SP SD40M-2 8650 Joins the Fleet

Athearn RTR SD40M-2 Arrives Today - 5-3-2017

Athearn released four numbers of the SP SD40M-2s in their Ready-to-Run series.  All four versions represents locomotives rebuilt from SD45 cores.  I was actively railfanning the EsPee when these locomotives were "new" in the 1990's and have fond memories of them.  The prototype SP 8650 was rebuilt from CNW SD45 907.   The below image of the SP 8650 taken by Andrew Koenigsberg typifies how these units were worked on the SP!

Toltec, Arizona - 5-14-1995 - Andrew Koenigsberg photo.

This model is the second SP SD40M-2 in the fleet, joining Athearn Genesis SD40M-2 8691 which represents a locomotive rebuilt from an Erie Lackawanna SDP45.  Despite one being RTR and the other being a highly detailed Genesis locomotive, the two look great together!

The above detail shot shows the differences in the SDP45 carbody and the SD45 carbody as well as the differences in the Genesis vs. RTR Athearn details.

​Chris