Dear HO Scale Customers;

Athearn is excited to announce New EMD (Electro-Motive Division)...

SD-38 Diesel Locomotives

Conrail

Conrail’s SD38 fleet was inherited from Penn Central. Starting in the early 1990s, FRA-mandated reflective stripes were added to the frames.

 

CR FEATURES:

• Former PC units
• White frame stripe
• Leslie RS3L horn
• Sinclair antenna
• Standard MU stands
• Clasp-brake trucks

 

Penn Central

Penn Central’s large SD38 fleet was mostly used in yard and transfer service. In 1976 they became the property of Conrail and continued in the same service.

 

PC FEATURES:

• Leslie RS3L horn
• Standard MU stands
• Footboards
• Sinclair antenna
• Clasp-brake trucks
• Pilot grabs

 

Atlantic and Great Western Railway

The Atlantic & Great Western model railroad can be described as a modern interpretation inspired by the 1880 era A&GW Railway, whose prototype operated as a major east–west route linking the Northeast, Midwest and Gulf of Mexico. The model railroad captures that spirit by creating a busy, independent railroad with its own identity, bringing the character of a large railroad to life in miniature. You can see more of the A&GW on YouTube, Facebook and Instagram.

 

AGW FEATURES:

• Details similar to EJE 650

 

SD-39 Diesel Locomotives

Santa Fe

Introduced following an FRA study into grade crossing visibility, the ATSF Freight Bonnet scheme was introduced in 1972. All 20 of the road’s SD39s were eventually repainted into this scheme. Earlier repaints, as depicted by our models, retained their low-mounted horns, and were not yet fitted with cab A/C.

 

ATSF FEATURES:

• RS3L horn
• Stratolight beacon on cab roof (DCC info)
• Footboard pilots
• Flexicoil high-brake trucks
• Chicken Wire radiator grills

 

Southern Pacific

As Southern Pacific’s SD39s approached and exceeded ten years of age, additional information was stenciled on their cabs, such as shop assignments. Originally assigned to lines in Texas, they commonly began to migrate west to the grades of Tehachapi, where their low-speed tractive effort was an asset.

 

SP FEATURES:

• P3 Horn
• SP/UP style plow on front and rear pilots
• Flexicoil high-brake trucks
• FARR radiator grills

 

Illinois Terminal Company

The most-powerful units operated by the ITC, their 6 SD39 units were delivered in May 1969. They lasted until the 1981 NW merger, with some retaining their green and yellow livery for several more years.

 

ITC FEATURES:

• RS3L horn
• MU hose holder pilots
• Flexicoil high-brake trucks
• Chicken Wire radiator grills

 

PROTOTYPE SPECIFIC INFORMATION

The SD38 is a 6-axle diesel-electric locomotive built by General Motors Electro-Motive Division between May 1967 and October 1971. It had an EMD 645 16-cylinder engine generating 2,000 horsepower. The EMD SD38AC built by General Motors Electro-Motive Division between June and October 1971. It was basically an SD38 with an AR10 alternating current alternator instead of the SD38’s normal direct current generator. It also produces 2,000 horsepower from a 16-cylinder EMD 645E roots blown prime mover. It came equipped with or without dynamic brakes. The SD38 and SD38AC have the same frame as the SD39, SD40 and SD45.

In 1966, EMD updated its locomotive catalog with entirely new models, all powered by the new 645 diesel engine. The SD39 had 2,300 hp from a turbocharged V12. The SD39 had the smallest prime mover of the SD locomotives in the EMD catalog. 54 were built for American railroads.

 

SD38/SD39 LOCOMOTIVE FEATURES:

• Fine scale handrails
• Separately-applied air tanks
• Brake wheel or ratchet brake nose per prototype
• Individually applied wire formed grab irons
• See-through cab windows
• Detailed fuel tank per prototype
• See-through dynamic brake and radiator fans
• Separately-applied detail parts
• DCC Ready 21-pin NEM plug
• Non-sound version features 21-pin NEM DCC plug
• LED Illuminated front and rear headlights, ditch lights, and beacons (where applicable to the prototype)
• All-wheel drive with precision gears for smooth and quiet operation
• All-wheel electrical pickup provides reliable current flow
• 5-pole motor with precision-machined flywheels and multi-link drive train for trouble free operation
• Heavy die-cast frame for greater traction and more pulling power
• McHenry scale knuckle spring couplers
• Wheels with RP25 contours operate on all popular brands of track
• Fully-assembled and ready-to-run out of the box
• Painted and printed for realistic decoration
• Genesis motor retrofit kit ATHG63839 compatible
• Highly-detailed, injection-molded body
• Minimum radius: 18” — Recommended radius: 22”

 

SOUND-EQUIPPED MODELS ALSO FEATURE

• Onboard Econami Sound by SoundTraxx
• 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: December 31, 2026

Anticipated Delivery Date: May 2028

 

Looking for more Athearn EMD (Electro-Motive Division) SD-30 Diesel Locomotives? Click here!

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