SD70, SD80, SD90 owners.

Evening all. I have been out of the hobby for about 14 yrs. And just recently started working on a layout. I am thinking about going with the SD70, SD80, SD90 engines. What I need is some feed back from current or past owners of these engines. Like what did you like or dislike about these engines. Also what radius turns did you use. Any problems with switches or turn outs. I have not made up my mind yet on what code track I am going to use. Kinda leaning towards code 55 so any issues with code 55 track. Basicly let me know all the good and bad that you have had with these engines.
I hope everyone has a great Labor Day weekend.

TrainBoard is the best!!!!

 

Wlecome to Trainboard!!

If you''re referring to the Kato units, they are all great. I don't have a radius sharper than 18", so I can't comment on that part of it. The bigger they are, the heavier they are and the better they pull.

 

All are great engines and great pullers. I know the 70 series have the low pros and will work on C55. The 80-90's came out a year earlier and I would have to go check mine to see. If radii are tight, the 70's are a wee bit shorter and a lot more common on the prototype (although I did see a UP SD80Mac railfanning today) so I would stick with those until the other stuff is confirmed on the 90.

My radius is generall 18" but I do have some tighter curves and the 70's go around them. If I had to guess, you could squeeze these around 13" radius curves and maybe even 11" with a loss of speed and looks. The bigger the better, as you know.

 

UP does not own any SD80mac's. They only bought the 90's...

 

I have all 3,70,80 and 90. My current layout has 20" radius but my previous layout had 15".
They all ran very well on the previous layout. My current layout is Atlas Code 55 and all run great with no issues.
Jeff

 

So far of the three I have two Kato SD70ACe's with a third on the way. I only have a "test track" layout with Atlas "standard" #4 turnouts and 11" radius turns that they don't even blink at. They both pull as many cars as I can get on the layout. My pair of Atlas SD60Ms are just as good.

 

Hi,

I have one of the SD70 MACs and a few of the other large diesels from Kato so I am only talking about Kato locos.

Pros (not in any order)

• Nice looking
• Quiet running
• Good pullers
• Negotiates a Peco short turnout (about 9 inch radius)
• Easy to convert to DCC

Cons (not in any order)

• Most do not come with DCC installed from Kato
• Newer ones have the Kato version of a knuckle coupler that needed to be changed to extended length for the short radius, which does not look to bad or good either. Anyone know what a MTL replacement would be?

I can't comment about code 55 track.

Gary

 

I have Sd70M NS, UP and a couple of NS Sd80mac's and I was testing them on the Atlas code 55 track to possibly use as a siding and ran it along without power and felt the wheels of my Sd80mac's rubbing the top of the plastics spikes plates of the track just try it before you go all out with code 55 track.

 

I have the Kato SD70MAC's and they run great. And for a shmeless plug they are for sale, contact me if you are interested.
Kevin

 

"All Kato engines can take 9 3/4" radiuses except the longer ones, like SD80 and SD90MAC which need 11" I believe."

I asked Kato directly and this is what came back.:thumbs_up:

 

The SD70MAC's come with a optional longer coupler to negotiate smaller curves.
KEvin

 

Hi,

I have all thre and they are great locomotives. The first releases of all of them have do not have the Low Profile wheels, but the latter versions released do. The SD70M was the first unit wit hthe low profile wheels and then the second run of the SD80Mac, in Conrail only, have the low profile wheels as well as the last release of the SD90Mac. If you choose to rum ME code 55 you will have no issues with any of the locomotives.

As for the minimum radius of curvature, I have been using the Kato M1 track set as my test track and they do not have any difficulty with the 13 3/8 radius.