Before Christmas Boyd mentioned that he would like to see Lionel produce a set of a Dakota, Minnesota & Eastern SD40-2 Diesel Loco and PS-2-CD 4427 to offer at Menard's for the Thanksgiving to Christmas season.
After looking at a web page http://donsdepot.donrossgroup.net/dr1557.htm it might be better economically if Lionel's earlier SD40 was used for a Soo Line or DM&E Grain Products train set.
You could also use for the Grain Hopper the Lionel 3-Bay Covered Hopper with Signplate that was made once in 1995 for the Cargill 3-Bay Covered Hopper. The 5 Hoppers can be painted CNW Light Gray, Dark Green, Deep Green, Traditional Yellow, and Safety Yellow. The NorthWestern Ball & Globe Herald can be applied to the Signplate on the center of the Covered Hoppers.
If you do not like the DM&E and CNW, then an all Soo Line version of the set must be produced.
Andrew
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Lionels first SD40 (not SD40-2) that came out in the 80s had a very wide hood and is wider than scale and looks out of proportion,,, especially when around a lot of other Lionel stuff that is under scale. I'm sure if Lionel made a set it would have to be with mostly semi scale cars in order to save money. Menards might still have many of the 500 or so CNW passenger sets in their warehouse that they had as of last fall. So Menards might be nervious about stocking a set that might end up being a flop.
Modeling the "Fargo Area Rapid Transit" in O scale 3 rail.
The C&NW Passenger sets seemed to have sold very quickly in 2009.
Lionel has the old standby of the O Gauge SD18.
Whatever hoppers they choose there would have to be a different color and graphic scheme on each car since C&NW had so many variations to choose from and Lionel has not made all of the C&NW Covered Hopper schemes yet.
Atlas O has announced plans to produce the D,M&E Trinity 5161 Cu. Ft. Capy 3-Bay Covered Hoppers in four road numbers.
That is the first Dakota, Minnesota & Eastern release that I know of in O Scale.
LIONEL is able to have someone produce their true O Scale SD40 diesel-electric locomotives in a variety of paint schemes.
They have not yet gotten to DM&E or the original SOO LINE scheme.
Perhaps in the next few catalogs.
If they think they can sell 'em, they'll make 'em.
I'd assume there'd be quite a bit of interest in DM&E and SOO SD40's in that part of the country.
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