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Scale Trains (Rivet Counter) - N Scale - GE Dash 9-44CW Diesel Locomotive - ESU-LokSound DCC & Sound Factory Installed - Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) #4331 - Frankenloco - Run 3 - Orange/Green/Yellow/Grey With Green/Black Lettering (SKU 6502-SXT32558)

Available On: July 1, 2021

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

N Scale

 

 


 

The Rivet Counter series DASH-9 continues to set new standards for railroad, road number and era-specific features, factory-applied detail parts, lighting effects, and sound in N Scale. 

All Rivet Counter series N Scale locomotives are available DC/DCC ready with Next18 connector or factory equipped with ESU-LokSound 5 Micro DCC and sound decoder with cube-type speaker.

 

Prototype History

General Electric wrestled the title of top domestic locomotive builder from EMD during the late 1980s with their Dash-8 series.  Entering the 1990s, GE completely revamped their locomotive lineup by utilizing customer feedback, learning from experience gained from previous locomotive series, and improvements in technology.

A single C44-9W demonstrator unit, numbered 8601, made its debut in 1993 (and later became C&NW 8601). While similar at first glance to predecessor models like the C40-8 and C40-8W, the Dash-9 series featured a few notable physical differences.  Built on a slightly longer platform that allowed for a massive 5,000 gallon fuel tank, Dash-9s also featured thicker radiator “wings” at the rear of the carbody.  This is usually the quickest way to differentiate them from previous models.

Thanks to its long production span and customer options, small detail differences could be noted between various customer orders.  This includes changes with HVAC system vendors (the large “A/C” box behind the cab on the conductor’s side), engine cab profile, radiator lifting lugs, hood end, trucks, fuel tank, stepwells, operator’s cab, and even handrail profiles.

The C44-9W proved to be extremely popular over its production span with over 3,500 locomotives being sold new to BC Rail, BNSF, Canadian National, C&NW, Norfolk Southern, QNS&L, Santa Fe, Southern Pacific, and Union Pacific.  

Norfolk Southern was an important customer with over 1,000 Dash-9s on the roster.  They preferred customized models in the form of 100 spartan-cab equipped, 4,000hp C40-9s (nicknamed “Top Hats”) and numerous examples of safety cab-equipped versions rated at 4,000hp, and designated as C40-9Ws.  All C40-9/Ws would eventually be uprated to 4,400hp with their designations changed accordingly.  

The Dash-9 series remained in production until the early 2000s when it was superseded by GE’s “Evolution Series” ES40/44-series models.  Age has begun to catch up with the earliest C44-9W and related models so some railroads are storing and/or rebuilding these veteran units.  NS’s oldest units, the spartan-cab C40-9s, have been rebuilt with the latest GE safety cab for increased crew comfort and safety plus AC-traction for increased performance.

Originally built in the early 1990s, some of BNSF’s former Santa Fe fleet are also in the process of being rebuilt with AC-traction to extend their service lives and improve their performance.

Built over a long timeframe, and proving to be a solid, upgradeable platform, the C44-9W family of locomotives including rebuilds is sure to remain a fixture on today’s railroads for the foreseeable future.

 

Road Number Specific ScaleTrains

  • Road number 4331
    • Era: late 2010s to present
    • Series 4300-4598, built 1-12/1999
    • Green color under lower yellow nose stripes
    • Octagonal antenna dome with LinkUp PTC 
    • Rusty air tanks
  • Road number 5441
    • Era: late 2010s to present
    • Series 5420-5499, built 4-9/2000
    • Orange color under lower yellow nose stripes
    • Octagonal antenna dome with STI-CO Inc. PTC
  • Fully assembled
  • Multiple road numbers
  • GE Safety cab with “gull-wing” roof profile, low headlight, and four (4) side windows
  • Operating front deck mounted LED ditch lights
  • Printed and LED lighted number boards
  • Short snowplow with open doors
  • 5-step stepwells
  • GE “nub” pattern walkway tread
  • Narrow profile end handrails
  • Nose door with window
  • Detailed cab interior with floor, rear wall, seats, and desktop
  • Tinted cab side windows
  • Motive Equipment Inc. (MEI) ME7000 HVAC Unit
  • Late (angled) engine cab profile with tri-fold power assembly access doors
  • Lost-wax brass Nathan AirChime K3LAR24 horn mounted on engine cab
  • Late non-flanged exhaust stack housing
  • “Bathtub” exhaust silencer
  • High-mounted rear sandfiller
  • Early lifting lugs on ends of radiator wings
  • Accurately profiled frame with separately applied plumbing and cabling
  • GE Hi-Ad trucks with separately applied brake cylinders and air plumbing
  • 5,000 gallon fuel tank
  • Separate air tanks with lower mounting brackets
  • Fuel tank mounted steel bell
  • Dual fuel fills per side
  • Factory-applied detail parts: wire grab irons, trainline hoses, 3-hose MU clusters, MU cable, uncoupling levers, windshield wipers, mirrors, sunshades, brake wheel, and more
  • Semi-scale Type E knuckle couplers – Micro-Trains® compatible
  • Body mounted coupler box – accepts Micro-Trains 1015/1016 type couplers
  • Motor with 5-pole skew wound armature
  • Dual flywheels
  • All-wheel drive
  • All-wheel electrical pick-up
  • Directional LED headlights
  • Printing and lettering legible under magnification
  • Operates on Code 55 and 80 rail
  • Durable packaging safely stores model
  • Minimum Radius: 9 ¾”
  • Recommended Radius: 11” 

DCC & sound equipped locomotives also feature

  • ESU-LokSound 5 Micro DCC and sound decoder with “Full Throttle”
  • Cube-type speaker
  • Accurate FDL-16 prime mover and auxiliary sounds, horn, bell, and more
  • Operates on both DC and DCC layouts

DC/DCC ready locomotives also feature

  • Operates on DC layouts
  • DCC ready with Next18 connector

 

Order Due Date: December 14, 2020

Anticipated Delivery Date: July 2021

 

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$294.99 US