Backdating an SDP45 Burlington Northern SD

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(Click to enlarge)

  Hi All,

“You can't always get what you want
But if you try sometimes, well, you might find
You get what you need”

As part of the locomotive roster for my next modeling project, I would like to have an EMD SDP40 or 45 in Great Northern Big Sky Blue colors. The Great Northern was running an increasingly timeworn passenger locomotive roster by the mid-1960s, its EMD E7As were unsuited for the transcontinental routes (lack of traction and no dynamic brakes), and its EMD F3/7/9s with steam heat boilers were becoming increasingly unreliable. With an eye to the future, the Great Northern went for EMD SDP40s in 1966 and the more powerful SDP45s in 1967. With a V20 3,600 hp turbocharged engine, C-C traction motors and gearing capable of 85+ mph running, steam heat boilers for passenger cars (the P designation), and dynamic breaking, the SDP45s were capable of both passenger and freight work.

Athearn produced SDP40s in a wide range of railroad paint schemes contemporaneously with the introduction of the prototype, which was only bought by the GN and the FNdeM. Athearn must have assumed other railroads would be buying them. These models had overscale bodyshells to accommodate the large DC motors. Although there is usually a good choice of these models on eBay (ranging in price from $20 to $100), there are issues. Missing or broken handrails (spares are expensive), oversized body shells, and motors and drive mechanisms that are now getting for nearly 70 years old. Yes, Athearn produced a nice Big Sky Blue paint scheme, but getting one of these venerable beasts into something reliable would easily double or triple the asking price, especially if it’s been run extensively. Plus of course all those “Well I never!” and “Would you believe it!” moments. There are a couple of  brass models out there at the moment, $600-$600. Tooo.. much.

Athearn produced a Great Northern SDP45 as part of their Genesis range in 2019. This model is now in the “far and few” category. Athearn also did an SDP45 in Big Sky Blue but numbered/lettered for the Burlington Northern, presumably to represent as running immediately after the Great Northern, the Northern Pacific, the Spokane, Portland & Seattle, and the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy amalgamation in 1970. The new Burlington Northern number (9856 to 9863) and the letters BN were located under the cab side windows. Prior to the merger “Great Northern” along with Rocky the goat herald, was on a large board attached to the handrails, so there would be minimal work in backdating the BN lettered model to the original Great Northern scheme and number.

A brand-new DCC-ready NOS model is about what it would cost to buy and update an old wide-body model (DCC motor/flywheels, new geared trucks, LEDs). There is a Great Northern one on eBay as I write this, the asking price is $285 plus $22 shipping, DCC sound, advertised as used. That seemed a bit too much, so a new, unused DCC-ready Burlington Northern Big Sky Blue was ordered. The supplier, Hiawatha Hobbies, participates in the NMRA member discount scheme. $160 including postage. The first step is the removal of the BN letters and numbers, some Big Sky Blue acrylic paint where necessary, and attaching the Great Northern Rocky the goat side panels. To my surprise, they came with the model. Howididit in the next post.

Nigel

Some pictures of the model fresh out of the box. Edit: Inserting pictures not intuitive. you get the idea.



 

Nice loco Nigel  


Ed