Rio Grande Tunnel Motor

[bud]

Here are a few shots from a project I did 15 years ago. It started with an undec Athearn BB SD-40-T2. I started this when I lived in the east and worked from personal photos I shot when visiting Colorado. I added a Cannon cab, Smokey Valley handrails, many DW and DA parts, scratchbuilt DB fans, Microscale decals, etc. The fuel tank was cut down to the proper size on a table saw. Only the forward truck is powered as I wanted the total see-thru effect at the radiator intake screens. Weathering is with powdered chaulk.

I finally finished the engine after moving to Colorado. in 1994.

The model won first place in the Caboose Hobbies diesel contest in the mid 1990's.

Not great by today's standards, but it was a lot of fun.

[Randy Earle]

Looks really great to me! Kinda reminds me of present day Wheeling & Lake Erie. The crew in the cab and the broom out front really adds to the realism.

[bud]

Thanks, Randy. I just realized I put it in the wrong catagory, though. Sorry.

[sp9504]

bud said:

Thanks, Randy. I just realized I put it in the wrong catagory, though. Sorry.

Naw.. you put it in the right category. EMD Dash-2s are still considered 2nd generation diesels. Third generation did not occur until microprocessor control first appeared on locomotives starting with the SD60s and pre-production GE Dash8s. Of course, there are a couple of Seaboard SD50s out there that were testbeds at this concept, but that's one for the trivia books! ;D

Cheers,
Harry

[craigz]

carrman said:

bud said:

Not great by today's standards, but it was a lot of fun.

Actually it is, don't sell yourself short!

Dave

Ditto on this. That model looks pretty darn good today!

[sp9504]

Your 5370 still looks terrific.

[bud]

Thanks, guys, for the kind words. I want to do another one of these using the latest Athearn product as a starting point. Maybe this time it will be an Espee version, though.

[sp9504]

bud said:

Thanks, guys, for the kind words. I want to do another one of these using the latest Athearn product as a starting point. Maybe this time it will be an Espee version, though.

Naw.. you need about fourteen more DRGWs first, for those massive coal trains with the midtrain and swing helpers! ;D

Again, Great Job!

Cheers,
Harry

[sarge]

That Tunnel Motor looks awesome!! Makes me want to move my tunnel motors up on the detail list.

[railfansd40t2]

Now this is the way I like to see a Rio Grande SD40T-2 ,
Beautiful in every way.

Paulie