And now for something a little bit different. As may have been hinted elsewhere on this site, I am not only a western Canada / British Columbia armchair modeler in transition toward becoming a „real“ model railroader, but also a huge fan of Sweden. So naturally, I am also interested in swedish railroading, especially around the area I used to spend most of my childhood summers: Småland.
Inspired by Småland, I already offered some modeling regarding the Smålspåret between Växjö and Västervik (which stopped operating commercially in 1984), by modeling some Statens Järvägar narrow gauge equipment. So sometimes the itch gets me and I am thinking about doing something about it. I noticed there is rarely any decent 3D printable swedish rolling stock on the Internet, at least not where I looked. There are two commercially available T44 locomotives made by Märklin/Trix in Germany and by Jeco in Sweden, both out of production (or sold out). There is no Td locomotive made, that I know of. So that will be my main focus here. Eventually, I plan to do both. But what’s the difference?
SJ T44 vs Green Cargo Td/TdE
Basically the Td is a modernized T44, produced from a T44 locomotive between 2009 and 2012. I will try to compare the engines from a modellers point of view, stating obvious spotting features and pointing out details I noticed.
But beware, I am by no means any expert on these locomotives, I never enjoyed a cab ride and I only encountered a few, when I was in Sweden. I am also not a typical railfan, so you won’t see me hunting trains anytime soon.
I just enjoy modelling and all the techniques that support the hobby. Thus, I do my own STL files for 3D printing. As usual, if there’s any interest in what I do, contact me and talk to me, please. I’m not giving away STL files for free (these are a lot of work), but I might consider offering 3D printed models through commercial services (at least, if I’d be able to produce them at a reasonable price comparable to Jeco AB’s shell for example – which is about 25 Euros plus shipping – maybe as a replacement).
| SJ T44 | Green Cargo Td / TdE | Notes | |
| Manufacturer | NOHAB and KVAB | NOHAB, KVAB, rebuild by Bombardier | |
| Numbering | Statens Järnvägar (SJ) 259–283, 314–323, 329–416 total 123 units | Green Cargo (GC) Td : 353, 371-376, 378-394, 396-416 total 45 units TdE : 354-365, 367-369, 377, 395 total 17 units | |
| Wheel arrangement | Bo’Bo‘ | Bo’Bo‘ | |
| Gauge | 1435 mm | 1435 mm | Standard gauge |
| Length (bumpers) | 15400 mm | 15400 mm | |
| Empty mass | 76 tons | 76 tons | |
| Tractive effort | 220 kN | 220 kn | |
| Power | 1235 kW | 1350 kW | |
| Prime mover | GM EMD 12-645E | MTU RV 4000 R43 | |
| Traction motors | 4x EMD D77 | 4x EMD D77 | |
| Speed | 100 km/h | 100 km/h | |
| Wheel diameter | 1030 mm | 1030 mm | |
| Built / Rebuilt | 1968–1987 | 2009-2012 | |
| Type | Diesel-electric | Diesel-electric | |
| Cab detail | Wheel controls and analog instruments | Lever style controls and MFD stle electronic instruments |
Spotting Features T44 vs Td/TdE
Spotting Features on the Td are Xenon Headlights with much smaller lenses. The exhaust stack is located free standing on the long hood, offset from cab, while it used to be mounted to the short hood, attached to the cab on the T44, there is a small radiator box (speaker, electric bell, aircondition unit?) set at the location of the former exhaust stack on rear cab, above the short hood instead of front the front, where it’s used to be located on the T44.
The small cabinets on both sides of the cab on T44s are gone on most Td units (Td 396 seems to be an exception). There is an MU-Unit stand on rear/front platforms (maybe only on radio-controlled Td/T44R units).
Additional ventilation openings have been added on the long hood, a small vertical louver-style opening right in front of the cab and two smaller inset ones above and set one panel backwards from large front vent (which is see through, as far as modeling is concerned), as well as another small vertical set of louvers right behind the two openings on the long hood (vs only one set of two vertical louver-style vents on left side of the long hood on T44.
Internally, the cab received a modern lever-style run-level selector, while there was a wheel on the T44). Large MFDs on Td dashboards replaced several analog instruments on T44.
There is more: The Td features a single horn on long hood pointing forward instead of a cab mounted horn pointing downward. There is a destinctive bulge on the short hood of the Td, as well as an antenna on the cab roof.
There are caged orange strobes on the inside of each platform-steps on both sides of the frame, which had been added to the T44 later and were kept on the Td.
Modeling – 3D Construction – 3D printable model
Obviously, I’ve only started, so expect there to be some progress, sometime, somewhere on this site 😉
The basic cab is blocked out, and the window openings cut into it. Also the long hood and short hood are almost done except for the maintenanc access doors and headlingts.
The longitudinal frame bracings and deck are in place, and I started on the trucks and underbody detail. Currently, I’m modelling the bearings. I hope to construct a functional 3D printable frame, but I’m not convinced that it will work. I hope to source driver wheels (1030 mm are just short of 12mm wheel diameter in ho scale) and suitable gears through eBay or so.
I’m not aiming for sound as I have no practical means to record decent sound files for the project. The T44 had the similar prime mover and traction motors to an EMD MP15 switcher, so that sound might work for that model. The Td however had an MTU diesel for which I think a Vossloh DE18 might be correct.
But back to the model. Coming up next will be the trucks and frame. I plan for about two weeks of planing and will then continue the modeling. However I did a preliminary assembly of the trucks, stabilizers, mock-up coils and air-/fuel-reservoirs. So far the model is coming together rather well.
Of course, theres most of the detail missing, but I’ll come to that. More on this model in August 2025.