58 http://www.ModelRailroader.comProduct Reviews
The Electro-Motive Division SD35 is
one of the latest Atlas Master Series N
scale locomotives to be upgraded with
factory-installed Digital Command
Control (DCC) and sound. We reviewed
the first release of the model in the
October 2000 issue. This latest version is
factory-equipped with a dual-mode ESU
LokSound decoder that operates on both
DCC and direct-current (DC) layouts.
Note that some of the road names
listed are sold out at the manufacturer,
but as of this writing many are available
from Atlas dealers and hobby shops.The prototype. Between 1964 and 1966,
General Motors Electro-Motive Division
produced 360 SD35 diesel-electric loco-
motives for several U.S. railroads. Likethe four-axle GP35 released a year ear-
lier, the six-axle SD35 came equipped
with a 2,500 hp EMD 567D3A diesel
engine. Although not as big a seller as
the GP35, the SD35 filled a niche with
some roads, especially those that worked
eastern coalfields.
After its formation in 1976, Conrail
received its 52-unit SD35 fleet from pre-
decessor railroads Penn Central and the
Central RR of New Jersey. They served
on various parts of the CR system for
nearly a decade before being retired in
the mid-1980s.The model. The main dimensions of the
Atlas model match a prototype diagram
in the 1966 Car and Locomotive
Cyclopedia of American Practice(Simmons-Boardman). The positions of
the engine-access doors, grills, and other
molded in detail matches prototype
photos. Grab irons are also molded on
each end.
Separately applied parts include
handrail and stanchion assemblies made
from flexible engineering plastic to resist
breaking. The three-chime air horn is
also separately applied and correctly
positioned on the center-front of the cab
roof. All the cab windows have clear
plastic glazing with silver painted win-
dow trim on the side cab windows.
Our review sample is decorated for
Conrail no. 6012. The model’s prototype
was built in 1965 as Pennsylvania RR
no. 6012, then became PC no. 6012 after
the PRR’s merger with New York Central
in 1968. Photos show that no. 6012
remained in PC livery for a few years
after the 1976 formation of Conrail. The
locomotive was finally painted in
Conrail Blue in 1979.
The model’s paint scheme matches
the prototype’s CR livery. The white
stripes are straight and opaque with no
voids. The end handrails are also cor-
rectly painted white.
All lettering is accurately positioned,
including EMD builder’s plates on the
side sills under the cab and the SD35
classification under the cab number.
Maintenance stencils, including
Fire Extinguisher Inside andAtlas Master Series N scale EMD SD35 diesel
A split die-cast metal frame surrounds the mechanism and provides electrical
contact between the power pickups on the trucks and the decoder.LEDs LEDsFlywheel FlywheelDecoderMotor