By Railroad Model Craftsman Staff
In 2012, Canadian Pacific Railway began a program to rebuild SD40-2 locomotives with ECO power plants. The 710-based ECO units provide lower fuel consumption and improved reliability over the original 645 prime mover. The locomotives all received new 12-710G3A prime movers that maintain the 3,000 horsepower rating of original SD40-2s, but from just twelve cylinders instead of the original 16-cylinder 645-series prime mover. These new ECO locomotives deliver a 15-20 percent reduction in fuel consumption and emit reduced emissions that now meet EPA’s Tier 2 emissions standards.
CP’s first order of SD30C-ECOs was for twenty locomotives numbered 5000-5019. CP sent retired SD40-2 locomotives to EMD/Progress Rail’s Mayfield, Kentucky plant for the rebuild program. EMD used the frame, trucks, forward section of the long hood and many internal components from the retired SD40-2 locomotives for this rebuild. A new cab and fuel tank were fabricated by EMD to meet current crashworthiness standards earning the SD30 the “C” designation.
An early development sample of the new Canadian Pacific SD30C-ECO in HO scale from English’s Model Railroad Supply. Production models will feature further refinements. The locomotives start with SD40-2 frames, trucks and part of the long-hood, but feature new nose, cab and rear.
The first batch of twenty SD30C-ECOs was completed by January 2014. In January 2015, CP ordered an additional thirty units which were numbered 5020-5049, but remanufactured in Mexico. Unlike CP 5000-5019, this second group was delivered with ditch lights mounted above the anti-climber along with a different radio antenna array amongst other external changes from the first group.
All SD30C-ECO locomotives were created from a wide range of SD40-2 donors of various production phases originally built by either GMD of Canada, or from EMD in La Grange, Illinois. SD30C-ECOs rebuilt from US-built EMDs have large stepwells, while SD30C-ECOs of Canadian origin retain their original vertical stepwells and Canadian-style handrail configurations.
English’s Model Railroad Supply – a division of Bowser Trains, has announced that they will be producing SD30C-ECOs for HO scale. Each model will reflect the numerous spotting differences reflecting each units’ lineage as well as the all-new large flared radiator section, new crash-resistant fuel tank and other external changes applied to each SD30C-ECO appropriate for each road number. Twelve different road numbers will be offered, either DC/DCC-ready for $239.95, or DC+DCC+Sound versions with factory-installed ESU Loksound 5 for $339.95 each. To reserve, contact your favorite dealer before 3/31/2022. Delivery is currently scheduled for 2023.
For more information, visit their website.
Early versions of the SD30C-ECO featured ditchlights below the anti-climber (right), whereas the second batch had the ditchlights above it.
