|
|
Post by Packer on May 10, 2013 19:50:43 GMT -5
This one has kind of a backstory on how it falls under "cheap" and "rescued." In fact it was soo cheap, it was almost free. Heck, I may have been payed to take it away. 
This locomotive originally came from a guy on another forum. He's know to run his engines hard, handle them kind of hard, and usually until they burn out or break down. I knew this engine was gonna be rough when I got it, but the guy never told me it was a snoot. I though it was a normal-nosed SD40-2 I could turn into a BN unit. I ended up making a trade to get this loco. I sent 2 P2K engines in exchange for this (got them for like 30 each); he sent me 50 bucks, and about 15 freight cars (mostly athearn or accurail kits, but with kadees and metal wheels).
Well it got here, and the first thing I noticed was the snoot. I though, "oh crap, can't use it." It was covered in a mixture of dirt, soot, and dust. Handrails were busted up, were discolored (almost orange), and in some places held together or on my hot-glue. It ran, but made a god-awful screeching noise. Needless to say, I though this was something I couldn't really use, and would just take up space on my bench.
Well I decided to start with a clean slate, literally, and the first thing I did was pull off the handrails and give it a bath. I took some warm water and dawn dish soap and an old, soft, toothbrush and went to town. It cleaned up pretty well, just needed some touch-up in a few spots. Then I notciced, this engine wasn't half bad. Needed some pilot details and a few other odds and ends and it'd look halfway decent. While I was at it, I took the trucks apart, then cleaned and lubed them. I got the trucks to roll very freely on their own with the worm gear installed.
So I rummaged through my parts box and came up with the following stuff, most purchased through the Milton train depot/museum/hobby shop:
1x Custom Finishing (Bob Raza?) MU hoses, $3
2x Detail Associate lift bars (they were out of the brackets, and I lost a few in the process), $2
1x Ainclair Antenna (out of a P2K loco's extras) freebie
2x sets of atlas GP38 windshield wipers (I bought 2 sets, but it turned out to be 4 sets), $1
1x Atlas speed recorder (forgot for what), a pack of 4 costs under a buck. $1
So about $7 worth of parts in the first stage, but IDK where to figure how much I got the loco for.
The project sat after installing those parts for a few weeks. Turns out a guy on the same forum was trying to off-load a bunch of locos, one of which had a motor I could use in the ATSF SD40-2. I traded 7 of the freight cars from the above trade, plus 1 extra I had (duplicate) for a few athearn BB locos and 2 shells:
1x FP45 in amtrak, with a RTR SD40-2 motor
1x FP45 in amtrak, with a P2K E-unit chassis
1x SD40-2 SOO, early release.
1x SD45, custom paint
1x KCS SD40-2 #666 shell. custom paint
1x AHM U25C shell (ground up to fit the SD45 chassis), probably just for parts for my project.
So I stuck the motor from the first FP45 into the SD40-2, and it worked. Really well infact. Very quiet, smooth throttle response. I then stuck a DH163 I got from a friend (used, $15) and tried to see if the beacon would work using the factory board. It burnt the first bulb, I checked voltage and it was 1.5v. tried another one. Worked, then when the power was cut. poof. Another bulb. Turned out the inrush current was 2.4v. oops. I decided to pull the DH163 and use a DH123 (used, $10) and program the reat lights to be the beacon in foward. Works like a charm. I used the dead bulb with the leads cut down to about 1/4" in the rear.
I then ordered a replacement handrail set from athearn for about $7. Never knew the front one was 5 pieces until I got it. IDK how I got it to stay together, but I did.
So, I've inveted about $34 bucks into this loco. But then IDK if I got it for cheap, free, or got paid to take it away. I'll leave that to you guys.
Here's what she looks like:
Originally I thought of selling this loco. But I found pics of a sister unit in pool service on the BN on the point of a coal train in the mid-80s. All the pics of 5119 are in california. What's to say this unit didn't get stuck to a BN coal train or used in pool service at one point? So for now, it stays with me for a pool power engine for a coal train. So as of now, it gets stuck with my 2 BLI BN C30-7s. |
|
pacbelt
Chairman
Building Layout #11!! ;)
Posts: 682 
|
Post by pacbelt on May 11, 2013 5:02:33 GMT -5
Dang!! That looks better than ANY RTR overpriced loco!!! But then, THAT'S the point.  Well Done! |
|
|
|
Post by railfansd40t2 on Apr 6, 2014 11:14:57 GMT -5
Fantastic !
Paulie
|
|
|
|
Post by slowfreight on Apr 13, 2014 6:56:18 GMT -5
The story is more fun than the unit.
I get a real kick out of anybody salvaging these units that were run hard and put away wet...and they're usually super-cheap because the folks on the 'bay seem scared to death to bid on anything not NIB. Power to you, my friend.
|
|
|
|
Post by Packer on Apr 13, 2014 19:48:23 GMT -5
Thanks
However as of late I have an issue with the unit... I left it at the club one night, and the horn (which is one of those ones on a stand) came up missing, along with the BN GP30 I had coupled to it. Someone must have wanted horns on a stand...
|
|
|
|
Post by railfansd40t2 on Apr 14, 2014 5:34:31 GMT -5
Man that Sh8t is just wrong. You cant even take your stuff to the club and not worry about it?
Glad my stuff all stays at home on the shelves and in the cabinet that I am building.
