Nice that they're adding the 100t hoppers. Was hoping there'd be some new timetable services, though. Oh, well, will probably still pick it up as the loco itself looks pretty sweet.
Can anyone tell me in what aspect is this any different than the AC4400CW? Visually they're pretty identical, I can only see very small differences. I suppose it has a different engine or somehing and therefore more/less power, but does it actually offer anything new that makes people excited for it?
This has been said many times, but I'll say it again. The C40-8W is about 10 years older. It has 400 less horsepower and DC traction, which results in a lower friction coefficient, meaning less pulling power up a grade. It has a different cab interior. Externally, it is shorter than the AC4400CW and lacks the large equipment box on the left side behind the cab. It also has a thinner radiator wing than the AC4400CW. Here is a Dash-8 pulling a AC4400CW so you can see the difference in the radiator
Depending on how they've decided to model the cab, the greatest difference in driving experience will be the analogue gauges. I hope that they have decided to model this variation. In terms of physics, it will be much more difficult to climb uphill with a load of coal because DC traction motors are pretty poor performers at lower speeds.
I wish they had done the c40-8 in stead of the c40-8w, woulda been interesting to have the old cab instead of the safety wide one.
I see, thanks for the info guys. Now I like the look of the analoge gauges, so that's a plus compared to the AC4400CW. Though I don't think I will buy it, but knowing it's an older variant definitely makes it a bit more interesting.
I think that some, if not all, of the 7600's series will be included. If you look closely into these images, you can see that they are there. First locomotive trailing is in the 7600s series The locomotive approaching the camera is in the 7600s series I think that in this one, it may even be a 7500s series that's trailing, but I'm not sure.
Nope, that one is 7688. I thought the 7600 series were the ex Conrail units. I guess not. 7649 is the first C40-8W. The Conrail units are 7300-7359. All have been sold to GECX. Here is a list of CSX's current and retired C40-8Ws http://thedieselshop.us/CSX.HTML
I wish they had done something more unique like an SD70mac, it seems too similar to the ac4400 to justify an addon.
Ah, okay. I thought of that as well initially but the 6 seemed too close to a 5 on the number board. Either way, CSX 7588 was a standard cab C40-8, so it surely can’t have been that, looking back at it.
I agree, or possibly having both would be fantastic. I am looking forward to the analog gauges, I've always preferred them for some reason. I'm certainly going to wait a while before I buy it though, wait to hear how it performs. Possibly will even wait for it to go on sale unless it gets rave reviews.
