Introduction

Athearn Genesis G65523 HO EMD GP39-2 Reading RDG 3401

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 its 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.

RDG FEATURES:

• Reading style cab roof rain gutter
• 2900 gallon fuel tank
• Cab wind deflectors
• Ratchet style hand brake
• Electrical cabinet door on engineers side

In 1974 Reading received 20 GP39-2s from EMD. During their short careers on the Reading these 2300 HP, 12-cylinder turbocharged units were used system wide in all types of service, including coal and ore trains, hot shot freights and locals.

LOCOMOTIVE FEATURES:

• All units are powered
• Heavy die-cast frame for greater traction and more pulling power
• DCC-ready features Quick Plug plug-and-play technology with both 21-pin connector (DCC-Ready only)
• Factory installed SoundTraxx Tsunami2 sound and DCC decoder (DCC+sound units only)
• Tsunami sounds are compatible with both DCC and DC operation (DCC+sound units only)
• Genesis driveline with balanced five pole skew wound motor and dual flywheels
• Directional constant lighting-featuring LEDs; headlight brightness remains constant
• Scaled from prototype resources including drawings, field measurements, photographs, and more
• Separately applied photo etched metal and injection molded detail parts:
• Cab interior
• Coupler cut levers
• MU and Trainline hoses
• Windshield wipers
• Lift rings
• Wire grab irons
• Sander lines
• Detailed fuel tank with fuel fillers, fuel gauges, breather pipes, and retention tanks
• Body mounted McHenry scale knuckle couplers – Kadee compatible
• 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
• Detailed Blomberg-B trucks with prototype-specific wheel bearings
• Replacement parts available
• Minimum radius: 18

SPECIFICATIONS:

• DCC: Ready/21-Pin NEM
• SOUND: Ready
• PROTOTYPE MANUFACTURER: EMD
• Axles: 4
• LIGHTED: LED Lighting
• Minimum Age Recommendation: 14 years
• Is Assembly Required: No