Model Railroading > Southern Pacific SD7R (ScaleTrains)

Caught this Southern Pacific SD7R lurking on a industrial track...
Arguably the best locomotive produced to date in terms of quality. Sounds are simply fantastic and well programmed and the craftsmanship of the model had no flaws out of the box.

Andy

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I had numerous occasions to be around these locomotives in the course of my work. The weathering job here is one of the best I have ever seen. Looks exactly like the real thing!

Pair it up with either another SD7R or a SW1500 and turn them loose to prowl the Los Angeles Basin!

I too think these are some of the best ST has done. However, some of mine are still having the red emergency light contacts in the hood not always contacting. Need to push down a bit. I know there are some work a rounds, which I plan to do eventually. However, how often do I use the red light in operations. Should be never. So not too worried about it. 

As talked about, you could also pair it up with SD38-2's. They ran the Colton sets with: slugs, SD7's, or SD35's. Would love if someone produced a slug for the 38's. 

Great weathering on your unit! 

Mike ONeill
Okahumpka, FL



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/25/26 10:46 by mcdeo.

Mike,
Are you speaking of the emergency light on both ends or just one? I ask because I thought I had activated it once and the front light didn't light... I thought I might have been imagining it because it didn't happen again, but now I wonder.....

mcdeo Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I too think these are some of the best ST has
> done. However, some of mine are still having the
> red emergency light contacts in the hood not
> always contacting. Need to push down a bit. I know
> there are some work a rounds, which I plan to do
> eventually. However, how often do I use the red
> light in operations. Should be never. So not too
> worried about it. 
>
> As talked about, you could also pair it up with
> SD38-2's. They ran the Colton sets with: slugs,
> SD7's, or SD35's. Would love if someone produced a
> slug for the 38's. 
>
> Great weathering on your unit! 

Looks great!
 
There are two diesels Scale Trains has yet to run.  Scale Trains SP SD9 and Scale Trains standard as delivered SP SD45 with L shaped wind shield.  Scale Trains did the as-delivered SP first order and the SD45R's but not the later (more common) production SP SD45s


Cheers,
Jim

mcdeo Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I too think these are some of the best ST has
> done. However, some of mine are still having the
> red emergency light contacts in the hood not
> always contacting. Need to push down a bit. I know
> there are some work a rounds, which I plan to do
> eventually. However, how often do I use the red
> light in operations. Should be never. So not too
> worried about it. 
>
> As talked about, you could also pair it up with
> SD38-2's. They ran the Colton sets with: slugs,
> SD7's, or SD35's. Would love if someone produced a
> slug for the 38's. 
>
> Great weathering on your unit! 

The SD7's/SD35's took the place of the slugs which had been built from Alco C628/C630's. After the slugs were retired the SD7's/SD35's were used in their place.

ST also needs to run SD45T-2's! They have the 'SD' frame, so could also do SD39 and SD40 for SP. :-)

As for the red light, yes, it can be sensitive if it works. I only got 2 units, put them on the test track when I got them, 3 of the 4 red lights worked. All other lights are working. A couple of days ago, put one back on the test track, missed seeing it, and the red light worked on both ends. I took it off the track, tested some other engines, put it back on the track, front red light did not work. I pressed down on the high hood, it came on. The contacts for ST are a known issue. Sometimes ditch lights are a little on/off, or the cab light and control stand, you have to press down on the cab.

There are work around fixes. I forget what they are, but basically, add a slim piece of copper to one end. The spring in the contacts I guess is either not as strong, or there is a slight gap for the frame to shell. I like that they don't have as many wires for lights needed, but ST could add a bit more length to the spring mechanism so there is more play available and more pressure to make contact. 

Mike ONeill
Okahumpka, FL

Mike,
Using a thicker sheet of paper under the frame circuit board works wonders for the iffy contact issues...

Andy


mcdeo Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> ST also needs to run SD45T-2's! They have the 'SD'
> frame, so could also do SD39 and SD40 for SP. :-)
>
> As for the red light, yes, it can be sensitive if
> it works. I only got 2 units, put them on the test
> track when I got them, 3 of the 4 red lights
> worked. All other lights are working. A couple of
> days ago, put one back on the test track, missed
> seeing it, and the red light worked on both ends.
> I took it off the track, tested some other
> engines, put it back on the track, front red light
> did not work. I pressed down on the high hood, it
> came on. The contacts for ST are a known issue.
> Sometimes ditch lights are a little on/off, or the
> cab light and control stand, you have to press
> down on the cab.
>
> There are work around fixes. I forget what they
> are, but basically, add a slim piece of copper to
> one end. The spring in the contacts I guess is
> either not as strong, or there is a slight gap for
> the frame to shell. I like that they don't have as
> many wires for lights needed, but ST could add a
> bit more length to the spring mechanism so there
> is more play available and more pressure to make
> contact. 

Wow that looks amazing! I don’t know how I’ll afford the SD9’s when they come out, saw those all the time in California growing up.

Nathan

Posted from iPhone

atsf121 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Wow that looks amazing! I don’t know how I’ll
> afford the SD9’s when they come out, saw those
> all the time in California growing up.
>
> Nathan

Same, I saw SD9's coming through Davis Califoria in the 70's and early 80's.