Lionel Conrail SD50 / EMD SD50 Worst Diesel Locomotive Ever? O Gauge

[@MMID303]

I love hearing your stories! I went to Vo Tech for 3 years in high school for agriculture mechanics, which dealt with mostly gasoline engines, but also some diesel. The diesel mechanics shop was next door and we would visit it sometimes for certain lessons. I received a proficient certification on the NOCTI exam. I spent a couple of years at a New Holland dealership, so I understand the frustration with engineers and their lack of common sense lol. I never became a full mechanic, but it helped me understand engines and how do some maintenance to my lawn tractors and vehicles. Ultimately I ended up becoming a machinist at a local manufacturing company that makes threading tools. Agriculture mechanics still helped me in this career because I learned how to read micrometers and calipers which I use everyday in machining.

[@Dakman]

Thanks much. I like throwing in my life stories into my videos.

[@kevinkilleen6375]

Thoroughly enjoyed the story and the EMD info.

[@Dakman]

Thanks much. I felt it was important to include the history that led up to the failure of the SD50.

[@johncliver5020]

Nice. I pre-ordered the same one but I'm still waiting on it to come in from Nicholas Smith. I remember this engine from when I was in elementary school in the 90's and how my dad explained to me the meaning of the yellow ribbon. So due to being a fan of Conrail from when I was a kid and the paint scheme bringing back memories of my father I had to get it. It won't take too much longer, right? Haha.

[@Dakman]

The Lionel Conrail SD50 is a great tribute to the real locomotive

[@stephenwhite546]

Hi Shawn hope all is well . GMs locomotive divisions plant was in Mc Cook Illinois. . Suburb of Chicago . I remember all that . I knew a lot of people that lost their jobs when they shut down . Their factory was a pretty cool place . You could see the new Locomotives as they came off the assembly line. All the different road names back then .

[@Dakman]

Thanks for the info. EMD was the best locomotive back in its time being owned by GM. Today, my local shortline still runs EMD GP9, GP10 and SD9 locomotives.

[@northpennvalleysteamrailroad]

Hey Shawn! Happy Saturday!

[@Dakman]

Thanks much and same to you

[@Glenn_Mead]

Hi Shawn! So, if you were to get a matching SD50, would you get the 6709 powered unit, or the 6720 super bass? Thank you!

[@Dakman]

In my opinion I would get another powered unit for the little more that it would cost you. That way I would have extra pulling power for longer trains. I like to add another locomotive for every 20 cars that I pull. This way there's no stress on the motor and gears

[@Glenn_Mead]

​@@DakmanThank you for the feedback! I went ahead and ordered the powered unit. That Conrail blue really pops!

[@huntercoleman460]

Amazing SD50 Shawn.

[@Dakman]

Thanks!

[@ganrailroad]

When you said you were working on a truck in secret i thought you were going to say it was the truck from knight Rider or smokey and the bandit.

[@Dakman]

I wish. Those would have been super cool.

[@ericwilliams2619]

👍🏻✨️✨️✨️✨️✨️

[@frankmarkovcijr5459]

They pushed the 645 engine beyond its limit so it was unreliable with catastrophic engine failure.

[@Dakman]

Yes, but that was one of many issues as I mentioned in the video

[@frankmarkovcijr5459]

@@Dakman l know the history of the engine from train magazines when we still had those.

[@darrenhenricks5472]

Did you get to see Maria

[@Dakman]

No, she doesn't ride with the band wagon equipment truck. I don't listen to that type of music so I didn't go to her concert in Philadelphia

[@williamkolina3988]

So SD 70ace SD 60, sd70 mac are problems and considered failure

[@Dakman]

What I meant to say that the EMD SD40-2 was the last successful GM locomotive. GM sold EMD to Progress Rail who are the ones that make the SD70ACe for example. The problem is that Progress Rail is owned by Caterpillar which is a terrible company, at least in the world of trucking. So Railroads today know that EMD will never get better under Progress Rail. Railroads such as CSX and Norfolk Southern have been selling off their EMD locomotives and going 100% GE unfortunately

[@williamkolina3988]

@@Dakman yes I see more and more es44; on the rails At work I used to hear engineers (heavy equipment operators) say komatsu was better than caterpillar You would think progress/ caterpillar would want the best and brightest designers.they are losing to GE Speaking of SD 70ace,my brand new NS heritage unit came with a broken smoke unit

[@joeyBirskovich]

I'm mean the model or the real one?

[@Dakman]

The real version. The Lionel version is a excellent model and recommended

[@joeyBirskovich]

@@Dakman I'm should get one?

[@Dakman]

@@joeyBirskovich Yes I would recommend getting one. The Lionel SD50 is a great puller, has 5 different bells and horns as well as being able to run on Bluetooth. The Lionel Conrail #6707 is a great tribute to the Gulf war veterans as well.