Athearn Genesis has announced new Dash 9-44CW Diesel Locomotives

 

Canadian National (CN)

 

 

Santa Fe (SF)

 

 

Fortescue Metals Group (FMG)

 

Norfolk Southern (NS)

 

Southern Pacific (SP)

 

 

Building on a rich tradition started in 1946, the Athearn brand is home to the hobby’s best-loved models. Athearn has brought the joy of model railroading to you for 75 years, starting from our classic ‘Blue-Box” kits to our most recent Genesis 2.0 line. With accurate detailing and painting, Athearn is the brand that any hobbyist is proud to own and operate. No matter your era or favorite railroad, Athearn truly is “Trains in Miniature.”

BRAND NEW GENESIS 2.0 TOOLING!

GENESIS 2.0 FEATURES:

By integrating and pioneering some of the latest model advancements in the industry, Athearn is redefining model fidelity with Genesis 2.0

• Etched, see-through walkway steps

• Illuminated number boards

• Illuminated ground lights above front trucks

• Illuminated front and rear walkway lights

• Illuminated marker lights (where applicable)

• Animated roller bearing caps

 

NS-APU

 

ATSF - Open Door Plow

 

FMG - Handrails

 

CN - Cab Front (Alternate Detail Version Shown)

 

Southern Pacific

 

 

PROTOTYPE SPECIFIC INFORMATION

Built by GE from 1993 until 2004, the Dash 9-44CW and its variants were the definitive North American mainline freight locomotives of their time, with an impressive 3668 total units built. Constructed for US railroads from coast to coast, the units were also ordered by Canadian roads, and significant export orders went to Australia and Brazil.

The new Athearn Genesis 2.0 Dash 9-44CW is equally as impressive as its prototype, with a host of railroad specific details. From Canadian National’s unique “tear drop” windows to the early body details on Southern Pacific and Santa Fe, these models take the Genesis 2.0 line to new heights. Standard on all models are Athearn’s superior paint colors, reliable Genesis drive and LED lighting for years of trouble free operation.

 

DASH 9 SERIES LOCOMOTIVE FEATURES:

• Fully-assembled and ready-to-run

• DCC-ready features Quick Plug™ plug-and-play technology with 21-pin NEM connector

• Scaled from prototype resources including drawings, field measurements, photographs, and more

• Accurately –painted and –printed paint schemes

• Coupler cut levers

• Flexible rubber MU hoses for durability

• Flexible rubber trainline hose

• See-through cab windows

• Full cab interior

• Walkway tread

• Fine-scale Celcon handrails for scale appearance

• Windshield wipers

• Lift rings

• Wire grab irons

• Detailed fuel tank with fuel fillers, fuel gauges, & breather pipes

• Sander lines

• McHenry scale knuckle couplers - Kadee compatible

• Genesis driveline with 5-pole skew wound motor, precision machined flywheels, and multi-link drivetrain

• All-wheel drive with precision gears for smooth & quiet operation

• All-wheel electrical pickup provides reliable current flow

• Wheels with RP25 contours operate on all popular brands of track

• LED lighting for realistic appearance

• Heavy die-cast frame for greater traction and more pulling power

• Packaging securely holds model for safe storage

 

SOUND EQUPPED MODELS ALSO FEATURE

• Onboard DCC decoder with SoundTraxx Tsunami2 sound

• Dual cube speakers for optimal sound quality

• Sound units operate in both DC and DCC

• Full DCC functions available when operated in DCC mode

• Engine, horn, and bell sounds work in DC

• All functions NMRA compatible in DCC mode

• Precision slow speed control

• Program a multiple unit (MU) lashup with lead unit only horn, bell, and lights

• Many functions can be altered via Configuration Value (CV) changes

• CV chart included in the box

 

ATSF FEATURES:

• As-delivered details

• Prime air filters & air dryer

• Early (“dog-leg”) stepwell gussets

• ATSF-specific plow with open MU doors

• Front-only ditch lights mounted on pilot face

• Truck & nose grab iron style per prototype road #

• Sinclair & EOT antennas

• Leslie RS3L horn

 

ATSF 600-699 were some of the last units delivered to Santa Fe before the BNSF merger. Painted in the famous “Superfleet” scheme, they handled priority trains across the system. Being relatively new, the units were a low priority for repainting, and several survive today today wearing their faded original paint.

