PROTOTYPE AND BACKGROUND INFO:

In 1966, EMD updated its locomotive catalog with entirely new models, all powered by the new 645 diesel engine. The SD40 had 3,000 hp from a turbocharged V16. 856 examples of this locomotive model were built for American railroads, 330 were built for Canadian railroads, and 72 were built for Mexican railroads.

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SD40 LOCOMOTIVE FEATURES:

• Photo-etched stainless steel windshield wipers
• Fully assembled and ready-to-run
• Separately applied wire grab irons
• Separately applied air tanks
• Coupler cut levers
• Rubber MU hoses
• Fine scale handrails molded in engineering plastic
• Non-sound version features 21-pin NEM DCC plug
• See-through dynamic brake and radiator fans
• Curved radiator fan grab iron
• Exhaust stack
• Frame mounted bell (unless noted)
• Detailed 4,000 gallon fuel tank (unless different capacity is noted)
• Flexicoil-C trucks with high or low brake cylinders (per prototype)
• McHenry scale knuckle spring couplers
• See through cab windows
• Bi-directional LED lighting
• All-wheel drive with precision gears for smooth and quiet operation
• All-wheel electrical pickup
• 5-pole motor with flywheels and multi-link drivetrain for trouble-free operation
• Wheels with RP25 contours operate on all popular brands of track
• Window packaging for easy viewing
• Highly-detailed, injection molded body
• Painted and printed for realistic decoration
• Fully assembled and ready-to-run
• Minimum radius: 18”
• Recommended radius: 22”

SOUND-EQUIPPED MODELS ALSO FEATURE

• Onboard DCC decoder with SoundTraxx Econami sound
• Single cube speaker for optimal sound quality
• Sound units operate in both DC and DCC
• Engine, horn, and bell sounds work in DC
• Some functions are limited in DC
• All functions NMRA compatible in DCC mode
• Effect lighting (if applicable) using F5 and/or F6
• Excellent low-speed operation
• 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

PRIMED FOR GRIME MODELS FEATURE

• Duplicated look and feel of “In Service” equipment
• Faded base colors matched to the prototype
• Perfect starting point for adding grime and rust

Union Pacific

Union Pacific made many changes to the painting and lettering of its locomotives throughout the years. These changes were made for a variety of reasons: to decrease cost, facilitate locomotive identification, or increase safety.

A major change came in 1984, when the aluminum color that had been specified for locomotive trucks since 1953 was changed to Harbor Mist Grey. This was done because the cost to paint the entire merged MP locomotive fleet was deemed to be too high.

These SD40s are decked out with their grey trucks, white handrail verticals, and large cab numbers, making them ideal mid-1980s power.

UP FEATURES:

• RS3L horn
• Strobe on cab roof (flash effect on DCC/sound version)
• Plain pilots
• Flexicoil low-brake trucks
• FARR radiator grills

Looking for more Athearn EMD (Electro-Motive Division) SD-40 Diesel Locomotives? Click here!