the pocket to let the centreing spring fit in properly, and fitting the front coupler is a bit fiddly (but possible - just takes a little time).
Hope these are of some help - this is a good-looking loco (mine’s in EMD Demo paint - was the only one the store had left!).
I have ran it on 22" radius curves, but it looks really stupid it hangs out so far on the front and rear – but so does the Bachmann model. I think Athearn claims that it can go around an 18" radius, but that would really look ridiculous. The biggest problem with these oversize locomotives is that they swing so far away from track center that they drag cars off of the track as they go around curves, unless you use Kadee long shank couplers fitted very loosely so they can swivel a lot.
Good friend of mine has one of these monsters. Was able to take his "18 and "22 radius curves on his layout with no problems, but then again the prototypes would likely derail on curves like these.
Years ago, there was an article in either MRR or RMC on how to convert the body to appear more like the DDA40X using the cab off of an Athearn F45.
Unknown to many, there was no prototype DD40, except on paper. The DD35 had the old EMD Spartan cab. The DDA40X was produced with the “Cowl Cab”.
I have run it round "18 curves. as the above peole say it does look pretty rediculous! it was in a garden too and so the track was also pretty uneven.
Peter
p.s. I wan under the impression that the Athearn DD40 was infact a DD35 that they labled wrong???
Nope, it’s a DD40, not a DD35A or DD40AX. The DD40’s were never actually produced though. DD35’s, DD35A’s and DD40AX’s were. The difference between a DD40 and DD40AX is the Cab. It’s got too many radiator fans to be a DD35A.
aah i see. i knew it wasnt the ax but i didnt know about the fans for the 35/40 comparison.
Peter