Athearn Genesis - HO Scale - EMD SD-50 Diesel Locomotive - with DCC & Tsunami2 Sound - Denver & Rio Grande Western (D&RGW) #5510 - Black/Orange with Orange Lettering & Stripes (Era: 1984+) (SKU 141-1855)
Available On: December 1, 2025
PROTOTYPE SPECIFIC INFORMATION
EMD introduced the new 3,500 horsepower SD50 in May of 1981 as part of their planned “50 Series”. The SD50 was, in essence, a transition model of the 1970s era Dash 2 series of locomotive.
Originally produced by EMD as an immediate response to General Electric’s Dash 7 line of locomotives which were becoming more favorable with current roads—providing more competition for EMD. While EMD’s current SD40-2 model provided a reliable locomotive for most class 1 railroads at the time, GE Transportation was gaining more inroads with the 3,600hp Dash 7s. The Dash 7s boasted more modern technology and GE Transportation was providing competitive financing and maintenance programs to assist purchasers of their offerings. While EMD’s SD45 and SD45-2s - with their 3,600 horsepower were successful, the large 20-cylinder engines were not fuel-efficient. This lack of efficiency, alongside reported issues of reliability, caused many railroads to rethink their motive power provder. This was further magnified in the 1970s when the fuel crisis impacted general transportation as well as the railroad industry.
In May of 1981, EMD unveiled the new SD50 which would feature an updated version of the V16 645 from the venerable SD40-2, upgraded to 3,500 hp at 900rpm. The SD50 had a longer frame and much longer long hood than its predecessors. Other improvements came from moving the dynamic brake resistors for the dynamic brake grid from the traditional location above the prime mover to a cooler temperature location in front of the engine compartment air intakes, closer to the electrical switchgear. This, in turn, separated them from other systems, resulting in simplified maintenance for both the prime mover as well as the electrical system. A grand total of 426 units were produced when production ceased in Feb of 1986.
SD50 SERIES LOCOMOTIVE NEW FEATURES:
SOUND-EQUIPPED MODELS ALSO FEATURE
Denver & Rio Grande Western
The Denver and Rio Grande Western purchased 17 SD50s from EMD in the late summer of 1984. Built with Chessie System specs, these units were delivered with K5LA horns, “mail slot” battery boxes and hood-mounted bells however the gyralights D&RGW was so well known for were absent. Gyralights however were soon added to SD50 units #5501 – 5517 once officially on the property. Our models will include the familiar operating nose gyralights (DCC version only) and rerail frogs.
DRGW FEATURES:
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