General Electric introduced the DASH 8 series of diesel locomotives in the mid 1980's. They had a number of improvements over earlier generations of locomotives with models available in four and six axle versions. The Dash-8 was replaced by the Dash-9 locomotive series in the mid 1990's. Most of these locomotives remain in service today with original owners and new owners across North America.

Most Dash-8's were produced with the standard cab configuration, but Santa Fe choose to go with the wide North American Cab seen and nearly all mainline locomotives now. There were 83 8-40BW's built for Santa Fe and many are still in service today for BNSF, some still in the patched war bonnet schemes.

In 1991 Amtrak needed more motive power and had few choices for the low number of locomotives they needed. Amtrak choose a modified version of the Dash-8, the 8-32BWH locomotive. The locomotive is basically a 8-32B locomotive with a North American Cab and additional modification for passenger service built on the longer 8-40BW frame. Amtrak bought 20 of these locomotives and they are still in use today and seen across the country.

Features:

• Same durable drive as Walthers Proto locomotives
• 5-Pole skew wound motor
• 14:1 gear ratio
• Helical cut gears for quiet operation & easy multiple unit operation
• All wheel drive & electrical pickup
• Dual machined brass flywheels
• Heavy die cast chassis
• Constant & directional lights
• RP-25 metal wheels
• Proto MAX metal knuckle couplers
• Available in Standard DC and DCC w/Sound versions
• DCC w/Sound versions features:
  • SoundTraxx sound for DCC & DC layouts
    
  • 16-Bit digital quality sound
    
  • Horn & short horn toot
    
  • Bell
    
  • Prime mover
    
  • Three lighting functions