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 Posted - November 01 2022 : 7:42:52 PM
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My locomotive of the week is an Atlas SD35.
I have always been partial to the SD35, having fond memories of seeing them is sets of 4 pushing coal trains up the mountain grades of West Virginia on the B&O, and later paired up with other COnrail units running helpers between Pittsburgh and Altoona. Under full throttle, they howled like nothing else on the railroad.
This particular model is somewhat of an enigma. It isn't the original Atlas/Roco SD35 of the 1970s. Those have a distinctive slot in the fuel tank not present here. It is a later run from the early 2000s as near as I can tell. The box claims it has a decoder already installed though I haven't tried it out yet. The box also has a blurb for Atlas's long discontinued DCC system which was slightly more functional than EZ Command.
The nice thing about this unit is that it's one of the few 6 axle units small enough to perform well on my 18" radius curves. As such it should be one of the best pullers I have.
I got this one for a steal, around $50 from an ebay seller I've dealt with before. I had disconnected my DCC system from the layout when I went on vacation, so I could run trains on a temporary EX Track layout in the cabin we'd rented, so I'll have to hook it back up to test this one. The front and rear handrails were missing when I got it. On Atlas locomotives, they are generally not applied at the factory, but are included in the box as add on details. I;ll have to contact Atlas parts department for another handrail set.
Next weekend is the train show, so I should have some more goodies to post here then.
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Posted - November 02 2022 : 01:28:30 AM
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Great memories and a beautiful beast. Nothing quite like a heavy
train under load, making the ground shake, flexing steel rails.
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Posted - November 02 2022 : 08:06:45 AM
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I am fortunate enough to live next to a 1% grade. I get to see and hear those trains grinding uphill every day.
I never build a layout without a grade for my trains to climb.
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Country: USA ~
Posts: 483 ~
Member Since: December 22 2013 ~
Last Visit: April 19 2024
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Posted - November 02 2022 : 08:08:52 AM
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quote:I am fortunate enough to live next to a 1% grade. I get to see and hear those trains grinding uphill every day.
I never build a layout without a grade for my trains to climb.
The SD35 and the SD45 were my favourites, along with ANYthing Alco.
Originally posted by jward - November 02 2022 : 08:06:45 AM
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Country: USA ~
Posts: 483 ~
Member Since: December 22 2013 ~
Last Visit: April 19 2024
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