So I have been looking everywhere for some BN SD40-2s and have only found three models: One by Kato with two road numbers, and two by Athearn, with different road numbers for each manufacturing run. Am I missing something, or does the locomotive that the BN had close to 900 of only have two manufacturers? I also have only been able to find one of the Athearn models online. Unfortunately this is only planning ahead since I will not have any money for this loco for another couple of months easy.
Reed
Reed,
Those are your only two choices in HO. Both are hard, but not impossible, to find since neither have been in production for a while. Search the usual places; ebay, on-line stores, LHS, shows, etc. I have also had success randomly calling hobby shops from the state by state hobby shop directory in the back of MR or other magazines.
BLI is coming out with a sound equipped SD40-2 but cost is high and preproduction photos have not impressed me.
Good luck,
Jay
Well, there have only been two manufacturers of the SD40-2 in plastic. Athearn had 2 versions, the old blue-box version and the new, upgraded RTR version, the blue-box is out of production now.
This is pretty typical for plastic diesels. Apart from F units and GP7/9’s, there are rarely more than one or two manufacturers for any model, and often only one. Especially for good models (IE if you discount widebody Athearns, Bachmann, Model Power and AHM units). For example, only Kato makes the SD40, and also the only good GP35, only Life-like makes good PA’s and FA’s, as well as the only DL109 and C-Liner, Athearn is pretty much it for the SD75’s, Atlas for 8-40’s, C424/425’s, Stewart for C630’s and C628’s.
Reed,
Wonderful to see another BN modeler here on the threads.
There actually have been four manufacturer’s of SD40-2’s, although one is no longer available and one is not worth using. GSB-North American produced an SD40-2 in the early 1980’s. They came with nice tan-can motors, and the ability to use different noses, battery boxes, and such. Bachmann also produced an SD40-2 for a short time.
I have 7 or 8 in Cascade Green units from Athearn’s first shell produced in the 1980’s. The newer shells offer a wide variety, and all are correct phases of BN units. A friend of mine has a bunch of Kato units in Soo Line, and they are nice, but an early phase, which the BN didn’t have a large number of, and of course, no “snoot” noses until the BNSF merger. There are some BNSF’s in the LHS, but no BN’s.
The more recent Blue Box Athearn SD40-2s are very good - I have one powered and one dummy example in EMD lease livery. They’ve sorted most of the old growling noises out by using a one-piece driveshaft between the motor and each truck - the latest SD40T-2s (Blue Box) have the same system as do the RTR locos.
As far as renumbering is concerned, I believe there’s a decal manufacturer that makes patches to cover original numbers before adding new number decals? Not sure of their name, but this would be the easiest route to enlarging your fleet. I need to find a stockist as I currently have a pair of EMD lease SD40-2s with the same running number…