3 PC SD40's

[roadkill]

Gathering the parts needed to build 3 Penn Central SD40's using the nicely retooled undec Athearn Ready-To-Roll non-sound models. @ will be modeled as former PRR units and on as one of the 45 ordered new by PC. Going to do quite a bit of Cannon-izing, including cabs, fans, dustbin hatches, exhaust hatches, and etched steps, also will be bending my own handrails using the newly re-available ex-PIA now PSC stanchions.

[simulatortrain]

Looking forward to seeing this project, as it sounds similar to what I have planned for WM units.

[Deleted]

Mmmmmmm, PC SDS40's. Nice.

There are nuances to them depending on what order they came from. Pilot plates, blower duct length just to name a couple. Also pay attention to the truck journals. These types of things make the model. Depending on what era you are modeling them too, some of them with low mount brakes have heavier clasp brackets.

[m a y o r 79]

Cool, this should be an interesting one to follow.

[roadkill]

Feb 3, 2016 10:58:35 GMT -5 @6axlepwr said:

Mmmmmmm, PC SDS40's. Nice.

There are nuances to them depending on what order they came from. Pilot plates, blower duct length just to name a couple. Also pay attention to the truck journals. These types of things make the model. Depending on what era you are modeling them too, some of them with low mount brakes have heavier clasp brackets.

Oh yes, indeed there are. That's been more than half the fun researching these units . So far here's what I've found:

Ex-PRR units: tabbed pilot end plates with squared-off MU hose/footboard boxes,  10 radial 10 blade cap top spiral grille dynamic brake fans,  10 radial 8 blade spiral grille cap top radiator fans, long blower duct/3 short stanchions, smooth subbase door beneath engineer's cab side/ ribbed beneath fireman's side, low brake cylinder Flexicoil* trucks (more on that later), nose-mounted ratchet handbrake, no ECAFB, straight sill beneath emergency fuel cutoff, large 3 strap cab signal box, Leslie S3R (?) horn.

*Flexicoils - Not a sure quick ID as many units had their low cylinder trucks replaced with later high cylinder Flexicoils. Also, most (if not all) that retained their low cylinder trucks were retrofitted with much larger angle stock brake beams.

PC ordered units: zigzag pilot end plates, MU/footboard boxes with slight bevel at the lower outer ends, open top 10 radial 10 blade dynamic brake fans, open top concentric grill 10 radial radiator fans (unknown whether 8 or 10 blade), long blower duct/3 short stanchions**, ribbed subbase doors under both sides of cab, high brake cylinder Flexicoils, rear platform mounted brakestand with brakewheel, ECAFB, slight fishbelly under the slightly larger emergency fuel cutoff switch, 2 strap small cab signal box, Leslie S3L horn.

**About the blower duct...  looked at oh-so-many pics of PC-ordered units and all have the longer duct w/3 short stanchions, which seems to go against what EMD was doing at the time. For example Western Maryland's SD40's 7495-7496 (blt. 11/68) two years before the PC order have the shorter duct w/4 short stanchions. Strange.

[nsc39d8]

I am not sure but I think I read some where that the longer blower duct was used when the railroad ordered the deep oil sump option for the prime mover. You might check your research and see the amount of engine oil for these units as compared to other SD40's.

[Deleted]

Roger,

You have done your research. Nice!!!!

Your (unknown whether 8 or 10 blade). It is 8 blade. No EMD radiator received 10 blade. Ten blades were only for DB fans. Now some locomotives received 9 blade, but that was a batch of SD45's and I think the SD45-2. The Cannon web sit is correct for which units used each specific fan.

[roadkill]

I had a feeling I needed the 8 blade fans, thanks for confirming that info .