It’s a great day for the folks at the Kiva Valley, for the second diesel engine ever purchased as finally arrived at the Home Yard. The SD-7 was purchased from EMD in late 1954. The management was able to work out a better price from Electro Motive Division, EMD, for getting their engine built along with another order. Since it arrived with the novel feature of all weather windows, rumor has it that it was CB and Q. Something that would not normally be present on engine designed for central Arizona.
John Kanicsar, CEO of Kiva Valley Railway commented, “It’s a proud day for all of us here. It is a step toward the future and to show everyone, we are dedicated to doing what ever we can to give our customers the best service possible.” From the rest of public introduction, Mr. Kanicsar explained that with proper care, this diesel would serve the railway for over 50 years or more.
In early 1954 KVR purchased their first modern diesel unit, a SW 7 to work the yard as the old steam powered switcher was becoming to hard to maintain with the extra load of the booming work and growing customer base. The SD-7 will give KVR its first modern mainline power to serve the industries in its eastern region.
Brandy Kanicsar, head of personal and marketing, was all smiles as the crowds gathered around to admire the town’ newest, largest guest. She has a lot to smile about as she played a large part in developing the paint scheme. “We wanted to have a paint scheme that would make our equipment stand out among the others. We first painted our caboose’s in the Bently Scheme, and the feed back was terrific. Everyone knew which was ours right away. So we did the SW 7 and were hooked. I couldn’t wait to see the new one in the paint!” She said beaming with pride. 672, which stands for “6” axle,SD " 7", "2"nd diesel, has a another week or so in the KVR shops g
Thats exaclty what I do. i have a whole fleet of transtion era rolling stock and modern. Probelm is I truly enjoy all types of trains and genertions and couldnt just limit myself to one. So… Teh KVR allows me to have fun and play in both worlds…
The freelanced Kiva Valley allows me to operate more or less any road name as a vistor and still keep it prototypical, more promently with the “2005” genreations as everyone stuff is everywhere. The older era, I am limited to western roads.
Depending on the mood, I shelve the one set of stuff, and run out the other. That’s why I got the SW7, and the SD7 as they could still easliy by in service in both era’s.
I admit, with some of the structures, its a bit of a stretch, but it works and it is fun to be able to go back and forth. I love the older steam but it is fun to run the diesels since the kid and I go railfanning, and that what we see.
[:)]
Wait till I get my hands on an undecorated SD70 or something and I will have another Kiva Vally Daily article about the new engine and the 672’s 50th birthday.
Its a Proto 2000 engine. I pruchased form a freind of mine who had a undecorated model. There was alot fo details to add to it, which I thought was nice. I made the decsion to add the all weather windows and add the whole story abouy the CBnQ. Appearntly, only 3 roads got them with large baywindows. I admit, I just liked the look. [:D]
I just put a Digitrax decoder in it and runs great. I have to change the light bulbs in it, but if all goes well, I will run it tonnight with its first cut of cars. I will put up a post later tonight of how ot performs. I still have to paint the hand rails and stpes with saftey yellow. Might get to that as well.
Man, thanks for all the kind words everyone. Means alot to me as this whole painting thing has been a HUGE learnign expeirence and major step for me. I still have all the detail paitning to do, such as touch up on the handrails and the yellow paint for steps and rails but, need to get a new brush for that… Painting the first one, the SW7, was a real nail biter. First time I had ever attempted anythign like that.
With the SD7, I put what knowledge I learned and went much better. I got good masking tape, the blue kind, and used all the same paint, Polly Scale. I gave it a light misting of Gloss coat the nigth before last and I am way jazzed how it came out. Not too shiney, not too dull. Last night I put deocder in and it made its first run.
This is my firrst experience with a P2K engine, and I am floored. The thing runs so sweet, smooth, and quiet. Its just crept around at a snails pace. I gave the worst test I could by hooking up a long string, and startng on my 2.2% grade… No problem. Very strong and very, very smooth. I woudl put it up there with my Athearn Geni for sure. I will be getting more P2K’s. Maybe by this wekend I wil lhaveit all done, and post the final pictuers up.