Today I will be reviewing a locomotive. The particular model I have is a Kato SD40-2, which features operating ditch lights. The unit I have is BNSF #6752.
Exterior:
The paint on the unit is very well done. All lines are crisp and clean. The paint scheme is an accurate recreation of the BNSF "Swoosh" paint scheme. All logos and numbers are positioned correctly, and also have crisp, clean edges. In addition to the basic paint, numbers, and logos, the model also features accurate warning signs, which are readable with a magnifying glass, as well as an accurate builder's plate. The builder's plate is also readable with a magnifying glass.
The details on the locomotive are all factory installed. Hand rails, grab irons, and sun shades all come attached to the model. They are all separately applied detail parts. They represent a high level of accurate details. The model comes with Kadee compatible knuckle couplers. I have replaces them with Type F couplers from Sergent Engineering.
Operation:
The Kato SD40-2 operates smoothly and quietly. It will operate smoothly even at very low speeds. At extremely high speeds, the motor noise does become a little more obvious, however it is still not bothersome.
Out of the box, this locomotive comes with operating headlights, which are sensitive to direction. When the front headlights are on, the ditch lights also light. In DC operation, the ditch lights are switched from flashing to steady by either stopping the locomotive and restarting it, or by quickly toggling the direction switch. In DCC operation, the ditch lights can be programmed to operate according to the operator's preference. In DC mode, the ditch lights come on just after the main headlights because they require a higher voltage to operate. The locomotive is moving very slowly by the time the ditch lights turn on in DC mode.
Other Features:
The locomotive is designed to readily accept a NMRA 8-pin DCC decoder or sound decoder. There is a space built into the frame of the locomotive, in the fuel tank, for a speaker to sit. In the bottom of the fuel tank, there are several holes to allow sound to pass through without distortion. The speaker is installed by pulling the two sides of the fuel tank apart. They snap together on the ends and can be separated by gently prying the locking mechanism with a small, flat head screwdriver. With a sound system, the sound can be clearly heard using the fuel tank mounted speaker system.
Overall, I am very satisfied with this model. It is well built, and attentive to detail. It has good operating characteristics, and it is fairly quiet.
Manufacturer: Kato USA
Model Number: 37-6614
Retail Price: $179.00
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