Athearn G63705 – HO SDP45 w/DCC & Sound, GN #332

Athearn G63705 – HO SDP45 w/DCC & Sound, GN #332

GN Features:

• As-built GN-version SDP45
• Carbody with correct walkway light placement for water fill step-ups
• Correct placement of walkway water fills • Great Northern signboards mounted on the handrails
• GN-version steam generator hatch and exhaust • EMD low snowplow with steam line door
• Early “straight” coupler cut levers
• 4-hose MU hose clusters
• Boiler water transfer hoses front and rear
• Front short MU stand
• Illuminated Western-Cullen beacon effect with DCC+Sound
• No sunshades
• Leslie S3LR air horn
• Firecracker antenna
• Standard-range dynamic brake
• Winterization hatch
• Rear pilot mounted MU receptacle
• 5000 gallon fuel + water tank
• Flexicoil-C Trucks with high/low brake cylinders and Hyatt bearings
• Dual end sanding lines

The Great Northern Railway purchased eight SDP45s in 1967 to replace F-units on the Empire Builder. Normally paired back-to-back, they were also used singly leading F-units. These joined six smaller SDP40 locomotives ordered in 1966 for the Western Star. After the startup of Amtrak in 1971, Great Northern Railway successor Burlington Northern Railroad converted all fourteen SDP locomotives to freight service.

Locomotive Features:

• Safety tread on walkways
• Fine-scale handrails for scale appearance
• Factory applied wire grab irons
• Windshield wipers
• See through cab windows
• Detailed and painted cab interior
• Sliding side cab windows
• Metal lift rings
• Fully-assembled and ready-to-run
• DCC-ready features Quick Plug™ plug-and-play technology with a 21-pin NEM connector
• Scaled from prototype resources including drawings, photographs, and more
• Accurately painted and printed paint schemes
• Body mounted McHenry operating scale knuckle couplers
• Genesis driveline with 5-pole skew wound motor, precision machined flywheels, and multi-link drivetrain for trouble free operation
• All-wheel drive with precision gears for smooth and quiet operation
• All-wheel electrical pickup provides reliable current flow
• Wheels with RP25 contours operate on all popular brands of track
• New LEDs for realistic appearance
• Bi-directional constant lighting so headlight brightness remains constant
• Heavy die-cast frame for greater traction and more pulling power
• Packaging securely holds for the model for safe storage
• Minimum radius: 18”
• Recommended radius: 22”

Sound Equipped Models Also Feature:

• Onboard DCC decoder with SoundTraxx Tsunami2 decoder
• Sound units operate in both DC and DCC
• Some functions are limited in DC
• Engine, horn, and bell sounds work in DC
• All functions NMRA compatible in DCC mode
• 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 Information:

In the 1960s, railroads were looking to replace aging EMD E-units and Alco PAs for passenger service. EMD responded by adding a steam generator compartment to the long hood end of their SD45. This required a longer frame and resulted in the creation of the SDP45. Three railroads originally purchased SDP45s: Southern Pacific, Great Northern, and Erie Lackawanna. Over the decades, the SDP45s were then acquired by other railroads through mergers, leasing companies, and rebuild programs.

Specs:

DCC: Equipped
Sound: Tsunami2
Prototype Manufacturer: EMD
Axles: 6
Lighted: LED Lighting
Minimum Age Recommendation: 14 years
Is Assembly Required: No