Dear HO Scale Customers;

Athearn Genesis has announced the GP-9 Diesel Locomotives

 

Southern Pacific*- “Kodachrome”

During the 1970’s, SP went on an ambitious task to rebuild their GP9 fleet, known as the “GRIP” program. This program included new wiring, new main generator, complete rebuild of the prime mover with new parts, improved battery box doors, and removed rear light packages (in some cases). A small batch of GP9’s were renumbered into the 2868-2899 class. Demoted to “switchers” in order to save maintenance costs, this class included rebuilt and non rebuilt units.

We are offering #2873, which retained it’s full light package on both ends. #2873 currently enjoys it’s retirement at a Northern California museum. It may be the last locomotive in this scheme still operating. Out of the large batch of SP GP9E’s, only 9 were painted into these colors.

 

SP FEATURES:

• Nathan P3 Horn

• Large fuel tank

• Whip antenna

• Signal lights per road number

• Dynamic brakes

 

ROAD NUMBER SPECIFIC FEATURES:

• #2873 Phase II Switcher class rebuild “R”, signal lights on both ends, rear mounted fuel fillers, blank pilots, large SP style road numbers and number boards

• #3370 Phase II GRIP rebuild “E”, no signal lights (Ex T&NO), rear mounted fuel fillers, modified “catch” style pilots, Beacon, large SP style numbers with Santa Fe style number boards

• #3792 Phase II GRIP rebuild “E”, modified front signal lights, rear mounted fuel fillers, modified “catch” style pilots, flat dynamic brake fan, small Santa Fe style numbers and number boards

• #3846 Phase III GRIP rebuild “E”, Front signal lights, forward mounted fuel fillers, modified “catch” style pilots, large SP style numbers with Santa Fe style number boards, Large 48” radiator fans

 

Northern Alberta Railways

Northern Alberta Railways rostered eleven total GP9s, numbers 201-211. The paint scheme depicted here was in use from 1965-1975. The road was jointly owned by CP and CN until 1981, when CN bought out CP’s share of ownership. NAR GP9s could be found leading both freight and (with the help of a steam generator car) passenger trains.

 

NAR FEATURES:

• Winterization hatch

• Bell mounted on the short hood

• Canadian-style slotted steps and footboards

• Canadian-style angled handrails

• M-3 horn with all bells forward

• Peacock wheel hand brake

 

 

Great Northern

In 1967, Great Northern introduced a new paint scheme, consisting of blue, white, and dark grey-green. Known as the Big Sky Blue scheme, it took its name from an unofficial nickname for the state of Montana. Several of GN’s GP9 locos received the treatment as depicted here.

In 1970, GN was merged with the other Hill roads to form Burlington northern; however, the Big Sky Blue painted units survived for some time after with a simple BN patch.

GN FEATURES:

• Winterization hatch with horn mounted on top

• Long hood-forward operation

• ”Nail” style antenna

• GN style fuel tank skirts

 

ROAD NUMBER SPECIFIC FEATURES:

• #682 Snowplows on both ends, non-dynamic, bell mounted center of long hood

• #683 Snowplows on both ends, non-dynamic, bell mounted center of long hood

• #688 Dynamic brakes, bell mounted on long hood

• #690 Dynamic brakes, bell mounted on long hood

 

 

Milwaukee Road

Milwaukee Road received their last and largest order of 52 GP9’s, #’s 280-331, in the spring and summer of 1959. This batch of GP9’s was initially assigned to priority transcontinental freight service but they were bumped to less glamorous work when higher horsepower units arrived on the system. Number 297 models the Milwaukee’s “Billboard” paint scheme.

 

MILW FEATURES:

• Side number plates

• Snowplow

• No drop step

• Winterization hatch with clearance notch for spark arrester (not included)

• Dual horns

• Dynamic Brakes

• Solid end handrails

 

ROAD NUMBER SPECIFIC FEATURES:

• #282 As-delivered paint scheme, number plate, dynamic brakes, snowplow and dual horns

• #297 “Billboard” paint scheme, number plate, dynamic brakes, snowplow and dual horns

• #316 As-delivered paint scheme, number plate, dynamic brakes, snowplow and dual horns

 

 

PROTOTYPE SPECIFIC INFORMATION

In 1949, EMD introduced the GP7. The basic design followed most diesel switchers with the addition of a short hood instead of an end-cab. The hoods were also full height to better accommodate the diesel engine and mechanical and electrical components.

In 1954 EMD upgraded the GP7 to become the 1,750 horsepower GP9. Externally, the first GP9s were virtually unchanged from the last GP7s. Later versions would include different louver arrangements and the last ones would come without the frame skirting. The GP9 was available with all of the fuel tank, steam generator, and dynamic brake options as the GP7, including “torpedo tube” air tanks mounted on the roof.

Many railroads chose to rebuild their GP7s and GP9s for continued service. Often times, it was cheaper to do this rather than purchasing brand-new locomotives.

 

GP9 SERIES LOCOMOTIVE FEATURES:

• Full cab interior

• Coupler cut levers

• Flexible rubber trainline hose

• Drop steps unless noted

• Lift rings

• Windshield wipers

• Wire grab irons

• See-through cab windows

• Flexible rubber MU hoses

• “Nub” style walkway tread

• Sander lines

• MU stands

• See-through cab windows

• Bell placement & type per prototype

• Etched metal radiator intake grilles and fan grilles

• Air tanks mounted below sill unless noted

• Blomberg-B trucks with appropriate bearing caps

• Speed recorder unless noted

• Body-mounted McHenry operating scale knuckle couplers

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

• Fine-scale Celcon handrails for scale appearance

• Detailed fuel tank with fuel fillers, fuel gauges, breather pipes, and retention tanks

• 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

• Bidirectional constant LED lighting so headlight brightness remains constant

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

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

• Accurately-painted and –printed paint schemes

• Fully-assembled and ready-to-run

• Packaging securely holds model for safe storage

• Minimum radius: 18” — Recommended radius: 22”

 

SOUND-EQUIPPED 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

 

 

Order Due Date: April 29, 2022

Anticipated Delivery Date: June 2023

Looking for more Athearn GP-9 Diesel Locomotives? Click here!

 

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