MRL SD45-2 #311 Fan Blades


L

LoganTMT

New Member
Hey all,

I'm new here and I'm looking for a good image of MRL SD45-2 #311 fans on the top to figure out how many blades each fan has and what the grills over them look like, I'm rebuilding my Athearn Genesis MRL SD45-2 into a prototypically accurate model being upgraded to my Proto 87 fleet of engines.

Thanks,
Logan Thurman
 
While there are a number of pictures here of MRL 311 none really show the fans. However you might be able to track down this particular photographer (Facebook etc.) and see if he has any that he hasn't posted. MRL 311 was originally ATSF 5708 and you might try tracking down some pictures of it as well.
OK, not meaning to be a smart*** here, but how do you know that the Genesis model is not accurate to begin with?
 
Hi Logan, welcome to the forum. I model mostly MRL (from a great distance, Australia) and we have another member, Chet Zaiko, that lives there (Models pre 1957) and belongs to the club in the Livingston depot. There is also a facebook group Montana Rail Link Historical And Technical Group that specialise in the technical side..
I will also echo Willies question as I'm assuming the model you have is the recent release #311 with the "meatball" logo. Athearn's Genesis line is regarded as being accurate on details.
 
The grill tops are different, but I couldn't find a good angle to see the actual blades. And the front radiator fan is shorter than the two behind it. And the nose needs to have a former nose headlight location like how ATSF did on some of the later SD45-2s.
 
This is the only pic of ATSF 5708 I could find on rrpicturearchives.net that had a view (side on from the ground) which seems to indicate the fans being all the same diameter and height.
1538966837796.png


Where as, this one from the same site, shows a definite difference in the same loco at MRL, as you describe

Another side one of #311 in the new livery, which definitley shows a smaller fan behind the horn
1538967820197.png


An early one with the same size fans
1538968003515.png


Appears to have been changed to a shorter one (2006 photo)
1538968152142.png


Whether it's a smaller diameter is debatable from this 2013 shot
1538968486430.png


I haven't been through all of the albums that are listed at the bottom right of some pictures, but no useful ones looking down on them in the main galleries (short legs in Montana, that's why they got the 5 step SD70ACe's, and my drone won't fly that far) A pity too that 311 got scrapped not long afterall this rebuild and new paint.
 
This shot shows the headlights in the upper cab position, it appears a nose position has been plated off flat.
1538968999496.png
 
Jf you are on Face book, I would try that site I mentioned. I asked a question about whether the number boards were lit or not, on the SD40's, got an answer from the guy that made and fitted them.
 
So, I finally got to go to the Missoula yard and 311 was there today. It has 8 blades on the radiator fans and the standard 10 blades for the dynamic fans. Yes my plan is to remove the molded on class lights and the blanked out nose headlight. I also will be rebuilding the steps to follow the prototype steps on 311. After this model is complete, I'll be also kitbashing 332 the SD45-2 former SDP45.
 
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