Review : 1.6" Scale SD45 Rio Grande Diesel Locomotive

Today we're reviewing a 1.6" Scale SD-45 diesel locomotive from The Train Works finished in the Rio Grande scheme. Enjoy and thank you for watching The Steam Channel!
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[@rapturebound197]

I worked for the Denver & Rio Grande Western RR beginning in 1970. When I saw this locomotive my heart melted. She looks beautiful. The D&RG was a magificent line thru some of the most awesome and rugged Rocky Mountain country in the world..a real railfans dream. I miss her. Thanx for the video and that young lady did a fantastic job. MD Kotowski .

[@akman1931]

It's awesome to see someone as young as me into locomotives like this.

[@TheProjectHelpDesk]

Anyone else notice the dripping gas cap? No matter your hobby, go big or go home. I would say this definitely qualifies.

[@miller7759]

Lol Yuuuupppppp...

[@Thatracinerailfan]

fr

[@tomgiorgini9154]

wow how simple can one, be tell me your a dimocrat without telling me

[@ijustpostedth1s724]

First thing I noticed. NO SMOKING.

[@1940limited]

This one looks a lot better than the Sante Fe F unit.

[@jessicahammock2502]

agreed

[@mojo2382]

Nice Presentation by an Intelligent Beautiful Lady! Thank you 👍🏻😊

[@ByrdMann2010]

Really like some of the fine details on this one, especially the steady scale drip from the gas tank that can be seen in most of the stationary long shots.

[@adirondackcarfoundry368]

That is a very expensive add-on. Increases the realism by accurately duplicating the overfilling of the fuel tank! :P

[@MattChaffe]

This video really reminds me of the I Love Toy Trains Series and how they will visit a model railroad or railroad club and review trains and layouts. Awesome job!

[@jodygrubbs3146]

Hi, my name is Joe, but my nickname is Jody. I have been crazy about the railroad all my life and at one point wanted seriously to be a locomotive engineer! My grandfather was a railroader,, and so was my great grandfather! I used to go to the Union Station here in Nashville Tennessee where I live and actually ride on the switch Alco locomotives, to me the Alco is the best sound on the railroad! I certainly appreciate your great channel and God bless!

[@claytonvr9772]

You can hit the spac bar once.

[@danielp-cryar9452]

Ouch. I knew these were expensive but my gosh. These are true goals right there. All the same, great video

[@Romans--bo7br]

Danny C.... if you think these are expensive... be laying down when you're inquiring on the price of UP 4.6.6.4 (Challenger) or a 4000 Class (UP) "Big Boy" (4.8.8.4 wheel arrangement - articulated) in approximately the same scale or even a slightly smaller scale, in "live steam". You can get up into the 6 digits for live steam, depending on what scale (and gauge of track), type, size and complexity of the locomotive.. this is Not a hobby for anyone working hard and trying to just "make a living".

[@MacquarieRidge]

You know your model trains are legit when they have gas engines

[@MacquarieRidge]

@Kabuki Kitsune thats really cool! Love your profile pic btw :3

[@tuberoyful]

🤣🤣

[@DoryRail]

Oh! That is amazing, what a beautiful real like locomotive!

[@RickyJr46]

Really impressive in scale and detail. Good video production, too!

[@donotwantahandle1111]

Seems like a great loco and very useful on high passenger days!

[@ajmayowskijr]

I love it, but I think for the price I'm sticking to O-gauge.

[@TheSteamChannel]

I drew the line when Lionel started charging $2,500 for a Vision Line engine. Put together a roundhouse of those and you're in the same ballpark. At least with this you can go with it and travel to various clubs/railroads around the country. In this scale people generally only have one engine...and with regular maintenance...it will outlive you. These also don't depreciate as much in value compared to the O scale trains as long as they are kept up.

[@mikek8089]

Yeah the g-scale in my yard is just fine lol. That's enough work and expense for me!

[@tadheath5856]

The n scale in my homemade portable box is good enough me.....3'x4'....

[@garman1966]

I'm with N-scale, long modern freight trains with 80 cars and 7 or 8 engines

[@NERRP2017]

I agree G scale is too big and derail prone and bulky to operate with

[@stephenmcallister2169]

the detail on this engine is amazing. one of the best i’ve seen. great review. now i just need to come up with some cash 😎

[@MeigsCountyRR]

I've never seen anything like that before! I can't imagine what it would cost to build a railroad like that. Wow!

