Product Review: ScaleTrains SD40-2 Illinois Central Gulf (orange and gray) H.O. Scale, DCC/Sound

[@scotabot7826]

WOW, the lighting package on these locomotives are just awesome. Best in the industry as far as I'm concerned!!! Sounds great too!

[@KenPryor]

Great review! I'd love to have one or two of these units. I remember a lot of people didn't like the orange/gray paint scheme back when it came out. I was around 15 at the time and thought it looked great. My favorite was still the ICG orange and white but this came in a close second.

[@kcsthebetterway]

I photographed 6046 at Deramus yard on the KCS back in 80 something 😊

[@michaelfedora5630]

Waiting for the Ac4400 Devo in Ferowmax coming soon

[@stratojack1]

Sounds great!

[@macmike1466]

I would like to see those cooling fans on top of the engine work or moving like the real ones wouldn't you...I think that would badazz other than that I love it

[@illinoiscentralrailroadfan6015]

Hopefully scale train's will also do the Illinois Central SD40A in IC Orange and white, ICG Orange and white and Orange and Gray, IC Deathstar

[@ck7813]

It is very unlikely that ScaleTrains (or any other manufacturer) will make an SD40A since only 18 were ever produced. Maybe we will see an orange/white, it is more likely we will see Death Star since they can do CN repaints to go with them.

[@illinoiscentralrailroadfan6015]

@@ck7813 we can always hope for it but I understand what you're saying.

[@ck7813]

@@illinoiscentralrailroadfan6015 you may be able to kit bash one, you need an SD40 body on an SD45 frame with a 5,000 gallon fuel tank. Not impossible but not easy either.

[@ShawnCalay]

​@@ck7813 a FP45 gets you closer to the length ....I modeled 6 back in 1994 to 1995

[@illinoiscentralrailroadfan6015]

@@ck7813 the SD40A was built on a SDP45 frame with the SD40 car body. ICG sold six of them to the SOO

[@scotabot7826]

Would love to have a better view of the incredible lights with a front and rear view as well. Thanks.

[@davidcooke391]

Great Review. Just got the DCC/Sound 6040 & 6041. I have a question What DCC system were you using when testing these? Digitrax, NCE or other? Most layouts I work on and club layouts around here are Digitrax. But I was trying it out on my boss' s test track which is NCE. And I was unable to get the flashing roof lights to work with button 6. But a few others were different on NCE. I'll try our Digitrax layout at the museum I volunteer on building and maintaining their layout and maybe F6 on my 402D handheld will work.

[@ck7813]

Thanks, David. I am using a Digitrax Super Chief command station. I also used my test layout which has a Digitrax Zephyr starter. F6 will engage the upper cap lights that "oscillate." I am not sure why that is not working on your NCE system. The only thing I can think of is to check your function mapping using Lokprogrammer. It will be interesting to see if you get get F6 to activate them on your Digitrax layout.

[@ShawnCalay]

Kinda wish i woulda gave scaletrains a better look....i modeled all my ex KCS and MRS using athearn kits, even made some Canadians out of kits ....all thats left for me is canadian types so im buying bowsers....

[@robingagnon9659]

congrats, those are really nice engines! how is the Tangent caboose orange compared to that Scaletrains one? That orange/grey scheme is my favorites. Wish I has a GP38 in that scheme :)

[@mrmrb04]

Thanks for the review I think yours is the first review of the new run! Have you noticed any issues with the electrical pickup or lights flickering? I bought 4 of the new sd40s and 3/4 have the problem. My scaletrains gp30 as well as my other locomotives don’t have this issue it’s specific to the new sd40s. Thanks

[@ck7813]

No, I have not noticed any issues. I apologize, I am on the road right now and won't be home for a few days to look this information up. Take a look at the manual and see what CV the ESU power pack (current keeper) is. It could be something as simple as the power pack not be active. I know there is a page about this in the manual, I just won't have access to it for a bit.

[@mrmrb04]

@@ck7813 Oh ok thank you!

[@rodneystewart8958]

I knew this video was coming hopefully scale trains will do the ICG orange and white next with four axles and a switchers

[@ck7813]

I think the only option for 4 axle units from ScaleTrains will be the GP30, but on their first run they only used Bloomberg trucks and the IC (ex GM&O) used refurbished AAR trucks of used up Alco trade-ins. Rapido has pre-orders for some switches in the original green diamond black paint.

[@OvermarsGaming]

I wonder why scale-trains didn't produce four axles locomotive

[@ck7813]

They do! They released an EMD GP30 last year and they are taking pre-orders for a GP40. Unfortunately, they haven't offered any 4 axle units in IC/ICG/GM&O yet :)

[@ronaldjoyce7374]

Great review, I’m liking everything about it. Scale Trains are a little pricey but you get what you pay for. I’m curious, do you happen to have any SD 7s that you might be able to show or are those to old for your era? Ron

[@ck7813]

Thank you! Sadly, ScaleTrains is actually one of the more cost effective manufacturers of the higher end detailed models. They are much less expensive than Athearn and have more features. You can look into their "Operator" line which has less details, but is also less expensive. No, I do not have any SD7 locomotives. What is interesting is that GM&O/IC/ICG never had an SD7 or 9 on their rosters. They may have used some as leased units but through my research I have never been able to ascertain that an SD7/9 was rostered for those railroads.

[@ronaldjoyce7374]

@@ck7813 I only asked because I have 2 Atlas SD-7s from the CNW, 1663&1664, they were always or most always run together as a consist since 1953. Thanks for the info, Ron

[@michaelfedora5630]

Have lots of the Ac4400's

[@MattS_Filmography]

Very nice!!