I have recently come to acquire a powered CN roadnumber 5321. It has no identification on the underside, but appears to maybe Athearn?
I have done my normal investigation but can not find any CN #5321 for a SD40-2W made by typical MFG’s, such as Athearn, Atlas, Kato, Bachmann, Intermountain, etc…
I guess it could possibly be a custom paint job, but wanted to see if any of you out there may know who made this and what is the MFG P/N that I can add to my inventory software records. Thanks in advance.
First off - [#welcome] Vegas4trains!
Based on the pic, I would say that is a standard SD40-2, not a SD40-2W. (A 2W would be a different cab and nose.)
As far as manufacturer, if you supply a underside shot, of bottom of frame and underside of trucks and wheel sets, we could say for sure who made it. (Or at least confirm/reject as possible certain manufacturers, based on features.)
It could be an athearn unit, or someone else, as many made (and still make) HO SD40-2 units.
That’s an Athearn blue box SD40-2. You can tell pretty easily from the design of the cast fuel tank, the distinctive mounting pins along the sill, and the typical Athearn blue box stanchions/handrails (plus lots of other little details for other keen-eyed folks).
It does look like a custom paint job. Athearn did release CN painted blue box SD40-2s along the line, but don’t know about that number, and they had the cab roof more correctly painted black on any I’ve seen. There also appears to be a slight haze around the cab side numbers from decal film.
As ricktrains4824 pointed out, the loco you have is just a straight, generic SD40-2, not an SD40-2W. The prototype 5321 is an SD40-2W, but there are a ton of differences (from the obvious CN-style safety cab to different steps, snow shields, etc.) from the model shown.
I shall “pile on” regarding that being a good ol’ Uncle Irv SD40-2. It looks like it is one of their earlier versions due to the “locking” nubs on the side of the shell.[C):-)]
Now that I am looking on my tablet instead of my cell phone, definitely Athearn BB SD40-2.
And, looks to be a custom paint job. So it could have been any unit prior, so getting a manufacturer model number might not be possible…
You guys are all awesome. Thanks for the positive feedback. I think you have solved my general inquiry. It is Athearn SD40-2 and a custom paint job. Why I stated it as SD40-2W… a brain fart.
Link to picture of loco’s underside:
http://www.vegas4boc.com/images2015/CN5321b.jpg
As pointed out earlier, zooming in you can see the tell-tale film around the decal number, but whoever did the side stripes did a fine careful job, and in fact the paint quality looks finer on the body than on the cab and roof. Makes me wonder if this could be a hybrid – factory paint up to the cab, but someone repainted the cab entirely for the new number. That could also explain the red roof.
Dave Nelson