Dear HO Scale Customers;

Athearn is excited to announce New EMD SD-40 Diesel Locomotives

Western Maryland (Chessie System)

Western Maryland operated 12 SD40 units. This offering is from the #7470 – 7474 group built in August of 1966. In 1972 the units were renumbered as #7570 – 7574 and conveyed to the Chessie System. Known for the flashy paint scheme, the Chessie System continues to be popular with many railfans.

 

WM FEATURES:

• 4,000-gallon fuel tank
• Leslie 3-Chime horn
• Nose mounted ratchet brake
• Standard EMD plow on each pilot
• Extended-range dynamic brakes

 

ROAD NUMBER SPECIFIC FEATURES:

• #7571 Slotted battery box doors
• #7572 Standard battery box doors
• #7573 Slotted battery box doors

 

Conrail

Formed in 1976 to take over the operations of several insolvent eastern railroads, Conrail featured an extensive variety of motive power. Their inherited SD40s had a long service life, serving in both the mountain regions and water level routes.

 

CR FEATURES:

• 4,000-gallon fuel tank
• Leslie 3-Chime horn
• Standard battery box doors
• Standard EMD plow
• Extended-range dynamic brakes
• Rear mounted brakewheel

 

ROAD NUMBER SPECIFIC FEATURES:

• #6277 Ex-PC, Built in 1971, with dynamic brake T-Vent
• #6285 Ex-CNJ Exx-BO, Built 1967, without dynamic T-Vent
• #6287 Ex-CNJ Exx-BO, Built 1967, without dynamic T-Vent

 

Southern

The Southern maintained a fleet of 31 SD40’s #3170 - 3200, built in 1971 and 1972. Southern and N&W were the only railroads to order high-nosed SD40s. These prototype locomotives were configured to have the long hood designated as the front. Many of these units were conveyed to the Norfolk Southern in 1982.

 

SOU FEATURES:

• 4,000-gallon fuel tank
• Hose trays on each pilot
• Extended-range dynamic brakes
• Long hood mounted brakewheel
• Long hood forward operation
• Leslie 3-Chime horn on each hood
• Standard battery box doors

 

EMD SD40G Diesel Locomotive

Burlington Northern

These former Missouri Pacific locomotives were leased to the BN after being rebuilt by GATX in early 1989. After rebuilding, they were given the SD40G designation by GATX. These models are unique, featuring a white face and GATX lettering on each side.

 

BN FEATURES:

• 4,000-gallon fuel tank
• Leslie 3-Chime horn
• Standard battery box doors
• Spare knuckles on rear pilot
• Standard EMD plow
• Extended-range dynamic brakes
• Rear mounted brakewheel

 

EMD SD40R Diesel Locomotive

Illinois Central

IC #6000 - 6005 were originally built for the Illinois Central in late 1967. Later orders boosted the total IC SD40 count to 24 units. After the IC merged with the GM&O in 1972, the IC units teamed up with 21 units from the GM&O to form a sizable SD40 fleet for the newly created Illinois Central Gulf (ICG). During 1988, ICG dropped the “Gulf” from its name and again became the Illinois Central Railroad. As the SD40 fleet aged, many of them were rebuilt.

 

IC FEATURES:

• 4,000-gallon fuel tank
• Nathan 5-Chime horn
• Standard battery box doors
• Spare knuckles on rear pilot
• Standard EMD plow
• Non-dynamic brakes
• Rear mounted brakewheel

 

ROAD NUMBER SPECIFIC FEATURES:

• #6001 Sinclair antenna, without cab air conditioner
• #6003 Firecracker antenna, cab air conditioner
• #6005 Firecracker antenna, cab air conditioner

 

EMD SD40M-2 Diesel Locomotive

Morrison Knudsen

In the early 1970s, Morrison Knudsen began rebuilding locomotives, including many EMD products, some wearing this attractive paint scheme. Their original shop was in Boise, Idaho.

 

MKCX FEATURES:

• 4,000-gallon fuel tank
• Leslie 3-Chime horn
• Standard battery box doors
• Standard EMD plow
• Extended-range dynamic brakes
• Rear mounted brakewheel

 

ROAD NUMBER SPECIFIC FEATURES:

• #9046 Ex-KCS 634, Built in 1971, designated as a SD40M-2
• #9047 Ex-KCS 614, Built in 1968, designated as a SD40M-2

 

 

PROTOTYPE SPECIFIC INFORMATION

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:

• LED lighting
• Photo-etched stainless steel windshield wipers
• Separately applied wire grab irons and air tanks
• Curved radiator fan grab iron
• Coupler cut levers
• Rubber MU hoses
• See through cab windows, dynamic brake and radiator fans
• Fine scale handrails molded in engineering plastic
• Exhaust stack
• Frame mounted bell (unless noted)
• Detailed 4000 gallon fuel tank (unless different capacity is noted)
• Flexicoil-C trucks with high or low brake cylinders (per prototype)
• McHenry scale knuckle couplers – Kadee compatible
• All-wheel drive with precision gears for smooth & quiet operation
• All-wheel electrical pickup provides reliable current flow
• DCC-ready features Quick Plug plug-and-play technology with 21-pin NEM connector
• Improved 5-pole skew wound can motor with flywheels and multi-link drivetrain
• Wheels with RP25 contours operate on all popular brands of track
• Highly-detailed, injection molded body
• Interior plastic blister safely holds the model for convenient storage
• 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
• Operating lighting functions with 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

 

 

Order Due Date: May 2, 2025

Anticipated Delivery Date: December 2026

 

Looking for more Athearn EMD SD-40 Diesel Locomotives? Click here!

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