MPC-era SD-18's

[mpzpw3]

I remember as a kid looking at the 1979 Lionel catalog wishing I could own the Santa Fe versions of the new SD-18's. A year ago I finally bought the 8872-8873 versions, new in the box. Felt like I was 14 again. Why doesn't Lionel keep this engine in its roster? They still sell the GP-7/9s, GP-20s, GP-38s, and short U-36s. Are the trucks just too expensive, or were the dies lost over the years? Just seems a little strange that they have never returned.

[brianel027]

The last SD-18 was in 1990 with a CSX in a set and a separate sale ACL offered. Also ironically the last time the CSX road name appeared on a starter set.

But Lionel takes some liberties with the "traditional" pre-scale diesels. The shell on the SD-18 looks like the same shell on the GP-20. The SD-9 looks like the GP-9 shell with type C trucks. The RSD-4 is just the RS-3 shell and frame with type C 3 axle trucks. Of course Lionel has been differing the GP-7 and GP-9 with just the dynamic brake piece.

No doubt your thinking on the trucks could be true. It must be less expensive to use the 2 axle trucks over the 3 axle trucks. But the SD-18's only come with one DC can motor, so that should help with lessening costs.

The 14-inch U-Boat hasn't been in production for years. It only recently appeared 2 years ago with the Conrail version, which I wanted except that it only came with a single motored truck. The cost of adding the second motor truck isn't such a deal unless I find one in the $65-75 range. And I understand the run of those was smaller than usual. It's out again this year in WP, and once again with only a single motor.

What I don't understand is why the UP diesels usually have 2 motors. The GP-20 from last year (very nice looking too) had 2 motors. Why don't the U-Boats have 2 motors?
I had wanted the CNJ NW-2 from '96, but it only had one motor. The following year, the identical engine in UP was offered with 2 motors. Even the GP-38's from recent starter sets all have 2 motors... the Southern, the Chessie.

For the money, those are the better deal. Now if they'd just make a Conrail one again, and do it right.

[alton6]

One of my favorite engines is the Burlington SD28 from 1980 or 81, a sibling of the SD18. With the 6-wheel trucks this loco is a real rail hugger.

Carl