Detailed Information from the Athearn Website:
PROTOTYPE SPECIFIC INFORMATION – EMD SD40-2
The EMD SD40-2 diesel locomotive was introduced in January 1972 as part of EMD’s highly successful Dash 2 series, developed in response to competitive offerings from GE and ALCO. Known for its exceptional reliability, versatility, and ease of maintenance, the 3,000-horsepower SD40-2 quickly became the best-selling locomotive model in EMD history and remained an industry standard for decades.
Building upon the earlier SD40 design, the SD40-2 featured modular electronic control systems derived from experimental locomotives such as the SD45X and DDA40X. These improvements resulted in enhanced performance, simplified servicing, and long-term durability. The final SD40-2 units delivered to U.S. railroads were produced in July 1984, with additional production for Canadian railroads continuing through 1988.
ATHEARN HO SCALE SD40-2 LOCOMOTIVE FEATURES
Flexible rubber MU hoses for enhanced durability
Flexible rubber trainline hose
See-through cab windows for added realism
Coupler cut levers
Wire grab irons
Accurately detailed exhaust stack
See-through dynamic brake and radiator fans
Frame-mounted bell (unless noted)
Highly detailed fuel tank with fuel fillers, gauges, and breather pipes
Separately applied air tanks
Fine-scale Celcon handrails for accurate scale appearance
Photo-etched stainless steel windshield wipers
LED-illuminated front and rear headlights, ditch lights, and beacons (as applicable to prototype)
DCC-ready non-sound versions equipped with 21-pin NEM DCC plug
McHenry® operating scale knuckle couplers
All-wheel drive with precision gearing for smooth, quiet operation
All-wheel electrical pickup for reliable current flow
5-pole motor with precision-machined flywheels and multi-link drivetrain
RP25 contour wheels compatible with all popular HO scale track systems
Bi-directional LED lighting for realistic operation
Heavy die-cast metal frame for increased traction and pulling power
Scaled from prototype drawings, field measurements, photographs, and reference data
Accurately painted and printed prototype paint schemes
Secure packaging designed for safe storage and transport
Fully assembled, ready-to-run HO scale locomotive
Minimum radius: 18″ (Recommended radius: 22″)
SOUND-EQUIPPED MODELS ALSO FEATURE
Factory-installed onboard DCC decoder with SoundTraxx Econami digital sound
Single cube speaker optimized for clear, powerful sound output
Sound-equipped locomotives operate on both DC and DCC layouts
Engine, horn, and bell sounds function in DC mode
Some sound and lighting functions are limited when operating in DC
All functions fully NMRA compliant in DCC mode
Effect lighting (where applicable) controlled via F5 and/or F6 functions
Excellent low-speed performance for switching and yard operations
Multiple-unit (MU) lashups programmable with lead unit horn, bell, and lighting only
Extensive customization available through Configuration Variable (CV) programming
CV reference chart included in the box
