Built in the late 1980s by GE, the DASH 8-40B diesel locomotives were identified by their dynamic brake gear located along the roof line between the cab and engine compartment, with ventilation provided by large roof-top grilles. These four-axle, high horsepower engines are still in service today in North America.

By the early 1990s the North American Cab had begun to replace the “standard” cab on regular production GE 4 and 6-axle locomotives. The only order for 4-axle Dash 8-40Bs with this new cab came from Santa Fe, and thus the Dash 8-40BW model was unique to that road. A total of 83 units total were built and many are still in service today for BNSF.

In 1991 Amtrak, faced with a motive power shortage, turned to GE for an order of 20 Dash 8-32BWH locomotives. This unique model was basi­cally a Dash 8-32B locomotive equipped with a North American Cab and built on the longer Dash 8-40BW frame. Some additional modifications for passenger service were included. A total of 20 units were built and they are still in Amtrak service today.

Features:

• Realistic die-cast underframe

• Standard cab or gull wing cab as per the prototype (HO DASH 8-40BW/8-32BHW only)

• Five-pole skewed armature motor with dual flywheels for optimum performance at all speeds

• Directional lighting

• Factory-equipped with AccuMate knuckle couplers

• Painted crew figures

• Separately-installed scale windshield wipers, metal grab irons and fine scale handrails

• Highly detailed coupler cut bars

• Multiple unit hoses and trainline hoses

• Snowplow, Shock absorbers, Piping on trucks

Silver Sound Ready

Atlas Silver Sound Ready models are equipped with a speaker for easy conversion to sound with the addition of a decoder.

Atlas Master Series Silver Additional Features:

• NMRA 21-pin plug for DCC (Decoder-ready)

Atlas Master Series Gold Features:

• ESU LokSound decoder, supporting all DCC programming modes.

• Flexible mapping of function keys F0 to F31.

• Follows all NMRA DCC standards and recommended practices.

• Over 20 sound effects are available, including engine start-up  and shutdown, prime mover sounds through all eight notches, bell,  air horn, air compressor and more.

During the early 1990s the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad executives were enamored with high speed 4-axle power. This resulted in large orders of GP60M and 8-40BW locomotives. These new units would be the face of Santa Fe’s rebranding going back to the “Super Fleet” image. All new Santa Fe road power locomotives built after 1990 received a new variation of the iconic warbonnet red and silver passenger service paint scheme. When Santa Fe placed their first order of 8-40BW locomotives they were extremely hungry for new power and opted to received 12 units painted in primer only to speed up delivery of the locomotives. These two Atlas Collector Series 8-40BW locomotives represent an alternate history scenario where the Santa Fe Topeka shop painted 2 of the 12 premier delivered locomotives in experimental yellow and blue bonnet paint schemes. In this alternate history scenario the Santa Fe top brass wanted to see how these 8-40BW locomotives would look in the classy yellow and blue bonnet schemes previously adorned by Santa Fe F7 locomotives after the formation of Amtrak. These Atlas Collector Series locomotives would make a great discussion piece and interesting addition to any Santa Fe enthusiast collection.