[@TheSteamChannel]

It averages about $10 a finished foot (taking in the rail, tie material, hardware, and ballast).

[@charlesstevenson5141]

A bare minimum locomotive like this starts around $12k and only goes up with details and options.

[@michaeleykelhof3377]

Thankfully were i stay you going to pay way way less maybe les than a qauter of that price for something similar

[@tylersebring8045]

She was doing a great job and she was doing an fantastic job describing the localmotive

[@LectronCircuits]

Excellent training. Cheers!

[@drgw489productions]

LONG LIVE THE D&RGW

[@johnsmart964]

Absolutely fantastic, I am very impressed.

[@evanveres7483]

I love the Marvel studios intro

[@mreid08]

I caught that too!

[@tsant6591]

This is some hard core fabrication and craftsmanship. How much is this going to set one back? I'm guessing 25k? Edit: nevermind, I just made it though the entire video lol. Nice work!

[@evanr648]

Started off watching vids of HO scale trains to transport beers and vodka, but this thing could haul entire kegs lol Holy crap

[@payracradio3174]

I love the passion they have for train

[@BuRn1NgAnUs]

It's awesome how it kinda sounds like an actual locomotive

[@jimsmoter4510]

Beautiful locomotive

[@moyomongoose1980]

That's big enough for Ken & Barbie and G.I.Joe to be proper scale.

[@seankolker]

I already have HO and N Especially HO and I “play” with the real ones. I don’t think my wife would be any too happy if I started this scale. She’s already mad I have wanted 1:1 in the firm a retired SD40-2....😂

[@ltaproductions7989]

You never know until you try.

[@mikecorleone6797]

The real one sounds better.. hell, lay down some track n use sd40-2 to take the kids to school..

[@tuberoyful]

🤣🤣

[@MrNJT]

Might not be a steam engine but that’s one heck of a diesel!

[@scofab]

This is neat... have had many small-scale trains over the years and these giant scale are kind of a fantasy. OTOH $17k buys a lot of go-kart... hmm. Very cool and thanks for sharing, first of these videos I've seen.

[@Twin_Flyer]

Gorgeous train but at the price the control box looks like its nothing more then an afterthought and was quickly thrown together!

[@TheSteamChannel]

Yes, someone mentioned that the faceplate should have been CNC engraved and we concur with that thought.

[@jewelbee6956]

It will be replaced by an engraved plate.

[@oddieboi]

If I spent $16-$20 THOUSAND on a replica model for a hobby I enjoyed, I would be furious after seeing some of welds I spotted in the video, probably the worst one I saw was for the plow brackets. They didn't even bother to clean off the spatter from the welding pass, they just painted right TF over it. Absolutely lazy and unacceptable for what people will be paying for it.

[@jewelbee6956]

I'm sure every car you've bought has been absolutely perfect.

[@michael61985]

Totally agree

[@charlesstevenson5141]

Agreed. First thing I noticed was the amount of screws without paint.

[@d.b.1176]

@@jewelbee6956you should google the word “if” 💻

[@herinol]

Wow very interesting stuff!

[@100pyatt]

Incredible !!!! Subscribed !!!

[@JH-cw5po]

Nice job! That is huge!

[@machinemanbaltimore]

Well, when I make my first million, I’ll buy 2!

[@michaelglass4701]

Looooove your video 👍🛤️🚂, The R G is beautiful

[@PakRaillionProductions]

A master piece what an amazing model this is 👌

[@eligebrown8998]

Great video. Great job on describing everything. I was wondering how heavy that was but I wasn't even close to 600 pounds

[@ROTAXD]

elige brown what was your guess before you heard the 600lb weight ?

[@eligebrown8998]

@@ROTAXD 2 or 300 pounds

[@gregrowe1168]

Yeah hope you don’t derail it. Will need several friends to help get it back on track.

[@budburr66]

That is not a toy for people of average means. The prices sound quite reasonable considering all the custom metalwork. I would think a minimum of 1/4 mile of track, boxcars, flat cars tankers and at least one people hauling coach followed up with a caboose would be in order. Very competent presentation.

[@rickygarcia7400]

Ha love it whin it comes out of the tunnel sounds like geep with roots blower.

[@TomCro2022]

Very nice video....... Super sound and video!

[@ceccoonrailroad]

Que hermoso locomotive creo que esta serie es la que más fama a tomado por su desempeño en un trabajo tan duro en esos caminos de montaña, hermosa máquina y hermosa presentadora.

[@deltaflyer9078]

What a beautiful locomotive!

