Athearn has finlly announed them! Initial announcement is for 3 road numbers D&RGW, doing the version with the HTC cabinet next to the blower. I believe these would be post 1983 loco's FYI. It appears we patient Rio Grande fans will finally get a low nose light in plastic, and hopefully a correct plow, fuel tank and other details. This should be a nice loco!
What, no response? Hmm... all the Rio Grande fans must be N-scalers or early diesel/steam modelers. I mean, SD40T-2's have been the most needed "modern" diesel yet needed in HO model form. This is big news. *yawn* guess not.
hey hey! I had N-scale until the early 80's and because I was getting into Rio Grande, decide it had to be HO since Athearn had just offered a scale hood SD40T-2. As it turned out, it was over 20 years before a non brass SD40T-2 was offered in N-scale by Intermountain! But its a major woof for them that they did! The real cool thing is this Athearn unit will be MSRP $100 and yet offer most of the RR specific details. It doen't get any better than that! That is a new standard in plastic!
Great news.........As another n scale modeller I think I'll get one to put in the display cabinet and replace the Athearn Blue box SD45! Now all we need is for IM to produce the later TM in n scale!
I thought when Athearn first came out with the blue-box SD40T-2 back in the 1980s, they offered DRGW. And, I'm assuming by thi new announcement, you're referring to the new RTR line, correct? If so, then (even though I have no need for DRGW power on a flatland roster in the late 1970s) I'll be intereste to see what the newandimproved SD40T-2 looks like. Wish they'd release the GP38-2s in RTR......but I guess they're still working on all those RailPowerProducts shells.
Bob, The new RTR SD40T-2 should have the newer hex drive mechanism similar to the SD50, which runs pretty smooth. Not KATO Swiss watches but pretty nice. The body is supposed to have see through fans on the roof, see through grills on the side (similar to the SD45T-2), correct snow plow, Correct low nose lighting package (a first in plastic for Rio Grande), correct shorter fuel tank, factory applied separate grab irons and plastic scale size hand rails. In short is should be almost a brass engine in appearance. For $100 smackers MSRP, this is a amazing!
You may run but you can't hide!!! I'm sure we wont hold it against you. Does make a change HO catching up with N scale in the loco department. :shade:
Now I'm deeper in debt to my pusher I have all three Rio Grande's on order from the Hobby Stop in Orem, Utah. Paul H. Liddiard
D&RGW Tunnel Motors Athearn did make the SD-40T-2 in DRGW but there was a bunch of parts to be added. The detail parts people make the necessary parts to correctly model the DRGW units. Athearn also made the SD-40T-2 in SP the snoot nosed master/remote units had the light package but all other details had to be added. SP had some units with the standard nose and the Athearn model had to have everything added as far as details were concerned.I did six SP units total for the collection 2 master/remote sets and two "plain" units.
Hello every one, Nice to meet all of you. I am a Rio Grande modeler in HO scale. That really is exciting news about the Tunnel motors from Athearn. I have not checked their website But I hope they have some new tooling and a more correct nose. I was really impressed by the N scale version from intermountain. I am a little envious with what the N scale guys are able to with their space and scenery options when modeling the great state of Colorado and Utah. Much harder to do with HO!
Nice to see another HO Rio Grande fan - this place is over run by N-scalers. Your prayers have been answered. The new Athearn SD40T-2 will have the correct low nose light (first time in plastic!), correct plow, correct short fuel tank, PTC cabinet, see thru grills, separate grab irons, celotex hand rails. Only in brass could you get this level of prototype detail! And all for MSRP $99 and discount places wil be near $70 each! woot!
More likely them N-scalers are probably much younger and can still appreciate the detail on those tiny little itsy bitsy trains! My close up vision is decent for my age - can still focus at about 14 - inches, but I used to own and appreciate N scale alot more when I was twenty something! Now HO is much easier to see.
Though I am a Nscale Rio grande fan, I've ordered the 3 numbers of the HO SD40T-2. I love this machine and I want one on my shelf, or even on my business desk... TM
Count me in... I ordered 2 of the Tunnel motors and all 3 sets of PSCX coal gons... Maybe I'll get enough funds rounded up by the time they are available to get all 3 of the Loco's...:angel:
Got 3 D&RGW tunnel motors on order plug one of the RGM&HS unnumbered units (4 all together). I preordered 4 packs of the PCSX Thrall gons also, but will probably get 5 or 6 for a sizable train!
Update: I have learned that the D&RGW SD40T-2 #5357 (one of 3 numbers being offered by Athearn) had gotten the front end damaged and the nose replaced in 1980 with an 88-inch nose and gyralight mounted on box on the nose. So the model as offered by Athearn would only be accurate fro 1975-1980, unless you changed the number. This is unfortunate and I'm not sure if I should cancel my order or figure out how to re-number the thing.
