Dear HO Scale Customers;

Athearn is excited to announce New EMD (Electro-Motive Division) SW1500 Switcher Locomotives

Burlington Northern

BN numbers 20-65 are all former SLSF units, acquired in the 1980 merger.

 

BN FEATURES:

• Dual Blatt horn
• Xenon Strobe on cab roof (flash effect on DCC/sound version)
• MU hose holder pilots
• Exposed bearing trucks

 

Penn Central

PC rostered a group of 84 SW1500s which were bought new. They were some of the best power available to the struggling carrier, and were used in switching and transfer service system-wide. One real-life SW8 received a special Despatch Shops scheme with green and white striping; we think it would have looked good on an SW1500, too.

 

PC FEATURES:

• Dual Blatt horn
• Footboard pilots
• Exposed bearing trucks

 

Union Railroad

A Class III railroad based in Allegheny County, PA, the Union RR was commissioned in 1896 as a dedicated link between the Bessemer and Lake Erie Railroad and the massive USS facilities in the area. SW1500s 1-9 are still in service with the road.

 

URR FEATURES:

• Lesile RS3L horn
• Plain pilots
• Exposed bearing trucks

 

NASA

NASA operated three former TPW SW1500s at the Kennedy Space Center to haul rocket and shuttle components. NALX 3 was repainted in October 2008 as part of a 15‑month refurbishment at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center. This 2013 scheme is the most recent scheme the locomotive wore under NASA ownership.

 

NALX FEATURES:

• Plain pilots

 

ROAD NUMBER SPECIFIC FEATURES:

• #1 1985 repaint, Nathan M5 horn, Western Cullen beacon
• #2 1985 repaint, Nathan M5 horn, Western Cullen beacon
• #3 2013 repaint and refurbishment, Dual A200 horn

 

PROTOTYPE SPECIFIC INFORMATION

An EMD SW1500 is a 4 axle diesel switcher locomotive built by General Motors Electro-Motive Division between 1966 and 1974. It is similar in appearance to the EMD SW1000 model, which has a different engine and has one exhaust stack while the SW1500 has two.

Power was provided by an EMD 645E 12-cylinder engine which generated 1,500 horsepower. This locomotive was built on the same common frame as the EMD SW1000, giving it an overall length of 44 feet 8 inches.

The SW1500 featured a bulkier carbody and was a bit heavier from earlier models although its intended use remained the same, working light branch lines or in industrial settings. Many railroads regularly used SW1500s for road freight service.

 

SW1500 LOCOMOTIVE FEATURES:

• Operating ground lights
• Drop steps unless noted
• Dual exhaust stacks
• Detailed cab interior
• MU stands
• Printed numberboards
• Fine scale handrails
• Signal hoses as appropriate to the prototype road (MU capability was a railroad specified option for these locos, and some railroads did not order it).
• Newly designed can motor is more powerful and quieter than before
• LED lighting for long life and reliable operation
• Front and rear trainline hoses with silver glad hands
• Separately applied wire grab irons
• See-through radiator intake grille and cab windows
• Low or high-mounted windshield wipers per prototype
• Rectangular or oval builder’s plate where appropriate
• Separately applied air tank
• McHenry scale knuckle couplers - Kadee compatible
• All-wheel drive with precision gears for smooth & quiet operation
• All-wheel electrical pickup provides reliable current flow
• DCC-ready features Quick Plug plug-and-play technology with 21-pin NEM connector
• Improved 5-pole skew wound can motor with flywheels and multilink drivetrain
• Wheels with RP25 contours operate on all popular brands of track
• Highly-detailed, injection molded body
• Interior plastic blister safely holds the model for convenient storage
• Minimum radius: 18”

 

SOUND-EQUIPPED MODELS ALSO FEATURE

• Onboard DCC decoder with SoundTraxx Econami sound
• Single cube speaker for optimal sound quality
• Sound units operate in both DC and DCC
• Engine, horn, and bell sounds work in DC
• Some functions are limited in DC
• All functions NMRA compatible in DCC mode
• Operating lighting functions with F5 and/or F6
• Excellent low-speed operation
• 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

 

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, protofreelancing, 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?”

 

 

Order Due Date: December 31, 2026

Anticipated Delivery Date: May 2028

 

Looking for more Athearn EMD (Electro-Motive Division) SW1500 Switcher Diesel Locomotives? Click here!

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