At a show last weekend I picked up a Proto 2000 SD60 for $80. Its in the EMD demonstrator paint which I had been looking for since I can run it with whatever I want. A first look at it reveals great detail. You can see through the fans and the grille closest to the cab. All of the finely molded acetal handrails are installed, there are two figures in the cab and great detail on the trucks. Also applied are all the MU and Air hoses on each end of the loco. The paint is very crisp with no overspray and so far as i can tell the colors are accurate. Also included in the box is a bag of other details (snow plow, winterization hatch, etc.) Which you can apply or not depending on the area you model. I installed the snow plows and the beacon and left the rest of the details in the box in case i decide i want them. The only modifications I made to the loco were replacing the P2K couplers with kadees and installing a TCS T1 decoder and LEDs to replace the incandescent bulbs already in the engine. On my Digitrax system, controlling it with a DT200 throttle it started up very slowly and absolutely crawled. Very good slow speed performance and you can hardly hear it running. The LEDs lit up the lights and printed number boards very nicely without any light seepage into the cab or rest of the engine. The locomotive is smooth and quiet through the whole speed range and pulls like a champ. As with the other P2K diesels the whole shell is filled by the massive cast wieght inside. Even with about 20 cars on the 2.5% grades on my layout It wont even slow down a bit. The locomotive has a relatively long wheelbase but can still negotiate a #4 turnout. My mainline radius is 30" so I dont know how tight a curve it can take but id guess 18"
My wife’s cousin purchased two P2K SD60s after having problems with two Athearn six axle EMD units. Performance is smooth and quieter than the Athearn units. Detailing is beautiful. His latest one is a BN SD60 that he got for $60 new at a train show (after a little “back and forth” with the seller).
Plans to give it the DCC treatment with a Digitrax unit.
Those P2K SD60s are very good engines. I love my SD60.[:)] I painted the crew in the cab appropriate colors so that they wouldn’t be these black lumps in the cab anymore.
Those P2K SD60s are very good engines. I love my SD60.[:)] I painted the crew in the cab appropriate colors so that they wouldn’t be these black lumps in the cab anymore.
The P2K SD60s are very good engines. I love my SD60.[:)] I painted the crew in the cab the correct colors so that they wouldn’t be black lumps that you can’t see.
i have a couple of the beast myself a UP one KCS one are my latest i got on that auction site for $65 ea. they do pull a ton and the detail is fine, but i always kick it up a notch and super detail me diesels anyways. for the price you can find these things for now, they are awesome deals.
I’ve got a P2K SD60 too, well, an SD60M. I like it a lot, but it’s not as great of a performer as my Athearn RTR SD50 (and in some spots, not as detailed either), and what’s up with the orange headlights? Hopefully if they ever re-run the SD60 and SD60M it’ll be with a more quiet motor. Sheesh! Thing’s louder than my Blue Box FP45.
Joe, I´d be VERY interested in reading more reviews.
I only have a BN SD60M by P2K, and I´m sort of tangled about it. It has some minor flaws that are imho "unnecessary), like the non-painted acetal plastic grabs, but it sure runs good.
As I´m still pondering whether to by an Athearn or P2K SD60 Spartan cab, your review was very helpful for me. Thanks.