Lionel sd 28 what's it like

[daan]

Hi, I'm wondering, the Lionel sd28's, more typical number 8380. What's it like?
I love the 6 wheel arrangement and I don't have a diesel with cut nose yet.. I like the outside and I discovered that the front truck is powered, back one serves as pickup (pickup truck[:D]). The question is: What sort of engine is in it, how many wheels are powered, are there any weak points I've to looks for and how does it run??? What's a normal price for a good 2nd hand?
Any help would be appreciated... [:)]

[1688torpedo]

Hello Daan! The SD-28s Made in the 1980s Had a pullmor motor that drives the front power truck.And,it had a mechanical E-unit.Most of them had no Diesel Horn.you can probably retrofit a postwar horn or buy a Diesel Railsounds boxcar to go with it. The 8380 is a popular version of the SD-28 and somewhat hard to get.Pulling power? well,that all depends on what you want to pull with it.Some folks are happy with 10 freight cars others like 15.I Believe they are capable of pulling about 20 Freight cars average.Going price is probably around $ 200.00 mint condition......Keith.

[Roger Bielen]

Hi Daan,

I just bought a SD28 on ebay, Lionel 8151, Burlington. I collect Burlington and needed this one, don't know much about the guts in this model. I'll let you know after I get it.

I bought it "Buy It Now" for US$ 85, it is supposidly mint. After loosing several to folks willing to pay exorbent prices I thought I'd get this one while I could.

[daan]

Thanx so far guys, I've seen the burlington too, but it was for US only, as far as I've seen. The price was really good, congrats on it Roger!
If it has a pullmore motor it's allright. I've bought some K-lines with the small dc can motors in the trucks, and I've seen that Lionel uses that too, but this setup is not working well in my opinion. The pivot points of the trucks have too much play and because of the straight drive the trucks are lifted out of the tracks when under load..
I've seen it, tried it and I like the pullmore setup better.. My Illenois 8030 also has the pullmore engine and can tow about 10 cars across my layout, which is more than enough for the space I have..
Besides that the pullmore engines can be regulated far better with my rheostat's because they consume more power, therefore my resistors do their jobs better..
Now I have to wait and hope that I win the item...