Looks like Kato is releasing another run of SD40-2s in both the early and mid-production versions, both with dynamic brakes: Early: C&NW, Pam Am Railways, UP, Wisconsin & Southern Mid: Santa Fe, BN, IC, NS Maesrk Sealand Unfortunately (or fortunately) my wallet will be spared, but I'm sure these will be welcomed by a lot of other modelers.
I pre-ordered a UP SD40-2 for my WP layout. They ran in run through trains over the WP before the merger. Maybe I should have ordered two...
Unfortunately the UP numbers are both ex CNW units so they would be appropriate for late 90's and up.
I have some MP SD40-2 canaries or "Mop-UPs" to represent the merger era, but the thought of picking up a UP crossed my mind too. I'll certainly pass if those roadnumbers are ex CNW.
I doubt very few people that will be running my trains (me) will know that kind of thing. lol I also have a BN GP38 that they purchased from Conrail, but again...
The best part of the news is that the original Kato chassis is being used again for the early production ones.
Going to pick up a couple of the ATSF units, and maybe a UP. I wish they would of done the new UP scheme on the SD40Ns.
Well I remember everyone's concern was whether Kato would use the mid-production style chassis w/o the screws for the next batch of sd40-2's or the screwed variant. Just letting people know both variants/chassis are being produced again. So good news for those of us who need original, unsprung HTC's for our old chassis'.
Except they don't have ditchlights...which means they're not. Wish they had done the UP as the SD40M - which is the current upgraded version. Not much in the way of physical changes, but with ditchlights. I'd even deal with that lousy sprung chassis.
BN!!! Now for 30 of them and make 12 FTE, some even in the high 8100'S. 8176 on up to 8199 as well as the 7200's!!!
However the 7200s and 8100s all have ratchet brakes where Kato's mid production units all have brake wheels. Maybe one day they will do that version also...until then, I've been using mid production and snoot units, and swapping out the noses with Atlas GP35 noses.
NO, they forget the G and should be painted orange and white or orange and gray, black is just wrong.
Kato is making the NS mearsk sealand unit not regular black NS. Obviously they see a market in special one of a kind units, like a heritage unit. That being said how about UP united way and desert storm units.
WISCONSIN AND SOUTHERN! I'll be ordering those units ASAP! I'm sure any fans of WSOR would understand... The only other WSOR units released ever was a small run of GP-38s done in 2002, I believe, by Atlas, and they were done inaccurately and are extremely rare. Hopefully these will be better representations, or at least give me something to work with! Alex