[@dillonohlemiller401]

The girl isn’t too bad either 😍

[@newriverproductions12]

Wow amazing video! The locomotive looks almost real, and she did an awesome job describing the 45! But as always, my wallets empty

[@jimbobertson4549]

I had my grandpa buy me an AlCO RS1

[@CrazyBear65]

Oh how many times I've said that to women. "Sorry darlin, but my wallet's empty." lol

[@christopherjones911]

This is a rich man’s toy he buys his son for Christmas

[@inkslinger6156]

If I only had the money. I want mine painted in 1943 “Spirit Of the Union Pacific” colors.

[@mrstude]

Awesome loco !

[@miguelChivasFan17]

I think its cool how the girl said the roadname correctly "Rio Grande" in spanish and not "Rio Grandd". Great work on the video

[@1940limited]

I'm sure she's reading off a teleprompter, but that's OK.

[@peytonsmith3258]

Technically the ‘Grandd’ is correct, in this case; by all means use the E when you refer to the River, but the Grande’ (silent E) is how I have always heard it from people who work and had worked on the narrow gauge operations, and it’s the way I’ve always used it.

[@miguelChivasFan17]

@@peytonsmith3258 thats fine but i'm bilingual so for me saying it in spanish is OK too Rio Grande' with E or english Rio Grande (silent E) its still the D&RGW a very cool Railroad

[@reglementme6321]

g bridgman and it't quit monotonous and even annoying

[@peytonsmith3258]

miguel chavez of course, it just depends on your preference, I just 80-90% of the time done hear a E when the railroad is referred to :P

[@illumiNOTme326]

Very cool!

[@MechInfantry2AD]

I'm new to this hobby and started with O scale. The things are so awesome in scale. Would love to where I could find these monsters. Thanks for the great vid. Subbed.

[@CassandraPantaristi]

O scale was my first model when I was a kid. I did have G scale with the toy battery powered steam locomotives with the black track. I got into HO scale, but I am more interested in Gauge 1.

[@rvnmedic1968]

Excellent narration! She didn't stumble or miss anything. Professional vid, very nice engine. But with the size and the price, PLEASE put a diesel horn on it. Sounds like a bicycle horn. LOL

[@johnyoung468]

rvnmedic1968 I Agree !

[@SimonTog]

Very nice :)

[@brandonking5452]

I love it but for that price I think they should be diesel powered. That way you'd get the real smell of diesel exhaust, and real diesel leaking from the fuel cap. Maybe a small air compressor to have a real horn!

[@mrlionel1965]

Look at the price of a new snowmobile, and this price point is in line. New sleds are somewhere around $8000 if I recall. This has a ton more metal and machining on it. All depends on where your interests lie I guess.

[@TheBeeMan1994]

I’m sure if you supplied your own diesel to be installed the company would do it for you. I know Briggs and kubota make small Diesel engines

[@brandonking5452]

@@mrlionel1965 I just think if it's going to cost that much initially , why not make it a diesel. A better comparison of price is a small 18hp or so Kubota loader backhoe. It was around 20k. I guess most of us just can't afford to buy a locomotive like this when you have to look at that cost plus trackage and rolling stock. And also the Kubota TLB to prepare the roadbed. Lol

[@kleetus92]

Diesels that small are very hard to come by, and the are very loud. I have 2, a 10 and a 4 hp... they make a racket and vibrate quite heavily unfortunately.

[@Arotu12]

what a beautiful train

[@HotRodRodney25]

Beautiful

[@allendavis8392]

Eh..she knows more about trains than me? Impressive! At this point, just join the railroad for real. Great video!

[@valveanti-cheat9348]

shes reading a script lol

[@MoneyManHolmes]

More reviews like this, please.

[@drsigmundfraud1852]

Well now I know where the tower sign from Barrington EJ&E ended up.

[@MartinWorkshop]

Very nice video 👍

[@instantant]

I am planning to buy one for me for daily commute to office.

[@marylathisranijaya464]

Amazing video

[@ShawnTheDriver]

Damn, now THAT'S a model. If that thing runs into your car it'll probably do just as much damage as a real train lmaooo

[@josephbennett3482]

Haha

[@billie44]

Looks like a lot of fun

[@anthonyshepard9606]

OUTSTANDING 🐢🚂🇺🇸🐢🚂🇺🇸

[@RandomGamesProductions]

Very nice

[@trainman7655]

Nice loco wish i had the money

[@thecaliforniagamer3114]

same x3

[@dieselwdm2]

very nice

[@elleryparsons5766]

Not too shabby I like it.

