EMD DD40-X

[Anonymous]

Was never around one of these in real life yet, but have been around some big "steam" as a kid. Always something when they would start up. Have seen them back just slightly to get a bit of slack in the couplers and then the forward power is applied. What power. An awesome thing to me.

[Jacktal]

I have an "N" scale DD40AX from Bachmann Spectrum and I love it.It ran quite nice on DC and seems to run even smoother since I retrofitted it with DCC,but it may just be my impression.I love monster locos,so this one is among my favorite.

[Anonymous]

Well, I have a couple of GP40s now to kitbash, but haven't got started yet.

[Anonymous]

I want one in N scale that doesn't run like cr@p.

[AntonioFP45]

Hey guys,

Regarding the Athearn DD40.

I remember back in the 70s the reason for the discrepancy in the appearance. The Athearn unit with the conventional cab actually is a DD40, which was based on the blue printed design EMD was considering to use until changes were made and the FP45 style cab was incorporated into the design, along with some other updates before production. This is why the Athearn unit looks like an upgraded DD35 . So in essence it is correct, but the prototype unit in that form never existed!

Why didn't Athearn make the change? I can only guess that perhaps Athearn had already made the tooling or molds, and changes would have been very expensive for a locomotive that was not going to sell as well as the very popular F7 or GP9.

The old Bachmann HO DDA40x was a real beauty appearance wise though the UP yellow was too orange. It was a poor runner. If one is found; a dedicated,
" s a v v y" UP modeler could detail her accurately and perform a repower. Would be interesting if the Bachmann body could be adapted to the Athearn chassis. With "A-LIne" remotor kits, it could be potentially be a smooth running show stopper!

And thinking about it, since there is plenty of room, a Soundtraxx DCC/Sound decoder could be installed with TWO SPEAKERS! This is a unit with POTENTIAL!

Any of you "DD" series owners think you might consider something like this?

[memsd]

Athearn also produced the HO "DD40" (has the narrow nose) in the Burlington Route scheme. I have one. Wish I could've had one in UP...

[AggroJones]

QUOTE: Originally posted by NightCrawler

the Athearn unit that is sold as a DD40 is more similar to the DD35, but not quite correct for that either. the Bachmann is the only plastic model availableof the DDA40X. i have one Spectrum unit that i am detailing to match the one UP still uses in excursion service.

there are a ton of excellent photos of 6936 at http://www.trainweb.org/brettrw/centennial/centennial.html

here are some shots of my model. i had to fill in the giant gap in the pilot and body mount a coupler to get it decent looking.

Awesome. A few years after I got my Specrtum DDA40X, I wanted to detail her correctly too. But it wouldn't be able to operate on my small layout if I closed the gap in the pilots. [:(]

[Anonymous]

Steven

i think the locomotive you had was the Athearn DD40. it came in the blue and white EMD demonstrator paint scheme and B&O


as as to what it is called, on the official Union Pacific site, the one they still have running is listed as a DD40-X. but i have seen it listed as a DDA40X and a DD40AX. there is really no difference.

[Anonymous]

I thought it was DDA40X.

[Anonymous]

About 18 years ago I purchased a DD40AX. I no longer have it. I would like to replace it. The only thing is it was blue. I think it was painted as a b & o engine. Anyone have any idea where I can find this model? It was HO scale, really strong, but very loud. It had 2 linked motors in it. It seemed pretty good quality, even the hand rails were metal.

Thanks

Steven

[Anonymous]

Oops. Could not find the DD40X, but then added a letter and made it DD40AX made by Bachmann and Bingo there she be. [:D]

[Anonymous]

Been surfing looking for a DD40X. Nothing on the Bachmann site. Still looking. Oh nothing on EBay either.

[:(]

[Anonymous]

I think I have seen photos of the B&O with one of these mammoths

[brothaslide]

QUOTE: Originally posted by cacole

Athearn made one (HO scale) with dual motors, and of all the odd things, decorated it for SP. I don't think Southern Pacific ever owned a DD40X.

