There was a 44 tonner diecast body available years ago, I can't remember who manufactured it?
MEW--Model Engineering Works. I had one back in the '50s, when they first came out (my second loco; the first was a rubber-band drive Athearn F7). Good castings (4, including underframe), O-ring & pulley drive (all 8 wheels), but the original had a bad ratio and the motor ran hot, but they revamped it for anyone who sent it in--free. Truck sideframes were 1pc snap-on plastic, well detailed.
Deano
Bachmann's were not diecast, and the original with two powered trucks had a tendency to cook motors. The later single-motor version is longer-lived.
I believe it was Keystone who offered a 44-tonner in the early '80s with a good can motor drive, with a cast metal frame and composite white metal and etched brass superstructure. Wouldn't mind finding one of those.
I wish someone, even Bachmann, would come out with newly tooled GE 44 and 70 ton locomotives. With the new tooling technology available today these could really be so much better. Just look at Bachmann's 45 tonner it looks and runs really nice and just about anyone could fit one into their layout as a shortline or industrial switcher if they wanted to.
Ralph
Cary also made a diecast 44 tonner
George In Midcoast Maine, 'bout halfway up the Rockland branch
MARTIN STATION
To see more paint schemes the 44 Tonner came out in, here is a link
usloki.tripod.com/companies.htm
click on home,
then click on GE
44 Ton is at the very top