Used primarily for freight service throughout the
US, both on main and secondary lines. Many SD-9 locomotives are still in service
today, serving as road switchers for shortline & industrial railroads, and
as yard switchers for major "Class 1" lines.
Factory-equipped
with body mount AccuMate®
magnetic knuckle couplers
Will
have a DCC ready frame and a DCC board is in development for 2004
PERFORMANCE
INFORMATION
NOTE:
The following categories are the opinion of N Scale Supply and are very subjective.
These are provided to give you a rough idea of the quality of the product. Your
mileage may vary.
Performance:
Very
smooth performer. Excellent low end speed range (this engine has the new Atlas
slow speed motor). Measured top speed was 139mph. Top speedRealistic speed range
(top speed seems to be about 60mph). We dug out an old Atlas/Kato SD9 and compared
the performance. Of course since this new one has the slow speed motor we didn't
expect them to run together, what we were amazed at was the difference. The older
unit was approximately twice as fast.
Sound/Noise
level:
Again, comparing
to the older Atlas / Kato SD9 this new unit is remarkably quieter. I had a Kato
SD70MAC on hand and so compared the two. First, the Kato was almost exactly twice
as fast as the SD9. When you slowed the Kato back from Mach 3 to a reasonable
speed the sound level was very close. I couldn't tell you which was quieter, it
was too close to call.
Overall
Value:
Atlas has
improved the performance of an excellent Classic Engine.
Will
have a DCC ready frame and a DCC board is in development for 2004 
