An SD40T-2W ?

[mikeinwi]

Well, I finally finished one of my projects.  This loco is in my avatar picture, the wide cab with the Plano tread plate showing.  I had a couple of Athearn SD40T-2 shells, with the "snoot" nose, I have plenty of Athearn SD40-2 frames, and a few wide cab kits, of which the manufacturer name I have forgotten, so on I went.  The only "in progress" picture I have is the one in my avatar.  It's painted an lettered for my fictional short line, the Great Lakes Central, which is another story, as I have found out there is a real GLC, that used to be called the Tuscola Saginaw Bay Railways, which operates in Michigan.  My GLC is in the upper Midwest, WI., and has no connect to the real GLC.  Although the operation possibilities could include merging the two, and bringing back the car floats that used to haul rail traffic across Lake Michigan!

Anyway, I've added the tread plate, plow, wide cab, new fans, lower grills, with fine screening behind them to hide the rear drive gear, hand fashioned cut levers and mu hoses, and I had to "chop" the SD40T-2 shell to fit on the SD40-2 frame, and re-fashion the handrails to make up for the wide cab, and the chopped shell.  I haven't weathered it yet.

It's not much compared to the museum quality builds I've seen on this forum, but it fits just right on my layout.  What inspired me was the CN's wide cab SD40-2's, as the CN's Waukesha sub is close to me. My scanner is always busy with their detector at mile post 78.7, Honey Creek, WI.














Thanks for looking !

Mike.

[acollins]

Interesting project Mike. Goes to show what a little imagination, some parts and a razor saw can accomplish. Good build.

As a side not, you have a nice looking layout from what you show.

Alex

[coborn35]

A prototype of this does indeed exist, I have seen it with my own two eyes and the picture to prove it. Its not a Canadian cab, but sure is an interesting beast!

[acollins]

Only one I can think of was the retired and gutted SD45T-2 that was fitted with a wide cab for crash impact testing, is that the one your talking about?

[mikeinwi]

Thanks acollins. I did add a couple of things since my first post, I notice the antenna had broken off, so I replaced it, added sun shades on both sides, safety stripes to the sills, and some touch-up painting. I'll weather it soon, as it needs to run a while still in "fresh paint" from the shop. I have a picture of it below, on the left, waiting in a siding, for GLC 501, a modified C44-9, and an ex CR SD45 with a West bound.

I searched all over and never found any SD40T's or 45T's with the Canadian cab. I did find a picture of a CN SD40T-2 with a spartan cab, pulling ore loads in the UP of MI.



Mike.

[acollins]

Mike, I really like that one spot on your layout.

The added details make it look even better.

Who makes the crew figures in 502?

Do you have any other units for GLC?

Your most correct about one with a Canadian style wide cab. This crash test one was fit with a SD70I or M cab, and had thing ran into it by the DOT. Here is one picture of it:

trains-and-locomotives.wikia.com/wiki/File:Crash_Test_SD45T-2.JPG?file=Crash_Test_SD45T-2.JPG

I'm very much interested in learning more about your GLC.

Alex

[mikeinwi]

Thanks again Alex,

I don't remember where I got the crew figures from. There nothing special, and not from any of the European manufactures, some are Bachmann, Atlas, etc. I just look through the assortment, find one that will work, paint it, and sometimes I've used a soldering iron to "adjust" or move the arms to fit the pose I'm looking for. The train crew is just from the waist up, set on little "shelves" glued to the cab interior. The reflective work vest are painted on. I'm always looking for a good source for figures, such as crew members, trainman on a ladder, etc.

The Dash 9 that's in the picture is also a "salvaged" unit, along with the SD45 behind it.

If you want, please see the links I have in my signature to You Tube and PhotoBucket, and you can get a look at just about everything.

Thanks again!

Mike.

[Deleted]

I thought mazda mzde the glc hahahaha I had one it was a great little car anyway interesting build you have there keeps things interesting

[coborn35]

Feb 14, 2014 7:40:40 GMT -5 acollins said:

Only one I can think of was the retired and gutted SD45T-2 that was fitted with a wide cab for crash impact testing, is that the one your talking about?

Yep thats the one! I think it has a 60M cab or something IIRC. Its out at TTCI.

[Randy Earle]

I tossed around the idea of putting Canadian Cabs on a couple of my C-424s, but changed my mind.

[mikeinwi]

I really like the Canadian cabs. When the CN took over the WC, I was reluctant at first, but I've grown accustom to the CN. Plus it's so close by. When I first seen basic locos like GP38's and SD40-2's with wide cabs, I was amazed. Kind of like "why doesn't everyone do that!" So now I look for excuses to add the cabs to some locos, even if it means I have created a ( to coin a phrase from Jeffery W.) sort of "Frankendiesel"

Mike.

[railfansd40t2]

Hey Mike,
I really like this because I am a huge Tunnel Motor fan plus I like the wide cabs too.
Very cool idea and it makes for a real nice looking locomotive.
Well done.

Paulie