Dear HO Scale Customers;

Athearn has announced SD40T-2 Diesel Locomotives!

 

PotashCorp

 

Union Pacific

After UP took over the SP in 1996, several older SP units were repainted into UP colors. While UP had many roster changes, it was common during this period for batches of locomotives to get renumbered. Our models depict the renumbered versions before they were retired.

 

UP FEATURES:

• 88” nose with brake wheel

• Front ditch lights

• Modified front L window

• UP style front plow

• Cab mounted A/C

• Removed front and rear SP light package

• Standard range dynamic brakes

• M3 horn

 

 

 

Rio Grande

The 1990’s were an interesting time for some railroads. An example of this would be SP-era Rio Grande SD40T-2’s. SP has always been known for having a plethora of lights on their diesels. During this period, Stratolight beacons and front ditch lights were added to many DRGW locomotives. With the combination of the factory installed nose Mars lights, these were affectionately nicknamed as “xmas tree” lights by some railfans.

 

DRGW FEATURES:

• 88” nose with brake wheel

• Tall front ditch lights

• Extended range dynamic brakes

• Large Sinclair antenna

• Stratolight Beacon

• Relocated P3 horn

• Small EMD plow

 

Southern Pacific* - “Kodachrome”

SP and Santa Fe during the mid 1980’s were trying to become one railroad. They were so sure the merger would be approved, they started to repaint locomotives into their “new” corporate colors. Using SP red and Santa Fe yellow, they came up with this bright and vibrant scheme. Unfortunately, the then ICC denied the merger leaving an example of what some railfans nicknamed, “Shouldn’t Paint So Fast”. By the end of the merger negotiations, SP only painted 3 “Snoot-nose” SD40T-2’s. We are offering all 3 which have slightly different details between them.

 

SP FEATURES:

• Gyra lights (Operate in DCC)

• Standard range dynamic brakes

• Cab roof A/C

• P3 horn

• See-through lower air intakes

 

ROAD NUMBER SPECIFIC FEATURES:

• #8315 123” Nose w/brake wheel, cab roof mounted bell, plows on both ends, modified front L window, GRIP battery box doors, Santa Fe style font numbers

• #8351 116” nose w/ratchet brake, cab roof mounted bell, plows on both ends, modified front L window, GRIP battery box doors, standard rear headlight, SP style font numbers

• #8377 123” nose w/brake wheel, frame mounted bell, plows on front end only, front L window, standard battery box doors, SP style font numbers

 

Southern Pacific* - “Black Widow”

A fun play on “what-if” could leave the imagination to visualize what would happen if SP never adopted the Grey and Red “Bloody nose” scheme. As a part of our Legendary Liveries line, we are offering that thought as a reality with this release. Referred to as “Black Widow” from railfans, this is our representation of what could have been if the scheme was still used.

 

SP FEATURES:

• 123” Nose with brake wheel

• Full SP light package on both ends

• Legendary Liveries

• Cab mounted A/C

• P3 Horn

• Front L window

 

 

PROTOTYPE SPECIFIC INFORMATION

The SD40T-2 is a 6-axle diesel-electric locomotive built by General Motors Electro-Motive Division having a 16-cylinder EMD 645E3 diesel engine pro­ducing 3,000 horsepower (2,240 kW). 312 SD40T-2s were built for North American railroads between April 1974 and July 1980. This locomotive and the SD45T-2 are popularly called tunnel motors, but EMD’s term is SD40-2s with “cooling system modifications” because they were designed for better engine cooling in tunnels. The difference between this locomotive and its non-tunnel motor cousin, the SD40-2, are the radiator intakes and radiator fan grills located at the rear of the locomotive. The radiator air intakes in this model were along the deck to allow more fresh, cooler air to enter and less hot exhaust fumes lingering around the tunnel’s ceiling.

 

LEGENDARY LIVERIES

What are Legendary Liveries? An Athearn exclusive, they are the ultimate answer to “What if?” Featuring some of the most popular railroad paint schemes of all time, these models are perfect for collecting, proto-freelancing, or just plain fun! Whether company proposed paint schemes, canceled locomotive orders, or alternate takes on history, Legendary Liveries are fun and unique additions to any roster. Enjoy these items, and answer the ultimate railroad question of: “What if?”

 

SD40T-2 SERIES LOCOMOTIVE FEATURES:

• Fine scale handrails

• Separately applied air tanks

• HTC truck sideframes

• Photo-etched windshield wipers

• LED Lighting

• Welded ECAFB

• All-wheel electrical pickup

• See-through dynamic brake fans

• Separately applied wire grab irons

• Rubber trainline and MU hoses with silver ends

• Standard Dash-2 cab, windows correct per prototype

• See-through radiator grilles with new rear truck gearbox specific for the tunnel motor

• Speed recorder attached to appropriate axle per prototype

• McHenry operating scale knuckle couplers

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

• 5-pole motor with flywheels and multi-link drivetrain for trouble-free operation

• DCC Ready 21-pin NEM Quick Plug technology

• Nickel plated, blackened machined wheels

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

• Fully assembled and ready-to-run

• Highly-detailed, injection molded body

• Painted and printed for realistic decoration

• Recommended radius: 22”

 

SOUND-EQUIPPED MODELS ALSO FEATURE

• Onboard DCC decoder with SoundTraxx Tsunami2 sound

• 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

• Excellent Slow speed control

• Effect lighting (if applicable) using F5 and/or F6

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

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

 

 

Order Due Date: April 29, 2022

Anticipated Delivery Date: June 2023

Looking for more Athearn SD40T-2 Diesel Locomotives? Click here!

 

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