What’s a Heritage unit?
There are actually a fair number of railroads, large and small, that operate diesels decorated in the colors of their respective fallen flag lines. In fact, there is a website allowing you to track Heritage units from all railroads (www.heritageunits.com). So the idea isn’t new, but Norfolk Southern has set the standard for the endeavor.
Norfolk Southern (NS), one of North America’s six largest railroads, has a family tree worthy of Cornelius Vanderbilt. Indeed, Vanderbilt’s beloved New York Central System (or at least a hefty chunk of it) represents a major branch of Norfolk Southern’s family tree.
As a salute to the vibrant history of the line, Norfolk Southern decided to decorate 20 factory-fresh Electro-Motive Division and General Electric locomotives in “what might have been” paint schemes. These were not fantasy jobs, but decoration in line with earlier diesels the various companies operated back in the day.
Below is a list of the road names NS used on its Heritage fleet:
GE ES44AC: Central of Georgia, Conrail, Interstate RR, Lehigh Valley, Monongahela, Nickel Plate Road, Norfolk & Western, Norfolk Southern (original), Pennsylvania RR, and Southern Ry.
EMD SD70ACe: Central RR of New Jersey; Delaware, Lackawanna & Western; Erie; Illinois Terminal; New York Central; Penn Central; Reading Co.; Savannah & Atlanta; Virginian Ry.; and Wabash.
Before we jump into it, the first point of order is to note that the Williams by Bachmann O gauge model is an SD90 and not an SD70ACe. Why?
Simply put, Williams does not offer an SD70 of any version. The carbody difference isn’t significant to me, but if it may be to you check out photos of a real SD70 and a real SD90 and make your own judgment about the differences.
The O gauge model
For too many years, all members of the second generation of diesel power looked alike: bricks with low- or high-front hoods. You might have rounded corners on one or a slightly protruding end on another, but they tended to blend into one another. Today’s motive power is another story: Radiator wings are back, as are big, boxy shapes with straight edges. Even the ubiquitous wide-nose safety cabs allow for front graphics in a way similar to the F3s and F7s of olden days.
Let’s begin with the nose.
The pilot has brakeman steps (long outlawed) and striking black-and-white safety striping on the face. The stamped-steel handrails at the steps are painted yellow with the center rail black.
There are a few differences with the prototype’s nose – on the model the headlight and number boards are on the snout and not above the cab windows. The model also lacks ditch lights. There is a cast-in door and grab irons on the front, while the top has add-on grab irons and sand fill caps. Each of the front windshields has three wiper blade arms.
The side windows have four panes and single windows on the rear of the cab.
The side of the model is full of cast-in screen, louver, latch, rivet, and hinge detail. I especially liked the tiers of texture on the sides. The flanks aren’t simply flat, but feature rear protruding sections and recessed sections.
The most obvious side details are the overhanging radiator wings. These have side slats to represent screens, and there are four cast-in fans topside. Three black ones are mounted on the radiator, and a silver-colored fan is right behind them. These look terrific.
The stamped-steel frame is smooth, and the handrails are folds of this steel. About those handrails: am I the last guy on the planet who likes to be able to stick a pinky finger through the handrail and pick up a locomotive without fear of it falling to the floor? I suspect not.
The rear of the model is a delightful combination of angles. Rather than end in just a blunt square, the body narrows to an angle to form a tighter square end, while there is overhang right above. The locomotive number and rear light are placed there. You’ll also find cast-in grab irons allowing roof access.
Painting and decoration are first rate. The lightning-stripe paint scheme looks fantastic. The decorators did a superb job applying the paint and lettering to a model with this much cast-in texture. The red New York Central System oval on the nose is the focal point for the stripes – just as on a vintage F3. Additionally, there are at least 28 warning labels on the body!
On the test track
The O gauge model features two can-style motors. The trucks have three axles, and the rear axles on each truck are “blind” (no flanges) and unpowered. The front and middle axles are powered, and the middle wheels have traction tires.
This is a conventional locomotive, so the only control (on the underside of the frame) is to run or lock the locomotive’s direction. Cab illumination and the headlights were flicker free.
Our conventional low-speed average was 20 scale miles per hour, while our high-speed average was 77.9 scale mph.
The locomotive’s drawbar pull was 1 pound, 12 ounces.
Motor operation was smooth and responsive to transformer commands.
The True Blast Plus sound package was excellent. You could clearly hear the engine and revving sounds, and the horn and bell tones were first-rate reproductions. And yes, it did cause people to stick their head in the workshop just to see what we were running!
Let me give Williams a pat on the back – the instructions come with a nice diagram of the locomotive for you to identify parts with, and there is a parts list for the model on the opposite side of the sheet. Two thumbs up!
Nobody likes needing a part when you have no idea what to order.
The Williams Norfolk Southern Heritage locomotive is a solid model with a moderate price tag, superb graphics, and excellent operating qualities. If you’re a conventional runner who wants to salute a favorite fallen flag railroad, or you just want to see a vintage paint scheme on a modern locomotive, a Williams diesel may just be in your future.
Price: $349.95 (no. 21831)
Features: O-31 operation, two can-style motors, die-cast metal trucks and operating couplers, True Blast Plus sound system, dual headlights.
Current-production road names: Erie, Central RR of New Jersey, Lackawanna, New York Central, and Reading
www.bachmanntrains.com
I just bought a new Williams #21834 Norfolk southern heritage sd90 with true blast plus sound what kind of transformer do I use I have a lionel 80-watt transformer will it work
This is a beautiful unit and the graphics appear to be first-rate. But come on Williams by Bachmann, let's get rid of the stamped steel handrails. Some of your other models, such as the BL-2, do this feature so much better.