[@Pete90]

For the price. The control box looks like an after though the labels aren't even straight. Like $400 dollars to make the lights flash at the front for prob a $20 parted kit

[@bambostarla6259]

I think I'll stick to OO... Dunno if I could fit this in my room... x)

[@robertasten325]

Amazing

[@jasonpetersrailadventures]

Oh wow...she's a giant!

[@fuzz-head4800]

Well this channel is cool

[@randysrockandrollrailroad8207]

Sweet!

[@omkr0122]

Sheldon Cooper (Heavy Breathing)

[@raymondgoff9983]

It sounds so real.

[@sdrake74]

holy moly!!!! I LIKE IT!!!

[@LOL-co4yb]

Wow nice video

[@jimbobertson4549]

Exact same engine that I have in my locomotive in Hudson WI.

[@PojebanyWladyslaw]

Absolute beaut...

[@fostoriadistrictrailfan3907]

That things huge!

[@coltonkent8306]

I love your videos I love your videos

[@briansmith8967]

SD45 always my fav after the E and F unuts

[@lavarockyanimations9563]

That model will be great for the train ride ons in Baltimore

[@J.R.in_WV]

I’d love to see one of these big 1:6 scale gas loco’s hooked to a real load to see just how much they’ll pull, I just can’t help but wonder but I’d say it should be able to move at least 2 tons, at least American ones (4,000 lbs) plus it’s own weight and a good size rider. Do they publish any specs on these about actual pulling capacities and tractive effort?

[@davidg1271]

15K?! You got me tripping

[@liamcooper5202]

I know right. $400 for a simple light flasher kit that cost $10. I would rather make it myself. For $15K I could probable make a true gas/electric or even diesel/electric than this hydro drive

[@nutsandbolts432]

Makes me wonder if there is a market for scale locomotive diesel engines. For the kind of money they are asking, seeing crooked stickers on the electrical panel is disappointing to say the least. CNC engraving or cast raised letters would be more appropriate and help justify $400 for a $10 switch. Not just drilling a hole, add a $3 toggle and a sticker a 5 year old puts on.

[@ordemtaguatinganortebrasil6896]

Beautifull machine

[@dejohdenny2870]

Very nice presentation. A fine piece of craftsmanship.

[@rogerletsom2127]

I am an avid live steam locomotive fan. I especially enjoy your videos on this subject. I'm also interested in 1.6" scale which is the correct scale for 7 1/2" gauge. The SD45 is certainly an impressive locomotive. But isn't the correct ratio for 1.6" scale 1:75?

[@lesashiminski690]

I loved to have a train layout that scale. I have to win the lottery first

[@tlimb813]

We love you and your train

[@Frisky0563]

Derailments you speak of are for the CSX painted models. Beautiful locomotive I have to say and the sound of it! How big is the railroad and property? Thanks for the review and video I enjoyed watching it 🙂

[@TheSteamChannel]

Thank you! The property is between 7-7.5 acres. I cannot recall exactly off hand.

[@keithdickson8364]

Very nice but I don’t think I can put it in my spare bedroom where I’m building my HO layout. 😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@gregmaday1331]

Do you have a source for the track and rolling stock, please. Too cool! Thanks! 👍😎

[@brendaleetv]

Beautiful! Wow its heavy! At 600 lbs!

[@gregrowe1168]

It’s basically the same weight proportionately as the real thing. At 1/8 scale, it would weigh about 500 times less than the real thing. 500x600=300000 lb or 150 tons, pretty close to prototype weight.

[@gwechoochoo]

Must be nice not having to get track warrants and deal with Amtrak delays.

[@giveafukisbroken9322]

For that price it should be engrave on the control box instead of some cheap sticker

[@TheSteamChannel]

Agreed

[@rickmatuska]

Nice locomotive. I want to build my own backyard railway someday.

[@johnyoung468]

rick matuska That would be nice. Lots of land and lots of 💰💰💰💰 for everything. Probably $200,000--$250,000. to have a nice layout like this. My estimate is probably very low. More like a half Million at least. Have to make the road bed, cross ties, the rails,slag ( gravel ),all the work putting everything in order,etc. Nice video !

[@jewelbee6956]

That would be awesome. Live your dream.

[@gregrowe1168]

Could go with a smaller scale like G. Still would cost thousands.

[@terrywilliams759]

Love it

[@TF856]

Very nice video and host.