The prototype SD40-2 is the all-time top-selling locomotive built by the Electro-Motive Division of General Motors. Produced between January 1972 and February 1986, 3,126 of these locomotives went to U.S. railroads, 719 to Canada, and 107 to Mexico. Most of the SD40-2s remain in service, although many are now working for second owners and locomotive leasing companies.
During this long production period, many features changed to reflect customer desires. These BLI models represent the original standard version of the SD40-2.
The model has a plastic body shell made up of several major parts. A one-piece plastic upper frame assembly fits over the metal chassis. It has a non-skid textured deck and includes the pilots, steps, running boards, and cab battery boxes. The low nose, cab, interior, long hood, and dynamic brake hatch are separate assemblies that snap into place. Numerous railroad-specific details are hand-applied.
All of these parts are cleanly molded, but under close inspection the definition and depth of the details are a bit soft. This softness is hardly noticeable under the thin, smooth paint on our sample, but it could be a problem on undecorated models that modelers finish with several layers of paint.
The painting on our BN sample was smooth and evenly applied with cleanly printed lettering and EMD builder’s plates. The only problem here is that BN SD40-2 pilots, plows, and walkways were painted black, not green as on this model.
Our sample’s plastic railings had some distortion when the SD40-2 came out of the packaging. However, once the pressure of the packaging was gone, they appear to be straightening of their own accord.
Both of the EMD model HTC six-wheel power trucks have low-profile gearboxes to provide clearance overhead for the printed-circuit (PC) board, dual speakers, and other electronic parts. The QSI PC board is mounted on top of a cast-metal weight that fits over the motor. The speakers are mounted back to back over the rear truck to deliver sound through the open radiator grills. These grills have black screens behind them to hide the model’s internal parts.
The trucks are made of acetal plastic with interlocking parts that snap together. The wheelsets have blackened nickel-silver wheels mounted on steel stub axles which are pressed into acetal plastic gear hubs. These wheels have RP-25 contours and match the National Model Railroad Association standards gauge. Concealed metal contacts inside the truck sideframes pick up current from all 12 drivers.
Performance. Operating on DC, our sample SD40-2 started and ran steadily at only 2 scale miles per hour. Its top speed of 70 scale mph is a nearly perfect match for one of the common prototype gear ratios used in these locomotives. On DCC, the starting speed was slightly higher, with a similar top speed.
The model’s drawbar pull is equivalent to 65 free-rolling freight cars on straight and level track.
Instructions for adjusting the DC starting voltage and maximum speed, as well as the DCC and sound system functions, may be found in BLI’s comprehensive 30-page instruction manual. The locomotive includes a simple reset function that restores all of the electronic functions to their factory default settings in case you have a problem with these adjustments.
On DCC our sample immediately began producing realistic idling EMD sounds. These sounds picked up speed and intensity as the throttle was advanced and then dropped off when the engine slowed down. The bell is excellent, including the activation noise of the air-operated clapper an instant ahead of the bell’s ringing sound.
The horn worked fine, but its somewhat dissonant tone was unlike any of the BN SD40-2 prototypes our staff could remember.
As I look back over my tests of this new locomotive, I’m left with mixed feelings. The model’s performance and sound system are certainly first rate, but there are just enough glitches in the body and painting details to be of concern.
Price: $249.99 each
Manufacturer
Broadway Limited Imports
601 Shenandoah Village Dr.
Suite 9E
Waynesboro, VA 22980
www.broadway-limited.com
Description
Plastic and metal ready-to-run
road freight diesel locomotive
Road Names
Burlington Northern (nos. 6325
and 6334), Burlington
Northern Santa Fe (former BN
green paint nos. 8208 and
8189), Helm Leasing no. 6388
(black patched Milwaukee
Road paint), Helm Leasing no.
7144 (ex. BN), Kansas City
Southern (nos. 642 and 655),
Milwaukee Road (nos. 205
and 208), Norfolk & Western
(nos. 6091 and 6126), Union
Pacific (nos. 3130 and 3222),
and undecorated
Added-on individual details
Authentic EMD SD40-2 diesel
engine sounds including air
release, bell, horn (with optional Doppler effect), and squealing brakes
Cab interior
Clear window glazing
Die-cast metal frame
Factory installed QSI Quantum
dual-speaker sound system and automatic Digital
Command Control (DCC)
decoder
Five-pole can motor with flywheels
Kadee magnetic knuckle couplers mounted at the proper height
Minimum radius: 18″
NMRA RP-25 contour wheels
Reversing constant headlights
(dimmed headlight in neutral)
Slave control to mute whistle
and bell sounds while trailing in
a locomotive consist
Right out of the box, I unfortunately have had some problems programming this locomotive. Although bought new recently, locomotive movement seems forced…as though something is too tight internally. May need to be sent back…we will see. Sound is only okay…I have heard much better. Looks really good for a plastic locomotive though.
Having purchased the Blue Line version I am very uncertain how to remove the bodywork!!I can not find instructions for that move and the loco seems abit fragile…