Skip to main content

I am thrilled to see the SDP40F offered by Scott Mann's 3rd Rail!   In 1975 at ten years of age, I had the unforgettable experience of getting into the cab of SDP40F #625 at Cheyenne, WY.   The San Francisco Zephyr was arriving with a very lengthy consist.  They were about to take the 2 SDP40F units off of the train and to another track for servicing.  My Uncle and I were by the #625 when the Engineer invited me to see the cab.  With some assist I climbed up into the mountainous machine.
I have a few pictures from that day taken by me.  Seeing some of the details on that loco in the picture I hope that the future models will have some specific details.  Hoping Scott, Jonathan, others can review these ideas and others you all might have.
Many but not all Amtrak SDP40F units had what I believe is an icicle break bar in front of the horns.  The #625 that day in Cheyenne had one.
Next, the SDP40F had a bar code on the side just like all freight equipment had in those days.  I wonder why these appear on this fleet of units but not on other Amtrak fleets?  Regardless, I feel they should be included in the graphics.
And last but not least on my list of hopes for these models,  the pulsing headlight between the numberboards.  I am not sure if this was a gyralight, mars light, or simply a pulsing light but I really hope some type of similar affect can be achieved.   They also have a red marker light which operates similarly just below this light also between the number boards which is only on when facing to the rear without a consist attached.  I remember seeing these in operation as the units moved about the station and service tracks.  I would hope for at least the forward mars type light if not the red marker.
20210922_154820
Amtrak #625 at Cheyenne WY summer 1975
photographed by me
Please watch the linked youtube video (not mine)
>>========
Many thanks to Scott Mann for offering these products!

Attachments

Images (1)
  • 20210922_154820
Last edited by VistaDomeScott
Original Post

Replies sorted oldest to newest

Excellent post Scott.  I am looking forward for the order sheets to open up for these units. We have been waiting for these units to be made for a very long time and now the time has come!  I hope that every one is as excited to see these as well.  I am glad that you have pointed out all those small details including the ACI bar code.  That system which used those colorful bar codes was called KarTrak ACI (Automatic Car Identifier)  and was made by GTE.

Last edited by MountainRail

But Scott, your pics show the "flat nose" version which came from the later part of the Amtrak order for SDP40F's . I believe the first 50 SDP40F's had the angle or pointed nose which Scott Mann shown in his news letter.

There was a thread on this forum asking which version of the SDP40F's modelers wanted and overwhelmingly it was the unique flat nose version. This is important especially since 3rd Rail is doing this model separate from F45 and FP45's - that Scott Mann asked about earlier this year...[but quickly was overwhelmed by Amtrak SDP40F fans!]

Last edited by prrhorseshoecurve

There will not be a Proto-Derail feature with this offering.

Right now we are looking at units 500-539 that were the first units delivered with the pointed nose.  I did not see the flat nose version survey.  The other difference between the two phases of SDP40F construction is the roof fans.  Later ones had a different configuration due to issues with clearance in some of the eastern route tunnels.  As delivered the first 40 took over all the western route trains.  The later units then removed E8s from service, but when Conrail banned the SDP40F, the E8s came back. 

I love the SDP40F in general even if I never saw one in service.  I have been lucky to see every other locomotive Amtrak ordered new in service, but never the big EMDs

As far as specific details, there are several minor variations.  Anything that can be a cast add-on detail is fairly straight forward.  Tooling changes are difficult which is why we are not announcing the SDP40F in ATSF, EMD, or Maersk schemes.  They all had the modified nose with steps and a cut-out on the short hood.

I do not believe there is an anticipation that this will be a large run of locomotives so we will likely have to stick with one tool.  Please prove me wrong!

I am also interested in FP45s to pull my El Capitan / Super Chief.  It's going to an expensive few years!

Jonathan, how about the bar around the horns?   Mars / Gyra light?

