Sabine River and Northern 408 (NC class diesel switcher) real world MOC

[Murdoch17]

My LEGO model of Sabine River and Northern 408 is below the short handrail, just behind the access ladder. This MOC is based on a real loco, one of five NC class switchers built by Electro-Motive Corporation. (which later became EMD when it was bought by General Motors) Some of these five locomotives had General Electric electrical equipment, while others had Westinghouse, since EMC's own designs were not yet ready.

Wikipedia doesn't have a lot to say on the NC class (it doesn't even have it own page!), but it does give us the history of this specific loco which is the last of it's class (as far as I know): 'EMC S/N 651 (built May 1937): Youngstown and Northern Railroad 202, to Elgin, Joliet and Eastern Railroad 408 in April 1946, to Marinette, Tomahawk & Western Railroad 408, then finally to the Sabine River and Northern Railroad as 408 before being preserved in the National Museum of Transportation in St. Louis, Missouri.'

In addition, the engine's plaque at the museum says it cost $91,500 when new, and arrived at the museum in 1974. During the summer months, you can climb into the cab... although it is a very steep climb.

The Lego model was heavily inspired by a SW1500 (which is a later cousin to the NC type) model I saw here. You can also read more about the Sabine River and Northern here on Wikipedia.

I couldn't possibly get Sabine River and Northern to fit on the long hood, so just initials were placed instead. I also used a new printed 1x6 tile from set 60401 (Construction Steamroller) near the cab door.

Thoughts?

Edited April 6, 2024 by Murdoch17

[idlemarvel]

Wondergul 6 wide model. You can get the front railings in yellow if that helps.

[Murdoch17]

17 hours ago, idlemarvel said:

Wondergul 6 wide model. You can get the front railings in yellow if that helps.

Thanks @idlemarvel! Yeah, I know the railings are the wrong color. I didn't have any yellow ones, but I did have black ones... so that's why they are like that.

[LEGO Train 12 Volts]

Beautiful model very similar to the original!

The part that I like most is how the main body is connected, tapering to the cabin! 

[Feuer Zug]

Nicely done. You captured it well. Depending on the cab needs, I might swap out some curved slopes for the roof of the cab. Otherwise, it looks good. Even the handrails are fine the color they are.

[Murdoch17]

On 4/8/2024 at 2:23 PM, LEGO Train 12 Volts said:

Beautiful model very similar to the original!

The part that I like most is how the main body is connected, tapering to the cabin! 

Thank you @LEGO Train 12 Volts for your kind words!

6 hours ago, Feuer Zug said:

Nicely done. You captured it well. Depending on the cab needs, I might swap out some curved slopes for the roof of the cab. Otherwise, it looks good. Even the handrails are fine the color they are.

RE the cab roof: Will do, @Feuer Zug! Thanks for stopping by!

[ivanlan9]

Very nice engine that, as @Feuer Zug said, should have the roof replaced with curved slopes.  I would myself also use stickers instead of the printed tiles, but that's merely my own biases showing.

Any possibility of making instructions (as opposed to .io files)?  I like this one enough to buy them.

[Murdoch17]

3 minutes ago, ivanlan9 said:

Very nice engine that, as @Feuer Zug said, should have the roof replaced with curved slopes.  I would myself also use stickers instead of the printed tiles, but that's merely my own biases showing.

Any possibility of making instructions (as opposed to .io files)?  I like this one enough to buy them.

I'm really flattered you want instructions from me, but I have no way of making them - I only have an LDD file and the instruction maker there is crap, to put it bluntly. However, where I got the base SW1500 model from has instructions for their model. It shouldn't be too difficult to recreate what I did from that (and a parts list of my MOC if you want it). Sorry I can't be much more help @ivanlan9!