Tower 55 AC/DC

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
1

I’m very close to deciding what to make my first purchase in the HO train hobby. I’ve decided to purchase a Tower 55 engine(s)- new BNSF H3 graphics. I noticed that there is an AC and a DC version of the GE ES44. What is the difference between them, and would I need to be specific with certain locomotives to get for my layout?

Thanks in advance.

Roger

bnsffan1@yahoo.com

2

The car bodies are much the same. Thanks to Railpictures.net for the examples.

The picture below is of a DC model which are numbered in the 7600 and this is the first of the 7700 series. The detail on the left side shows the Dynamic brake to be separated and the AC seems to have them close together. The AC also has a small box right behind the large inverter box on the left wall way . You don’t notice major details that are different, but just some very minor changes. Until we see many more close up pictures, it will hard to say if these a phase changes or AC / DC changes.

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=166438

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=166559

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=165782

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=165602

The web site below shows an AC model which are numbered in the 5600 and 5700 series. Other than it being on the ground, it looks much like the DC model. The D/B inlets and exhaust seem to be close together for the AC version and separated for the DC??

http://www.railpictures.ne

3

He means whats the difference between the es44ac and es44dc. Sorry, I don’t know.

4

Between the ES44AC and ES44DC BNSF units, there really aren’t any HUGE differences. Maybe a vent or grill is different here or there, but other than that, they are pretty much the same.

As for availability, if you were planning to get a sound-equipped model and have not found one of the ES44DC’s…good luck. Both versions (Sound and Non-Sound) are pretty much sold out. They are also sold out at Tower 55. Because the BNSF Sound-Equipped models in the H3 Scheme sold so fast, Tower 55 ended up taking some of the non-sound versions and added sound to them. That happened last month, but those also sold out. So if you have not found one, it looks like you will be waiting till next year to pick up the ES44AC version…

Good luck…you might want to try Ebay.

Sean

5

Thanks. I got it after I read the comments.

6

Roger

I posted some pictures and a short description of the changes to the car body between the AC / DC model and their numbers.

7

On the AC Units the front top grilles are farther apart than the DC units.

8

Thanks for all the help so far everyone, it is most appreciated[:D] would I be able to operate both versions on the same track together (or will I need to deide to run AC or DC on my layout?

Thanks,

Roger

9

Only the Prototypes (The Real Locomotives) are AC or DC. The Models will be DC only. I kind of thought when you first asked that you were going this way. One thing you will need to decide is if you are going the older classic DC Control Pack, or being new to Trains just go with the new trend of Digital Command Control or DCC. There is so much to learn in this Hobby, but there is so much satisfaction and fun to be had also Roger. Welcome to the Hobby! Chris

10

Thanks for the kind words Chris, I do think I will enjoy this hobby very much:)

I am not sure though if I will have any luck in locating the BNSF H3 loco though, I am not finding any dealers that have the non-DCC and sound version at all (or on ebay:()

If anyone comes across any through their dealer/other locations, please let me know asap. I’ll post my e-mail address here:

bnsffan1@yahoo.com

Any help will be most appreciated:)
Thanks,

Roger

11

Cool, it’s my picture!

12

Does anyone have the Tower 55 HO “Classic Concept” Santa FE ES44DC locomotive (in rd #'s 700, 724 or 777?)

I would like to see some more photos of it other than what is on their website.

Thanks,

Roger

13

I have seen one in a store last month. It looks very nice. Exactly like the BNSF one with the ATSF warbonnet blue and yellow paint

14

Which model you buy depends on the types of trains you plan on running. BNSF’s ES44AC fleet, much like the AC4400CWs and AC4400EVs that preceded them, have been mostly if not entirely been assigned to coal duty in the Powder River Basin. The ES44DCs, meanwhile, are showing up in the same sorts of trains that the C44-9Ws have pulled: just about everything else–mostly intermodal. That said, I did see an ES44DC paired with a SD70MAC pulling a coal train in Aurora Illinois two summers ago.