Athearn Genesis - HO Scale - EMD GP39-2 - DCC w/Sound - Santa Fe (ATSF) #3671 - Blue Warbonnet Scheme (SKU 141-64601)
Available On: June 1, 2018
In the decade between 1974 and 1984, EMD produced the GP39-2 for seven North American railroads. The basic design followed most four axle road diesel switchers for the time. Borrowing improvements from the GP38-2 and GP40-2 designs, this mid-horsepower road switcher utilized a turbocharged 12-cylinder EMD 645E3 diesel engine for it’s prime mover. With 4 fewer cylinders, the smaller engine provided a distinctive long hood on the phase II and phase III bodies, where the clean room/engine compartment doors were set back from the cab further than predecessor locomotives. Sensitivity to fuel economy in the 1970s justified the GP39-2 in the locomotive market. It also laid the ground work for EMD to start exploring locomotive designs that utilize engines with larger piston displacement yet posess fewer cylinders. This approach has become the foundation to modern locomotive technology.
Introduced in 1974 as an update to the GP39, this second generation EMD diesel was more successful than the first. It offered better fuel economy and better performance at higher altitudes than the GP38-2's. Even though it had a 12 cylinder prime mover, it's turbocharging gave it 2300 horsepower compared to 2000 horsepower of the 16 cylinder prime mover in the GP38-2. Still, with only 239 made, it was only a moderate success in comparison to it's stablemate, the GP38-2 with production ending in 1984.
Features:
DCC w/Sound Features:
Primed For Grime Features:
Road Number Specific Features:
Delivered in 1977, ATSF 3669-3682 were the first Phase II GP39-2s constructed by EMD. The most prominent spotting feature of these units is the 3 foot long blank space behind the cab, due to the engine compartment being moved rearwards. They also featured the new 88” nose that came into use at this time. Standard Santa Fe roof equipment included an air conditioner, large antenna ground plane over the dust bin, and a Prime Stratolite beacon. The units could be found working secondary assignments on the eastern half of the Santa Fe until the mid 80s, at which time they began to wander west as part of almost any train, with almost any other type of power.