Model Railroading > New ScaleTrains SD40-2 in MILW Rd?

I know there are a lot of modelers missed out on the first run of these models. Now you're in luck account ST has just announced preorders on a second run of these fine models. Included are 4 locotrol models with two digit numbers, a 3000 and 3020 without billboard lettering and MILW 156 in the Bicentennial red, white and blue. Also 172 which was assigned to pool service with the SP. The 176 was specially weighted for service in BN coal trains in the midwest.

Preorders close Aug 8 this year.

The 3000, 3020, 172 and 176 are reruns from the 1st batch. The locotrol units and 156 are new this batch.

The preorder list shows these are sold out and not on pre order so they probably not being rerun.



Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 08/04/18 07:42 by fbe.

The Scale Trains delivery pages show this 4th run of SD40-2 locomotives to be winter 2018/2019. Also included are CSXT boxcar SD40-3 and NS Admiral cab units with more BNSF H1 units. The 3rd run of SD40-2 units show as in production now for September delivery.

I would say if you want non sound DCC units purchase the ESU 21 pin direct from Scale Trains when you purchase the unit and they can have all the lighting files installed saving you the need to find a Lok Programmer and computer for the Lok pilot V4.0 decoder. Then you need to download the correct ESU files for the ST units and program them to the Lok pilot decoder.

ESU 54615 Lok pilot V 4.0. The ESU file is 97636 if you want to that yourself.



Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 07/26/18 10:24 by fbe.

I know they aren't everyone's cup of tea, but the CSX square cabs are extremely well done.

Some model photos and lettering layouts.

https://scaletrains.com/collections/rivet-counter-ho-scale-sd40-2-2nd-run-roadnames/products/rivet-counter-ho-scale-emd-sd40-2-milwaukee-road

I know the link says 2nd run but the photos show units which have bn ot been released yet.

Note the photos of MILW 17 which was a locotrol master has the mounting hardware for the icicle breakers which were installed behind the radiator fans post 1974 when electrification ended. These folded flat around the fans when not needed like 10-11 months out of the year. The breaker could be scratch built from flat wire and small chain used to fill the catch trays just above the radiator openings. Photos are a bit hard to find but there are enough out there raised and lowered to work from.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/29/18 10:59 by fbe.

Interesting, the icicle breakers would be an interesting feature for me. Albeit rather obscure even for Milwaukee enthusiasts.

It would not be likely they were ever used east of Harlowton and may not have been lifted until they got to 3 4ks of Deer Lodge. The Washington Cascades probably saw trains in the winters to fight icicles in the tunnels.

Somewhere in my pile of things in progress there is my first attempt at an icicle breaker made from flat brass wire and this new adhesive then called acc. Perhaps I can find it before the model is released.

Elizabeth Allen and Dave Maffei did some interesting work with icicle breaker bars on the SP snow service SD9's and GP38's a few years ago. Very detailed photos and instructions are in the archives...somewhere. The two RR designs are not the same but there's some ideas there that would probably work.

Here's one:

Date: 12/27/05 19:55
More icicle breakers

https://www.trainorders.com/discussion/read.php?3,1065964,1067119#msg-1067119



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/29/18 17:59 by TCnR.

The MILW ones had a top piece profiled to match the roof od an enclosed autorack. There were two vertical legs standing just inside the 6' width of the carbody. The outside ends of the top piece was extended down at about a 45 degree angle to the legs.

Checking the TO archives produced ths post, about halfway down an overhead of Milwaukee SD40-2 #25 shows the icicle breaker bar in stowed position with an excellent view of the pattern and a few known dimensions to compare with:

Date: 01/20/09 13:12
Re: Milwaukee Road - Tacoma -1978
Author: GPutz
https://www.trainorders.com/discussion/read.php?11,1852880,1852891#msg-1852891

I have replied to the linked post from GPutz with some memories of how the ice breakers worked. It seemed like a good idea to leave the text with the photos.

fbe Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I have replied to the linked post from GPutz with
> some memories of how the ice breakers worked. It
> seemed like a good idea to leave the text with the
> photos.

Looking through a few links there seems to have been electrical power routed to ...something. I'm guessing that there was a screw drive in the bar like housing on the corner of the of the carbody. The rack appears to be stowed folded in half, guessing the screw drive caused it unfold and stand upright.

I kinda remember an explanation in one of the other books, maybe the Fred Hyde book. That explanation was much more simple though, pull the chain and go back inside kinda thing.

There was nothing electrical associated with the icicle breaker at all. It was just a one man manual operation. When a roho laborer was sanding the unit he would stand on top of fan #2, bend down to lift the top of the breaker into an upright position then pin the uprights in the hinge area. The chains just reinforced the breaker while it was breaking the ice hanging from the inside tops of the tunnels.

The breakers were installed post 1974 when electrification ended and the overhead trolley was removed. In the electric days the locomotive pantographs kept the ice under control.

I looked at the preorder page today and it shows 172, 176, 3000, 3020 as being sold out so it seems I erred in including these set for production. What are listed are 17, 19, 27, 30 and 156 in the bicentwnnial paint. All numbers will be sound and dcc or just dcc ready. Preorders are due in about a week.