Scott

I will need to do more research.  That bar around the horns detail is not consistent across the SDP40F pool.  Also, I do not believe they had Mars / Gyra light.  1972 is a bit late for those.  Like most of Amtrak locomotives, I believe it is simply an emergency light just like the F40PH was delivered with on the rebuilt FL9s.  However, like everything else in the recent announcement offering it and researching it for the finite details are two separate items.  It is a chicken and egg scenario.  In order to move forward with design and research, the orders need to come in first.

Jonathan.. they had the gyra light, most videos as the one I linked to above have the mars or gyra light... I remember seeing them live on The National Limited, San Francisco Zephyr and numerous others. In my youth my family traveled and camped a lot.  I kept a map and an Amtrak national schedule with me in the car from 8 yrs old onward.  My Father would happily stop in endless towns where I knew a train was due.  The 3 hour wait at Muncie for the James Witcomb Riley tested his patience but the payoff was E8 power a dome and an obs car!   My witness accounts may not sway your view, but this Video evidence is proof.   Present these for your perusal:

Again:  https://youtu.be/NbIC6Iq2wB0

And :  https://youtu.be/o7GZsE_T_ks (skip ahead to about 15:00 and later for SDP40F gyra light action in this video)

Last edited by VistaDomeScott

There's definitely a gyralite in the upper headlight. There is also a red stop lens below it.

The first batch of them had flat nose doors, single manifold Leslie SL4T horns (it was an S5T with a port blocked) and "Standard" fans. The horn tone is very rare. It was only used on SDP40Fs. Loksound actually has a recording of it in the 2nd Gen Horn Pack #3.

The second batch of them had the notched nose doors, the same horn bells divided over a pair of 2 bell horn manifolds and low profile fans. Changes were made for eastern route clearances.

The icicle breakers... cant say Ive seen that before but can believe it. It sounds like one of those silly Southern Pacific requirements that they laid on Amtrak. They had some nonsense like that regarding the use of dome cars on SP tracks as well.

Last edited by Boilermaker1
@GG1 4877 posted:

There will not be a Proto-Derail feature with this offering.

Right now we are looking at units 500-539 that were the first units delivered with the pointed nose.  I did not see the flat nose version survey.  The other difference between the two phases of SDP40F construction is the roof fans.  Later ones had a different configuration due to issues with clearance in some of the eastern route tunnels.  As delivered the first 40 took over all the western route trains.  The later units then removed E8s from service, but when Conrail banned the SDP40F, the E8s came back.

I love the SDP40F in general even if I never saw one in service.  I have been lucky to see every other locomotive Amtrak ordered new in service, but never the big EMDs

As far as specific details, there are several minor variations.  Anything that can be a cast add-on detail is fairly straight forward.  Tooling changes are difficult which is why we are not announcing the SDP40F in ATSF, EMD, or Maersk schemes.  They all had the modified nose with steps and a cut-out on the short hood.

I do not believe there is an anticipation that this will be a large run of locomotives so we will likely have to stick with one tool.  Please prove me wrong!

I am also interested in FP45s to pull my El Capitan / Super Chief.  It's going to an expensive few years!

Can't quite tell the number on the first one, but the second one is #525.

Thanks Jack for the great video!

@GG1 4877 posted:

There will not be a Proto-Derail feature with this offering.

Right now we are looking at units 500-539 that were the first units delivered with the pointed nose.  I did not see the flat nose version survey.  The other difference between the two phases of SDP40F construction is the roof fans.  Later ones had a different configuration due to issues with clearance in some of the eastern route tunnels.  As delivered the first 40 took over all the western route trains.  The later units then removed E8s from service, but when Conrail banned the SDP40F, the E8s came back.

I love the SDP40F in general even if I never saw one in service.  I have been lucky to see every other locomotive Amtrak ordered new in service, but never the big EMDs

As far as specific details, there are several minor variations.  Anything that can be a cast add-on detail is fairly straight forward.  Tooling changes are difficult which is why we are not announcing the SDP40F in ATSF, EMD, or Maersk schemes.  They all had the modified nose with steps and a cut-out on the short hood.

I do not believe there is an anticipation that this will be a large run of locomotives so we will likely have to stick with one tool.  Please prove me wrong!

