PROTOTYPE SPECIFIC INFORMATION

With the increase in available adhesion and tractive effort due to ACtraction technology, an unofficial horsepower race between the two dominant locomotive builders was on.

The SD80MAC was the first EMD locomotive to utilize a V20 engine since the SD45 series. For Conrail, the SD80MACs were the first AC-traction diesel locomotives on the roster. These locomotives became Conrail’s choice for handling long and heavy coal trains on their Pittsburgh and Boston Lines, also over their Allegheny Mountain routes in Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Virginia, and New York.

After the split-up of Conrail in 1999, the SD80MACs went to CSX Transportation, and Norfolk Southern. Eventually NS traded with CSX to acquire the remaining SD80MACs becoming the sole operator of these models to date.

SD80MAC SERIES LOCOMOTIVE FEATURES:

• Coupler cut levers
• Trainline hose
• Full cab interior
• Windshield wipers
• Wire grab irons
• MU hoses
• See-through cab windows
• Walkway tread
• Lift rings
• Sander lines
• Illuminated ground lights above front trucks, front and rear walkway lights, and number boards
• Etched, see-through walkway steps
• DCC-ready features Quick Plug plug-and-play technology with 21-pin NEM connector
• Fine-scale Celcon handrails for scale appearance
• Detailed fuel tank with fuel fillers, fuel gauges, & breather pipes
• Body-mounted McHenry operating scale knuckle couplers
• Genesis driveline with 5-pole skew wound motor, precision machined flywheels, and multi-link drivetrain for trouble free operation
• All-wheel drive with precision gears for smooth and quiet operation
• All-wheel electrical pickup provides reliable current flow
• Wheels with RP25 contours operate on all popular brands of track
• LED Lighting for trouble free operation
• Heavy die-cast frame for greater traction and more pulling power
• Scaled from prototype resources including drawings, field measurements, photographs, and more
• Accurately-painted and –printed paint schemes
• Packaging securely holds the model for safe storage
• Minimum radius: 18” — Recommended radius: 22”

SOUND-EQUIPPED MODELS ALSO FEATURE

• Onboard DCC decoder with SoundTraxx Tsunami2 sound
• Dual cube speakers for optimal sound quality
• Sound units operate in both DC and DCC
• Full DCC functions available when operated in DCC mode
• All functions NMRA compatible in DCC mode
• Precision slow speed control
• 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?”

Chessie System

Chessie was a big user of EMD power, and had purchased a sizeable group of SD50s prior to their merger into CSX in 1986.

If they had remained independent into the 90s, it’s possible that they would have looked for unit-reduction options for their coal trains, and followed in Conrail’s footsteps with their own SD80MACs.

Looking for more Athearn EMD (Electro-Motive Division) SD80MAC Diesel Locomotives? Click here!