Craig Walker Photo.

UP 6914 leads a ‘Fast Forty’ and sister Centennial through Cajon Pass with a TOFC train. Prototype photo shown for reference; specific models details will vary based on prototype and operating era.

PROTOTYPE AND BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Built by EMD exclusively for Union Pacific between 1969 & 1971, the DDA40X Centennial locomotives were the modern equivalent of the railroad’s famed Big Boy steam locomotives. These massive 98-foot double-engine diesels were UP’s mainstay hotshot power for a decade until they were sidelined by the recession of the early 1980’s. They had one last hurrah in 1984-85 when 25 of the them were returned to service for about a year to help relieve a power shortage. These units go great with Union Pacific ‘Fast Forties’ SD40-2s (ATH71202, ATH72103, ATH72104, ATH72105), also announced this month!

Athearn has upgraded the Genesis DDA40X to Genesis 2.0 standards and will be offering them in several versions including — for the first time — one of the two air raid siren-equipped versions. We are offering versions representing the full spectrum of changes across their service lives. Some of the features include smoke lifters, strobe lights, beacons, different horn locations, early and late electrical cabinets and early and late anti-climbers. Concurrent with this release we are announcing a new run of RTR UP’s 8000 series “Fast 40” SD40-2’s (ATH71202, ATH72103, ATH72104, ATH72105), which were commonly seen operating with the Centennials in high speed freight service.

Back by popular demand: Union Pacific DDA40X #6936. This month’s offering will come with a yellow frame stripe. This run will feature many refinements over previous versions, including Tsunami2 sound, dual cube speakers for unparalled audio fidelity, lit number boards and class lights, ground lights, LEDs, and rubber MU hoses!

Union Pacific DDA40X FEATURES:

• Era-appropriate horns and locations per prototype

• New LED lighting, including ground effect and class lights

• Functioning beacons (where appropriate)

• New rubber MU hoses

• Lit number boards

• Etched see-through ladder steps

• Two premium Genesis motors for unparalleled tractive effort

• Sound models equipped with dual cube speakers

• 16-wheel eletrical pickup and drive

ROAD NUMBER SPECIFIC FEATURES:

• #6905 & 6910 Early anti-climbers and electrical cabinets, smoke lifters, three-line shield with full ‘Union Pacific Railroad’ text

• #6911 & 6907 Patched logo, early anti-climbers, early electrical cabinets

• #6927 & 6943 Late anti-climbers, late electrical cabinets, beacon, cab-mounted horns, two-line UP shield.

• #6918 Cab-mounted dual strobe lights, two-line UP shield, late anti-climbers, early electrical cabinets

• #6924 Air raid siren, cab-mounted beacon, late anti-climbers, early electrical cabinet

• #6936 Union Pacific preserved heritage service unit, ditch lights, yellow frame stripe, cab-mounted strobe, late anti-climbers, late electrical cabinet

Order Due Date: September 25, 2020

Anticipated Delivery Date: September 2021

Looking for more Athearn Genesis HO Scale Diesel Locomotives? Click here!

Looking for more Athearn Genesis HO Scale items? Click here!