I am also interested in FP45s to pull my El Capitan / Super Chief.  It's going to an expensive few years!

Well.... lets talk about this for a second.

If you put a warbonnet on it, doesnt it sell like hot cakes?

2 SDP40Fs from the first 40 went to ATSF and became SDF40-2 #s 5251 and 5255.  They did run around for a while with their full noses before they had a run in with Dr. Schlotkin over the code to the airlock.

Here is 5251: http://www.rrpicturearchives.n...icture.aspx?id=51530

Here is 5255: http://www.rrpicturearchives.n...cture.aspx?id=347696



So.... If adding on details, like a front handrail, stratolite, new horn and antenna planes is all doable.... I'm just sayin'. Kinda matches those SD40-2s....

Last edited by Boilermaker1

Well.... lets talk about this for a second.

If you put a warbonnet on it, doesnt it sell like hot cakes?

2 SDP40Fs from the first 40 went to ATSF and became SDF40-2 #s 5251 and 5255.  They did run around for a while with their full noses before they had a run in with Dr. Schlotkin over the code to the airlock.

Here is 5251: http://www.rrpicturearchives.n...icture.aspx?id=51530

Here is 5255: http://www.rrpicturearchives.n...cture.aspx?id=347696



So.... If adding on details, like a front handrail, stratolite, new horn and antenna planes is all doable.... I'm just sayin'. Kinda matches those SD40-2s....

But again, those links show the "flat nose" version.... modified. If enough requests come in, Scott M could seriously consider doing a run of Amtrak "Flat nose" versions along with the ATSF, Maersk, EMD & PFM test bed units.

It’s a door. I doubt Scott would mold it into the shell anyways.  The headlight is gone too (and so is the steam heat). But they were 511 and 526 to begin with, so the rest of it would match the proposed bodies.
Its a different story to do the later versions with the notches in the nose, but not much ado about a different door.  Still fits in Jonathan’s “detail parts” comment IMO.

To me, makes little difference if they’re offered as the first 40 or the rest.  I already have the train, I need the locomotives.

Last edited by Boilermaker1

I am skeptical that this will be produced as it has not yet been opened for reservations.  The Genesis line has garnered all the interest but IMO this is the missing piece in the Amtrak story and a nice looking locomotive.  I have always liked the EMD locomotives best of the Amtrak fleet.  I hope I am wrong and its eventually produced.  I would definitely buy two of them at least.

@GG1 4877 posted:

The SDP40F will come in its time.  Sometimes other projects jump forward because the opportunity is right for them.  The FP45s are also in waiting.

I guess the sucess of the Amfleet and Viewliners shed a brite light on the P42 and Siemens Chargers.

Oh well. Im still saving money. When all this is said and done, i will have spent over 10 g's.

Waiting for the next GGD/PRR/Amtrak offerings. I should be done with any Lionel Amtrak "cookie cutter" offerings after Lionel's "heritage fleet" set.

Last edited by prrhorseshoecurve

I guess the sucess of the Amfleet and Viewliners shed a brite light on the P42 and Siemens Chargers.

Oh well. Im still saving money. When all this is said and done, i will have spent over 10 g's.

Waiting for the next GGD/PRR/Amtrak offerings. I should be done with any Lionel Amtrak "cookie cutter" offerings after Lionel's "heritage fleet" set.

I am in the same situation as you.  I would love to have three SDP40Fs to pull my nearly 20 car Southwest Limited.  I also preordered the Lionel generic Heritage Phase III cars as they fill a prominent gap in my Amtrak collection.  I still have a few cars to complete my circa 1989 Broadway Limited but it is getting closer.

However at the same time I have learned that my railfan hat takes a backseat to the business side of how projects come to fruition. Modern Amtrak is finally becoming mainstream.

I find that equally exciting to the prospect of eventually obtaining the "classic" Amtrak motive power.

Add Reply

Post

OGR Publishing, Inc., 1310 Eastside Centre Ct, Suite 6, Mountain Home, AR 72653
800-980-OGRR (6477)
www.ogaugerr.com

×
×
×
×
Link copied to your clipboard.
×
×