Really sorry to hear of this because you put a lot of time and effort into this to make it really look sharp. Maybe you will get your stuff back but if not I think I would make it a habit not to leave things behind at the club anymore. Still sucks no matter how you slice it because the clubs are meant to be a place to feel like your stuff is safe.
Love this build.
Paulie
|
|
|
|
Post by santafemikie on Apr 14, 2014 20:54:43 GMT -5
Hey Vince,
The ATSF horns are indeed getting to be hard to find. The best were the OMI #9019 stand mounted horns. They are very hard to find. The DW 190's are getting hard to find and are pushing six bucks a copy, then you have to put them on a stand. I'm not making excuses for anyone, I think there is nothing lower than those who steal such parts and locos. Athearn could make a bit of money if they wanted to sell their Leslies(FP45's) and Nathans(GP60M's) on the stands as separate parts.... I would buy a bunch. You sure built a nice unit, it's too bad someone felt they needed your horns more than you. Paulie was right, you won't feel like your stuff is safe again.
Mike
|
|
|
|
Post by iomalley on Apr 14, 2014 22:29:04 GMT -5
Oh wow, that's the first I heard of someone pilfering parts off someone else's models...damn shame.
|
|
|
|
Post by iomalley on Apr 17, 2014 14:14:09 GMT -5
|
|
|
|
Post by Packer on Apr 17, 2014 21:03:21 GMT -5
Paulie, There was another group that lost it's horns around the same time too. My 2 P2K SD45s and my first genesis F45 all had theirs swiped as well.
Mike, There are a few that I leave there. The BLI C30-7s are the ones I actually feel okay with them being there, because the horns aren't coming off. (I've tried, there is like a 1/2" peg that is bent over a few times under the shell).
Sean, I already bought a Details West horn (#190, A shop I frequent in Pensacola has them) so I really just need the stand...
I went to replace the bulbs with LEDs (been doing that to all my athearn locos) today, and I remembered that whomever did that also messed up the antenna stand over the inertial air filter... So I have to either try to make one, or buy the DW part when I have the funds...
|
|
|
|
Post by santafemikie on Apr 19, 2014 0:11:26 GMT -5
|
|
|
|
Post by Packer on Apr 19, 2014 18:49:27 GMT -5
Mike, that one will come in handy. Some BN units had the stands too...
|
|
|
|
Post by iomalley on Apr 19, 2014 19:22:18 GMT -5
Better retrofit a padlock to these detail parts! |
|
|
|
Post by railfansd40t2 on Apr 22, 2014 19:37:25 GMT -5
What is the purpose for stands? I was thinking getting the horns up higher would help the sound carry farther and be heard better is that the case with these? I think they look real good but would like to know what the railroad's reasoning was other than to make them look cool.  Paulie |
|
|
|
Post by santafemikie on Apr 22, 2014 22:40:50 GMT -5
Hey Paulie,
The stands were used to get the sounds up over the A/C unit on the roof quieting things in the cab. The Santa Fe also put the radio and EOT antennas on stands to form a "ground plane" for extra signal gain. Yes, they are cool looking but they were definitely beneficial. They are also the first things knocked off. I try to build mine to be heavy duty enough to withstand "normal handling". The next time I do a new locomotive build, I'll show you how I do mine like the antennas on the SD-45-2 above. My avatar has five units all with the elevated horns and antennas.
Mike
My avatar picture and others are at this address s627.photobucket.com/user/mtomei51/library/
|
|
|
|
Post by railfansd40t2 on Apr 23, 2014 18:55:32 GMT -5
Hey Mike,
Thank you for the explanation and I went to the link you posted.
1976 ... a time when cars were still cars and we put more rubber than rim on them plus we didn't need nitrous to make it fast.
Again thank you.
Paulie
|
|
|
|
Post by Packer on Dec 5, 2014 13:26:43 GMT -5
Update on the engine and the club
Since a bunch of people detail parts have came up missing, the new president changed the locks and gave new keys. No more problems since then.
Anyways, The new president was asking how much I wanted for the 5119. He is a Santa Fe guy and does some nice work, and likes SD40-2s. I honestly don't know what to ask for it, much less if I want to sell it. It's "grown" on me a bit. But as of now I could use the money due to my current job kind of back-stabbing me when I took up a summer job.
If I decide to sell it, what do ou guys think would be a fair price?
|
|
dtinut
Chairman
Modeling the DT&I of the 60's & 70's
Posts: 661
|
Post by dtinut on Dec 5, 2014 16:06:19 GMT -5
No less than 75, as you put time/effort/parts onto it, even if the loco was free. I bet you think your worth 10/hr, and from what I have read, it is worth 75, maybe a bit more, but selling to a club member/ friend, just ask what is fair(75)
If a guest came up and said" sweet loco, interested on selling it?" Then I'd quote it for 100
Good Luck!
Brian
|
|
zzz
Probationary Member
Posts: 22
|
Post by zzz on Dec 6, 2014 16:37:17 GMT -5
Sounds to me like it's time for sound mod manufacturers to start adding theft alarms to the sound modules! LoL!
|
|
|
|
Post by icghogger on Dec 8, 2014 12:45:33 GMT -5
Sounds to me like it's time for sound mod manufacturers to start adding theft alarms to the sound modules! LoL! Or, at least a GPS so we can track it down. |
|
