Kato SD70MACs

While the SD70MAC is a nice choice, I would have rather seen them do an SD70M/SD75I release done first (I would have to speculate that they will be coming next). To see what can be done with the non-MAC 70/75 series, look at Athearn's Genesis series. Plus, I model UP and have no use for an SD70MAC

If they don't do the SD70-75 series, then I think they chose the wrong series to do. If you are listening Atlas, here is your chance to massage the SD60 platform and do your own version of the SD70/75's.

 

The only other road I know of that has them is TFM (Mexico), who owns 30 of them, I believe. Then of course there is the EMD Demonstrator.

 

Guess I am late to this thread.

Is the Kato SD70MAC the engine with a can motor and a solid (not split) frame? Is all this a DCC issue? I have heard that the speeds are a lot different.

 

Hello,

The Kato SD70MAC, SD70M, C44-9W, and AC4400W all appear to use the same (split style) frame. Kato does make several units which have a solid (non-split) frame, such as F40PH, P42, E8/9, F3/7 (new style), and PA/B-1. Each of these models uses a different frame, but the light /decoder board is the same (except for LED placement).

I'm not sure which locomotive that you are referring to, could it be the Athearn SD70/75? I know that that unit has a can motor, but I've never seen one and don't know what type of frame construction it uses.

Mark

 

Thanks, Mark. It may be the Athern SD70/75. I just heard this in a conversation and I don't have any first hand knowledge. I did think it was interesting that it was a can motor instead of open frame. I think of can motors as being in HO scale.

 

I just took a peek inside my Athearns SD70M (Southern Pacific). Split frame, can motor. Uses a lightboard like Kato (Digitrax D163K1B or similar) with some fiddly brass contacts down to the motor - kapton tape country.

Don't know what speed / performance is like, haven't run it yet.

 

doug caught the one i was going to mention, tfm

beast

 

Just saw a TFM unit on a southbound (RR east) on our way back from the Fort Worth show. It was the trailing (DPU) unit on a string of various BN, BNSF and a few other reporting marks with two BNSF Exec scheme units on the point.

 

I doubt kato will release a CSX model as they seem to be allergic to the dark future livery! I have got to give credit to Athearn for releasing their sd70m in the newer livery.

 

Great Northern in Empire Builder. (Ok, ok, I know it won't happen but you did ask).

 

Flash,

I think you just put a big rip in the space-time continuum! Late is an understatement....3 1/2 years is an eternity on the Internet!!! hehe

Anyway, (and at the risk of throwing myself into an irreversible time warp) we can now see how this played out with Kato's SD70MAC's, the Kato SD70M, and the Athearn SD70 "Series".

Kato did in fact do an SD70MAC in CSX, although not in the Dark Future (yet). I suspect that once BNSF repaints one of their 70MAC's in the wedgie scheme, we might see another run with BNSF Wedgie, CSX Dark Future, et al. KCS, in a very railroad-esque move, has just "purchased" the 30 TFM 70MAC's from their affiliate road from which they "borrowed" the units from to begin with, with the intent to sale them outright to a leasing company and LEASE THEM BACK!!! (bean counters REJOICE!!!) So there is another potential lease scheme as well. Kato certainly took care of us BNSF guys with the BN and BNSF versions. (TWELVE total!) Of course I wouldn't complain if they chose to do the class unit, 9400, with the four steps and chrome handrails....then just about every BN/BNSF phase ever made would be possible with minor bashing.

Truth be known, with all the releases of the 70's to this point, they still haven't scratched the surface of all the various models, configurations, and phases out there. That's not a complaint mind you, just an observation that there is still potential for more releases.

George, those TFM and also some KCS units make it onto the FW&D line occassionally. I've never caught a TFM but I've seen reports on Railspot of them.

 

By dinner time, I have a hard time remembering what I had for lunch. I don't know how you guys can remember posts from over 3 years ago!

 

Well, truth is that I didn't notice that. I did a search and thought it was 2005. Oops!