Athearn’s 20-cylinder beast comes under the spotlight.

ORIGINALLY ANNOUNCED IN May 2005, Athearn’s Genesis series SD45-2 was released to very positive reviews around about a year later. Since then, two further runs have been produced, the most recent of which includes the Montana Rail Link liveried locomotive pictured above.

When I first became interested in US railroading, I was something like a kid in a candy store. So many great liveries to admire, impressive diesels to enjoy, and fascinating real life trackplans to inspire hours of doodling fun. I spent so much money just acquiring stuff that I’d probably never need, but just liked.

Several years down the line, I’m older, wiser, and much poorer, so with the SD45-2s never having been that common – especially in the New England region that I model – I managed to resist the first couple of releases of the SD45-2 and bided my time for the MRL example. How I managed to avoid that 5,000gal fuel tank ex Erie Lackawanna version of the model I will never know!

Hang on, you might ask, Montana Rail Link? Isn’t there something of a mutual exclusive thing going on, what with Montana being all the way over the other side of the USA from New England. See, now, I have an excuse…

Locomotives from the MRL fleet are commonly seen leased to other operators and examples (1) (2) have made it as far east as Bow in New Hampshire and Albany in New York. One of these will look great on my Bow coal train and will add a little bit of interest to what would otherwise be a sea of Guilford grey/orange and Norfolk Southern black.

Athearn has produced its SD45-2 in three MRL numbers #303, #306 and #308 and in either standard and sound/DCC-fitted versions. The numbers are all taken from the batch of eight ex Clinchfield locos operated by the MRL (301-308) and all models are painted in the original two-stripe Washington Corp blue/black colour scheme. The MRL also rosters four machines drawn from the Santa Fe (309-312) and a solitary former Seaboard Coast Line unit (313).

As this is a Genesis level model, the SD45-2 is actually based on the Clinchfield specification, which most clearly manifests itself in the bell and horn type and positioning; both being rather nice lost wax brass castings. The SD45-2 also sports a lovely little beacon, an early addition (based on Burlington Northern practise), but sadly these have now been removed from most of the MRL fleet.

The horn type and beacon as supplied both mean that the locomotive is not suitable for operation in the last half a decade or so. They are easily changed out. What would be more difficult to alter is the early style of livery variant, with most of the current fleet now wearing the later ‘Lion’s head’ logo and updated cabside branding, but that’s hardly Athearn’s fault.

The real No. MRL 303 is pictured below and shows the most current livery style and detail configuration for these ex CRR machines.

20-cylinder goodness is illustrated here in the form of Montana Rail Link SD45-2 No. MRL 303 (ex CRR3619/CSX8977), part of a BNSF train traversing the short few miles between Argentine Yard, Kansas and Murray Yard, North Kansas City, Missouri, on May 26th, 2006.

Otherwise, the detail on the Athearn machine is top notch, as we’ve come to expect from this manufacturer. That’s not to say that the model is perfect. No, Athearn still provide plenty of opportunity for prototype modellers to customise their locomotives.

Above the frames, there seems little that can be done, with the exception of alterations to represent a real machine in a certain time period. The see-through fans are especially excellent, along with the almost Cannon quality intertial air filter and other body parts.

Look below the sill though and there’s plenty to have a crack at. There is no representation of the air filters – I can never understand why manufacturers go great guns on other details, but continue to leave this off.

The wheelbase is slightly incorrect, although not by much. This is to allow the trucks to actually be able to swivel without clouting the footwells. One of those compromises that we pretty much have to live with.

The footsteps are also solid, while no attempt has been made to fit the plethora of different multiple working connections that exist on these machines. Also missing is the connecting pipework on the brake cylinders and an semblance of traction motor cabling.

One could also argue that the top of the fuel tank area is also somewhat disappointing, and reminds me of the awful fuel tank on Atlas’ GP38/40 model. Not good, but it is all correctable. The rest of the detail on the fuel tank is superb. No issues there at all.

The only other matter that I wish to mention is the lack of ditch lights, which probably explains why Athearn has chosen to represent the MRL SD45-2 in its early livery and detail configuration. It’s about time manufacturers started providing a ditch light option for modellers of the last ten years or so.

Take a look at any real diesel nowadays and one of the first thing you notice is the ditch lights, yet very few R-T-R firms provide models with these fitted. It’s crazy. They are such a pain in the neck to fit for modellers too, that I’d easily pay $10 or so extra for these to be supplied as standard to R-T-R models.

While there are probably lots of other little things, that’s a few hours work to get me going. I’m not complaining. The SD45-2 is a great starting point from which to produce to top quality model.

The obvious locomotive for me to model would be MRL 311, a couple of pictures of which were linked earlier in this post at Bow power station in New Hampshire. However, it’s not ideal as I’d rather stick to an ex CRR machine which carries the earlier logos. That makes for a quicker and easier detailing job and reduces the risk of destroying a very nice factory finish!

On lease Montana Rail Link SD45-2 No. MRL 313 (ex CSX 8596/SCL 2051) helps to power a BNSF manifest freight past 12th Street Yard, Kansas City, Missouri, on May 28th, 2006.

Having said that, ex SCL could be one option, but only because I’ve seen it ‘in the flesh’. Otherwise, MRL 304 looks to be the only ex CRR example still in that version of the livery.

Whatever, I’m kind of all fired up to have a crack at this model. I have the detail parts in stock so there’s no excuse. Watch this space (I’m sure I’ve said that before)…