Introduction

Athearn Genesis G8522 HO Scale EMD SD60 Diesel Union Pacific (Flag) UP 2442 DCC Sound

In 1984, EMD unveiled the first four SD60 demonstrator units. The SD60 was equipped with a 3,800 horsepower, 16 cylinder, turbocharged 710 engine. Five years later, EMD began offering the SD60 with the “safety” wide nose cab, thus creating the SD60M. Union Pacific was the first to acquire the SD60M followed by Burlington Northern, Soo Line, and Conrail. Conrail also ordered SD60I “isolated cab” versions. BN’s SD60M’s went to BNSF while Conrail’s units were split between Norfolk Southern and CSX.

During the traffic crunch of World War II, ten more 4-8-4s of class FEF-3, numbers 835 through 844, were acquired. The FEF-3 boiler was slightly longer than the FEF-2; plus, the FEF-3 featured double exhaust stacks, cast pilots and cabinets on the tender. Within six months of delivery, they were fitted with “elephant ear” smoke deflectors. Several FEF-3s also received triple exhaust stacks.

All of the 4-8-4s were converted to burn oil after the Second World War. They also wore two-tone gray paint from April 1946 until the mid-1950s. While UP streamliners were all diesel powered, the FEFs worked the secondary trains such as the Pony Express and Overland as well as mail trains. At the time, those trains were usually quite long and consisted of heavyweight cars, requiring all of the power the FEFs could deliver.

Instead of retiring FEF-3 844 in the early 1960s, UP kept it for excursion service and renumbered it to 8444 to allow GP30 844 into the system by 1962. From the mid-1950s until 1987, FEF-3 8444 was painted in the black paint scheme. In September 1987, it was repainted into the two-tone gray scheme with yellow stripe and lettering. After returning to Cheyenne from the Los Angeles Union Station 50th Anniversary celebration in June 1989, FEF-3 8444 was renumbered back to 844. The two-tone gray paint lasted until September 1991.

Included in this run of UP SD60M’s are both early and current versions. These locomotives were used in just about every service, hauling coal and fast intermodel, to drag freights and locals. As of a few years ago, a small batch were taken out of retirement, repainted and sent back out to work.

FEATURES:

• Large EMD plow
• Front ditch lights
• Nose headlights
• #2442
• Post 2018 repaints with flag and wings scheme
• Yellow sill
• Modern PTC antenna setup
• Nathan M-3 horn
• Detailed fuel tank with fuel fillers, fuel gauges, & breather pipes
• McHenry scale knuckle couplers – Kadee compatible
• DCC-ready features Quick Plug plug-and-play technology with 21-pin NEM connector
• Scaled from prototype resources including drawings, field measurements, photographs, and more
• Accurately painted and printed paint schemes
• Genesis driveline with 5-pole skew wound motor, precision machined flywheels, and multi-link drivetrain
• All-wheel drive with precision gears for smooth & quiet operation
• All-wheel electrical pickup provides reliable current flow
• Wheels with RP25 contours operate on all popular brands of track
• LED Lighting for realistic appearance
• Heavy die-cast frame for greater traction and more pulling power
• Packaging securely holds for the model for safe storage
• Fully-assembled and ready-to-run
• Replacement parts available
• Minimum radius: 18″

SOUND EQUPPED MODELS ALSO FEATURE

• Onboard DCC decoder with SoundTraxx Tsunami2 sound
• Sound units operate in both DC and DCC
• Engine, horn, and bell sounds work in DC
• 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