I was reading the little book that came with my Athearn Genesis SD70ACe. Because the ACe and M-2 are so similar, Athearn uses a lot of the same parts as well as the same book for their SD70ACe and SD70M-2 models. In the back of the book, there are pictures of ACes and M-2s. I could tell the difference between the two on the left side, but they look exactly similar on the right side. Looking at the exploded diagrams, it appears that both have exactly the same parts except for a few railroad specific details. Is there a way to tell the difference between a SD70ACe and a SD70M-2 when looking at the right side?
Only by the designation on the cab. The left side as you probably know differs where the AC inverter cabinet is located, but the right seems to be the same in detail overall.
CZ
I forgot to mention the main difference that makes the SD70ACe a different model than the SD70M-2. The SD70M-2 has DC traction motors. The prime mover runs an alternator that produces AC, which is rectified to DC. The SD70ACe has AC traction motors (ACe: Alternating Current enhanced). The prime mover runs an alternator that produce AC, which is rectified to DC, just like the SD70M-2. But in the SD70ACe the DC is “chopped” into AC by a computer which precisely controls the traction motors. This results in over a third more continous traction effort than the SD70M-2 (as well as a higher starting traction effort).
On the left side, the difference between the SD70ACe and SD70M-2 is the panels behind the cab. The SD70ACe has an inverter which has louvers on the panels, while the SD70M-2 has an electrical cabinet with solid panels. I still can’t find a difference on the right side.
All of this information is in the Athearn book that comes with the SD70ACes and SD70M-2s
Kyle. In your first post you right side inyou last you say left side.
Even though I know you did not mean to transpose, you should correct the post.
I must have been looking at one of the diagram and using the orientation (looking at the front of the locomotive) from that when referring to the right and left on the second post. I have corrected the second post. I apologize for any confusion the mistake caused.
I am asking about the differences, if any, on the right side of the locomotives (the engineer’s side).
Last I seen, no differance in appearance, except for the AC Converter Cabinet on the conductor side. (For those relating to your car, engineer is opposite of car drivers side, unless you drive a car from across the pond, or a mail delivery vehicle. American auto’s driver side is left, locomotives engineer side is right.) Unless you know the RR roster, you may have to either look it up, or, try to catch the designation on the Cab. Models, they both use an identical body, just a few different detail parts. That’s why companies like Athearn can manufacture both, same tooling, same body style, really two for one, so tooling is less, so they can have a little bit larger margin, so some places can steeply discount. (How I ended up with an HO scale NS Heritage unit made by Athearn Genisis in the first place…) Also, allows the manufacturer of the models to keep releasing “new” versions, when they are really just minor add-on details, and paint scheme that are changed. Less lead time for the tooling, as they already have it. Most of the newer locomotives have been going that direction, where the manufacturer, EMD or GE, can make a base unit, then customize options for each order.