Wanting to Detail some SD-9's

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
1

I have two Athearn Santa Fe SD-9’s painted yellow and blue #2963 & 2964, and I am wanting to detail them for display. I don’t have a layout or room for one yet but I collect HO trains and like to display them on the shelf. These models are blue box Athearn, so they don’t have much detail. What would be accurate detail for these engines? From my research ATSF didn’t own any SD9’s but I’d like to at least have some accurate detail for a sd9. I’d like to see some pictures of some please. Thanks!

2

First off [#welcome]. I don’t know much about ATSF so I’m no help. But I did look on Railpictures.net, seems to be no pictures of it. Then it’s gotta be really rare.

3

Here’s some links to pics of Southern Pacific SD9’s. They’ll give you a pretty good idea of the detail. Also, try looking at so of the old Burlington Northern SD9’s. They had loads of them.

http://www.pbase.com/image/48319125

http://espee.railfan.net/nonindex/sd09_photos/5345_sp-sd9-yardclerk.jpg

http://espee.railfan.net/nonindex/sd09_photos/5347_sp-sd9-don_jewell.jpg

http://espee.railfan.net/nonindex/sd09_photos/5402_sp-sd9-rob_sarberenyi.jpg

http://espee.railfan.net/nonindex/sd09_photos/5339_sp-sd9-don_jewell.jpg

4

Here are some others.

http://www.carrtracks.com/spbakrf.htm

http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=30695

http://64.246.11.82/images/0/004-050_CHESSIE_SD9.jpg.51114.jpg

http://espee.railfan.net/picindex/sd7-9_detail/bd_sd9_2.html

http://espee.railfan.net/picindex/sd7-9_detail/bd_sd9_5.html

5

I didn’t see any ATSF SD9s on http://www.rr-fallenflags.org either. Santa Fe did have SD24s and '26s. This might be another case of Athearn trying to sell something that didn’t exist. (Anyone who has seen those odd green PRR F units knows what I mean–the real units were much darker!)

6

Keystone Locomotive Works sells pilot bottoms for the SD9’s. As you can see, the pilot is split because the engine has to slide into the shell. KLW has a metal casting that you glue to the coupler box, that replicates the pilot continuing.

I can’t explain it well, so I’ll post a picture tonight of what I am trying to say.

I have a custom built SD26 that I bought on eBay that I put it on to.

Phil

7

Sorry for reviving my old post. I have decided recently to repaint the ATSF SD9’s since they never exsisted. I’m going to repaint and letter them in EJ&E colors (Elgin, Joliet, & Eastern) They J had a bunsh back in the day and I found some pictures of them, plus they’ll match the rest of my J SD38’s then.