The big porches are unique on the Dash 2. Pre-Dash 2(1972) SD40's had a little extra space but not a lot. Not sure about a bigger fuel tank on the Dash 2's but the HTC truck has a longer wheel base and the overhang toward the center to hang the traction motor on. If you look at Conrail ordered SD40-2's you can see the gap between the

Generally, the difference is that the SD40-2 has a modular electrical system, while the SD40-3 has a microprocessor control system. The SD40-3's are rebuilds of other units, so the exact differences may very from railroad to railroad, though. The W&LE SD40-3's are rebuilt SD40's that have Q-Tron microprocessor control systems. Chris Toth ...

I have added many sets of working ditch lights to locomotives, including the SD40-2, and it is not that difficult. I'm making the assumption that you are using DCC in the instructions below for the resistors. First, select the appropriate ditch light housing for your model.

If your prototype has Q-fans, then the proper Athearn dynamic brake section on your SD40-2 should have a silencer-style exhaust assembly on top. Also, the "blister" area around the exhaust stack should be somewhat wider (top view) than the rest of the dynamic brake assembly.

ScaleTrains new SD40-2 models somehow found a way to my house yesterday and I thought I'd share my initial thoughts on these awesome models. I picked up a Burlington Northern model to turn it into a lease locomotive and now I am having second thoughts about that project, simply because this model looks so damn good.

My personal preference is the Kato SD40-2 & SD38-2's. The Athearn models are better detailed at this point, but I am not happy with the 'leaning tree' issues they have with their handrails. Also, as an NS modeler, Athearn doesn't have the triple clasp trucks that were used on the former N&W units, where Kato does on the SD38-2's.

Hi everyone, I've got a Scaletrains NS Rivet Counter SD40-2 that features the factory equipped Loksound V4 sound decoder. I'm having problems with it running intermittently and the lights flashing (like loss of power). I've contacted Scaletrains, and they're willing to help, but

In looking at Don Strack\'s UP Locomotive roster site, all four of these SD40\'s were built in 1966. The 3055, 3028, and 3014 were ultimately sold and rebuilt to SD40-2 standards (with the 3014 and 3028 becoming SP SD40M-2\'s #8631 and #8638, and the 3055 became MPI #9014). The 3081 was sold to Helm Financial in 1988. Rich

For the heck of it, I hit F18 on my older run V4 Loksound SD40-2 and got the same wretched noise for 'sanders'. The only difference is on the V5's ESU has made this F18 sander noise as a randomly repeating sound when the locomotive is moving, much like an air release or spitter valve would be randomly played with no user input.

Don't know about the cost of an SD40-2 but I recall talking to a GE Rep. in Marion Ohio in March of 1975, he said the 3 new UP U30-C's that were ready to depart west that same day cost $350,000 each. The road numbers were 2905, 2907, and 2909. EMD's offering may have had similar pricing during that