CPR SD40-2F #9020 "Red Barn"

This is a Kaslo/Southern Alberta Rail shell riding on a Kato SD40-2 drive system.

This unit is adorned with Details West parts, with the exception of the MU stand (Miniatures by Eric,) and the bell. (Kato gong on the kit-provided bell mount.) 

The trucks were modified by having the Hyatt bearing caps removed and replaced with Smokey Valley roller bearing caps.  The shock absopers were pillaged from my parts bin.  I believe they are from a GE U33C siderframe parts fret, or from a HTCR sideframe kit. 

The steps, cut into the fuel tank, come provided by Kaslo with the shell. Using the Kato chassis allowed them to be installed with ZERO milling to the chassis.  Just cut-n-fill!



Paints are Acrylic water-based tints from Badger and Trueline Trains.  Decals are by Microscale and weathering was accomplished using chalks and diluted washes.

These units were the last CP Rail locomotives delivered in "Action Red," which is noteworthy.  Their polished brass bells alluded to their status among the (at times) shabby CPR fleet SD fleet.  "Pride of the service," until the AC4400s started arriving. Luckily, I still spy them in service on the mainline in Eastern Ontario.  Having said that, the fuel-guzzling 16-645 is destined for storage before too long.  The new "GEVOs" can save CPR thousands of gallons of fuel per year, per unit.  The Red Barn, and it's tricloptic gaze will always be the pride of my fleet.

CN C44-9W #2650 "Teardrop"

This is a Kato C44-9W shell and chassis with a Kaslo "Teardrop" cab added to match photos of this CN unit, #2650, taken in Montreal, PQ. 

 Modifications to the unit include re-arrangement of the amount and placement of shock absorpers on the Hi-Ad trucks, addition of the oil retention tank to the af-portion of the brakeman's side of the fuel tank, and modifying the mounting straps for the air tanks on the engineer's side, to represent an "underslung" arrangement.

A miniatures by Eric horn and antennae decorate the roof of the unit. Cannon and Co. fuel tank fittings with custom-made brackets adorn both sides of the fuel tank.   A custom-made rear pilot was fashioned from styrene stock, using a mill file.  

 

Kaslo anticlimbers and ditch lights adorn each end of this unit. Hand-formed coupler cut bars were secured to the pilot faces with Details Associates brackets.  The speed recorder is a beautiful item produced by Details West in white metal.  The cable is single-stranded wire, cut to length.

Last, (but not least,) A-Line windshield wipers were installed after the unit was painted with Trueline Trains Acrylic water-based paints.  Decals are by Microscale.