SP had DD35B units so Athearn is "sort of correct". As someone else stated, the Athearn is closer to a DD35 but sold as a DD40.

[Anonymous]

A pleasant surprise this morning. Pictures are worth a thousand words - think that is how it goes. I think I am getting the itch to try a diesel model after these last photos. And the links are great. [:)] [:)]



[:)]

[Anonymous]

the Athearn unit that is sold as a DD40 is more similar to the DD35, but not quite correct for that either. the Bachmann is the only plastic model availableof the DDA40X. i have one Spectrum unit that i am detailing to match the one UP still uses in excursion service.

there are a ton of excellent photos of 6936 at http://www.trainweb.org/brettrw/centennial/centennial.html

here are some shots of my model. i had to fill in the giant gap in the pilot and body mount a coupler to get it decent looking.

[Anonymous]

With the help you all gave me on this subject, I have learned more about diesels on the UPRR in one day than I thought a person could learn. Looks like UPRR kept getting bigger and bigger locmotives by changes and modifications using existing equipment more than anything else. This was some heavy iron looks like. [:)]

[nfmisso]

QUOTE: Originally posted by cacole

I have a video tape called Union Pacific Vintage West from Charles Smiley Productions (http://www.trainmovies.com) that shows several DD40X locomotives in operation. The UP also had cabless booster versions. In one scene they are using one A unit and 3 B units to pull a train over Cajon Pass. No one that I know of has ever made a model of the cabless booster loco.

B units are DD35 (basically two GP 35 on one chassis), The ones with the conventional (not wide nose) cabs are DD35A. The ones with a wide nose are DD40AX.

See: http://www.northeast.railfan.net/diesel55.html

[Anonymous]

i read some where that one is still found occasionally running somewhere on the system. yes athrean and bachman both made a model.

[Anonymous]

I found a photo of the B unit.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the info cacole. I was not aware of the b units. Are they are the same size as the DD40X?

Will check out the movie reference.

[cacole]

I have a video tape called Union Pacific Vintage West from Charles Smiley Productions (http://www.trainmovies.com) that shows several DD40X locomotives in operation. The UP also had cabless booster versions. In one scene they are using one A unit and 3 B units to pull a train over Cajon Pass. No one that I know of has ever made a model of the cabless booster loco.

[Anonymous]

This is a Dave Krumenacker photo I found here with a bunch more. http://www.rr-fallenflags.org/up/up-6000.html . The DD40Xs are at the bottom.

[Anonymous]

Here I am trying to post a diagram.

[Anonymous]

I did not know they joined two GP-40s back to back. Interesting. Maybe I could do the same thing.

[Jacktal]

UP doesn't use DDA40X anymore with the exception of one(6036) that they use for a special annual trip.All the rest have either been scrapped or donated to different railroad museums across USA.
The DDA40X is in fact two GP40's joined tail to tail and were manufactured by EMD as a special order by UP who purchased the whole production(47 total).They are to date the most powerful diesels ever made but also the most expensive to operate,UP abandonned their use mostly due to the skyrocketting maintenance costs along with long downed time.They were not investment efficient enough to justify keeping them in service any longer.

[cacole]

Athearn made one (HO scale) with dual motors, and of all the odd things, decorated it for SP. I don't think Southern Pacific ever owned a DD40X. Athearn probably also had a UP version. Bachmann also had a DD40X model decorated for the UP, in both their cheap Plus line, and a Spectrum version. If you look at a Bachmann model, make sure you get the Spectrum version and not the cheap Plus version. Only the rear truck is powered on the Plus version. Athearn's will really pull a lot with its two motors, but makes the usual Athearn coffee grinder noises.

[mustanggt]

They dont use it for freight, but for excursion trips

[Anonymous]

Does the UP still run this modern day "big boy"?