 

BNSF FEATURES:

• Sinclair & whip antennas

• Nathan K3LA horn

• Spare knuckles on rear pilot

• Front-only ditch lights mounted on anticlimber

• Standard medium snowplow

• Late (angled) stepwell gussets

 

#702: "Santa Fe" On Nose (BNSF on others)

 

Apart from a few minor spotting features, BNSF 700-799 looked much the same as ATSF 600-699. The biggest difference, perhaps, was the large “BNSF” lettering on the hood, where “Santa Fe” used to reside. Opinions differed on the look, but no one could argue that the face of an iconic railroad had changed forever!

CN FEATURES:

• CN “teardrop window” cab

• Canadian style ribbed anticlimbers

• Spare knuckles on rear pilot

• Late (angled) stepwell gussets

• Canadian AAR style control stand

• Front and rear ditch lights mounted on anticlimbers

• Standard medium front snowplow; small CN style rear rock plow

• Wi-tronix antenna included in poly bag; install for 2010+ era

• Nathan K3L airhorn

• Electronic fuel gauges

• No air condiitoner

 

After receiving an order for Dash 9-44CWLs with Canadian 4-window cabs, CN reverted to the standard 2-window configuration for its subsequent orders. However, to increase the crew’s visibility, CN requested that the front windows be modified with angled panes (these are known as “tear drop” windows).

FMG FEATURES:

• Spare knuckles on rear pilot

• FMG-specific handrails with extra railing

• Front-only ditch lights mounted on anticlimber

• Nathan K5LA horn

 

Fortescue Metals Group Ltd (Often referred to as FMG) is an Australian iron ore company. Fortescue is the fourth largest iron ore producer in the world after BHP, Rio Tinto, and Vale.

The railway’s 240-wagon iron ore trains are amongst the heaviest trains in the world. The 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in) (standard gauge) heavy haul railway is used by 35,200-metric ton (34,644-long-ton; 38,801-short-ton) trains up to 2.5 kilometres (1.6 mi) long carrying 29,000 metric tons (28,542 long tons; 31,967 short tons) of ore at 40-tonne (39-long-ton; 44-short-ton) axleload (the weight of the two 4,000-horsepower (3.0 MW) engines is extra). The railway is available to other miners for a fee.

FMG rosters a fleet of high horsepower 6-axle locomotives, including 15 Dash 9-44CWs.

“Fortescue Metals Group”, Wikipedia. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fortescue_Metals_Group. Accessed 2-5-21

NS FEATURES:

NS 9169:

• Large and small Sinclair antennas

• K9 APU on walkway

• Electronic parking brake

 

NS 9131, 9225:

• PTC antenna arrays

• Standard parking brake

 

Each year from 1995 to 2005, NS placed an order with GE for Dash 9 series locomotives, with a grand total of 1215 units delivered. They are used in all types of mainline service. Some units were equipped with an APU (auxiliary power unit) mounted on the walkway, which operated to provide basic locomotive systems while the prime mover was shut down, potentially saving fuel. The units on offer are from the 1998 order.

 

Photo Credit: Matt Gentry, Road Number Shown Not Available But Is Representative Of Models

 

 

SP FEATURES:

• 1994 as-built appearance

• Early (“dog leg”) stepwell gussets

• Sinclair antennas

• Nathan P3 horn

• Large SP plow

 

The SP 8100s were some of the last mainline power delivered to the SP proper. The engines were used on all types of trains, in multiple with other class members of other SP 6-axle power. Many of them survive to this day, albeit repainted into Union Pacific colors.

 

Photo Credit - Thomas Szczesniak Jr.

 

Order Due Date: March 26, 2021

Anticipated Delivery Date: April 2022

Looking for more Athearn Genesis HO Scale Dash 9-44CW Diesel Locomotives? Click here!

 

Looking for more Athearn Genesis HO Scale items? Click here!

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