HO GP40-2L Locomotive, Guilford/MEC #518

MEC FEATURES:

• Nathan K3L horn with air line
• Two Sinclair Antennas
• Blomberg-M trucks
• High MU Stands
• Operating ditch lights
• First time in Genesis for the Guilford scheme with yellow reflectors

Founded in 1981, Guilford Transportation Industries looked to form a railroad company by acquiring some of the various bankrupt roads in the Northeast. The Maine Central was acquired first, followed by the B&M and the D&H. The Guilford roster was a veritable rolling museum, featuring such oddities as ex-MEC U18Bs, former ATSF SD26s, and former NW / ITC SD39s. Some of the more reliable units on the roster were a group of former CN GP40-2Ls, numbered in the 500 series and acquired in the early 2000s. Since then, the Guilford name has ceased to exist, being replaced in 2006 by Pan Am Railways, and most recently, CSX- yet some of the Guilford-painted GP40-2Ls continue on in service, wearing their 20+ year old paint jobs.

GP40-2 LOCOMOTIVE FEATURES:

• Coupler cut levers
• Trainline and MU hoses
• Drop steps unless noted
• MU stands
• “Nub” style walkway tread
• Windshield wipers
• Lift rings
• Wire grab irons
• Walkway tread
• Sanding lines
• Lit number boards
• Lit class lights, if equipped
• Lit signal lights and/or beacons, if equipped
• Bell placement & type per prototype
• Detailed fuel tank with fuel fillers, fuel gauges, and breather pipes
• Blomberg-B or Blomberg-M trucks with appropriate bearing caps
• Speed recorder unless noted
• See-through cab windows and full cab interior
• Fine-scale Celcon handrails for scale appearance
• Etched metal fan grilles
• Air tanks mounted below sill unless noted
• Body-mounted 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
• Minimum radius: 18”

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

LEGENDARY LIVERIES

What are Legendary Liveries? An Athearn exclusive, they are the ultimate answer to “What if?” Featuring some of the most popular railroad paint schemes of all time, these models are perfect for collecting, proto-freelancing, or just plain fun! Whether company proposed paint schemes, canceled locomotive orders, or alternate takes on history, Legendary Liveries are fun and unique additions to any roster. Enjoy these items, and answer the ultimate railroad question of: “What if?”

SOUND-EQUIPPED MODELS ALSO FEATURE

• Onboard DCC decoder with SoundTraxx Tsunami2 sound
• Dual cube speakers for optimal sound quality
• Sound units operate in both DC and DCC
• Full DCC functions available when operated in DCC mode
• 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

PROTOTYPE SPECIFIC INFORMATION

By the early 1970s, many first generation diesels were reaching the end of their service lives. One of the most common replacement locomotives became the GP40-2. EMD began production of the 16-cylinder, turbocharged, 3000 horsepower engines in 1972. These locomotives were developed for service where higher horsepower and faster service were preferable. A major feature for the GP40-2 was the introduction of the “dash 2” modular electrical cabinet. For more than 40 years, the GP40-2 has worked main line freights, locals, switching jobs, yard service, and helper service. Many remain in service today.