Last year (a long long time ago)
Lionel announced a new S locomotive - the
SD70ACe. Being a sucker for a modern locomotive I immediately ordered on in Norfolk Southern livery. On February 20, 2013, the new locomotive arrived at my home. I think it was worth the wait.
Externally, this a gorgeous piece of equipment. I expected as much as this followed on the heels on the "
legacy" equipped U33C in 2012. The level of detail is excellent.
The SD70 is another in the line of
Legacy equipped locomotives and you really need a legacy system to get all the value out of this item. But even running in conventional mode, this will be a real treat hauling a string of intermodal containers or some of the long awaited cylindrical grain hoppers.
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| Fresh out of the box 1011 sits with crew in the cab. |
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| Rear end showing the cooling fans and dynamic brakes. The fan cowling lifts off to reveal the controls. |
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| The detail on the lettering is excellent. |
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| The coupler and the stairs pivot independently of the trucks. |
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Lionel did not use the fuel tank mounted motors as they did on the U33C.
| Instead, they appear to have gone with a tower drive for the SD70. | | | | | Note the lettering on the truck frame. |
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| Nice detailing with the ditch lights, MU hoses and grab rails. |
