Test Track: Lionel Conrail SD-70 with Schnabel Cars -1

[Teder95]

what are the curve sizes on ur track?

[RailRide]

@Teder95

0-72 on the main loop.

The switches are the rough equivalent of 0-42.

[Teder95]

@RailRide will that car opperate on anything less like 0-54? i have a heavy duty flatcar that says it opperates on 042 but it will works on 0-27 just fine. just a crap load of overhang.

[RailRide]

@Teder95

It might get through 042, maybe 036 but I doubt it'll snake through anything sharper than that. These cars are almost two feet long.

[Teder95]

@RailRide alright thanks. just wondering in case my dealer gets a hold of one :D

[train2589]

were did you get them at and when? if you remember.

[RailRide]

@train2589

Both of them were bought when they were released. You'd have to search "Schnabel" on the MTH site to get an idea of when they were cataloged (add 6-12 months to that for the actual delivery). The dealer I got these from has since retired.

[PATTONM14A1]

I have got ask why does the signs of the electric transformer cars say, "Do not hump."? I thought it was rather odd.

[RailRide]

@PATTONM14A1

It's an instruction to not switch this car using a yard hump--search "hump yard" and view the first link "Alyth Yard, Classification Hump" for an idea of how one works.

Presumably a car like this would react badly to being handled in that manner.

[PATTONM14A1]

@RailRide Thanks for the information. I didn't understand that was an actual railroading term. I thought it was a joke made the company or something.

[RailRide]

Those are the "Schnabel" cars referenced in the title. The two halves of the car separate and the load is bolted between them. In real life, the arms can be moved side-to-side/up and down a little in order to clear objects that are just a little too close to the load.

These cars usually travel in special trains, like the one I re-created, and not usually mixed into regular freights while carrying a load.

[CSXAC4400CWno5112]

Dude! I have that same exact locomotive. Very cool.

[RailRide]

Heh, Not long after I made this, I founf out that I also have an MTH Conrail SD-80.

I might've wanted to run them together (trains like these typically have two locos in case one of them takes a powder), but the two units start up differently, making keeping them in sync a chore.

[RailRide]

The SD-80 is a Lionel model. I don't know if they made dummy units for this one. In any case I got it from a dealer years ago, so I don't have any insights as to where one might find one today.

[jakebone219]

hey where did you get the sd80 i can only find the dummies

[EverywhereWest]

That Conrail SD70MAC has some great sound!! Awesome consist too. 5*****

[Weiberts]

who made the schnabels please tell me

[RailRide]

MTH Electric Trains.

[natezemanek]

Great engine and sound! (Love the Schnabel`s)

[MartyLJ57]

Been a while, and a nice video too!

[RailRide]

Yup. If the weekend is cloudy, there's generally not enough light coming in to get a decent picture. The room containing the test track faces north, and depends on light reflecting off the house across the street for the best lighting (there are no overhead light fixtures in that room)

Without decent light, the footage comes out like the Lionel grain train videos.

[MartyLJ57]

I have the some problem...

I had to look up 'Schnabel's' and found a site the gave track requirments, speeds,(EMT & Loaded) must be a big head ach for the railroads. Bet they get lots of bucks for pulling them though!