Athearn #G65256 SD60E w/DCC & Sound NS #6985

NS FEATURES Cab mounted PTC antenna array NS designed snow plow Slotted style blower duct kick plate Prototypical cab panel louver arrangement Front or rear ditch lights (depending on direction of travel) alternate when horn is blown on DCC/Sound versions NS “Horsehead” cutouts on blower duct kick plate per prototype #6904 Roof mounted Sinclair antenna Rebuilt fuel tank #6985 PTC antenna array roof Rebuilt fuel tank #7019 PTC antenna array roof EMD fuel tank LOCOMOTIVE FEATURES Fully-assembled and ready-to-run LED lighting including Headlights Illuminated deck mounted ditchlights front and rear Numberboards Ground lights above front trucks Long hood mounted Nathan 5-chime air horn Sunshades Rounded or rectangular cab windows per prototype Flexible rubber multiple unit (MU) hoses with silver glad hands Flexible rubber front and rear trainline air hose with silver glad hands Step wells feature seperately applied individual see through photo-etch steps Coupler cut levers with loops Anticlimbers Safety tread on the walkways Anti-glare panel painted on the nose Factory applied photo-etch windshield wipers & lift rings See through and tinted cab windows Detailed and painted cab interior with control stand display screens detailed crew seats See-through radiator fans Factory installed wire grab irons Fine-scale handrails for scale appearance Underframe mounted E-bell HT-C trucks with Timken bearings DCC-ready features Quick Plug™ plug-and-play technology with 21-pin connector McHenry scale knuckle spring couplers 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 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 Bidirectional 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 sound Frame-mounted high-fidelity 1” premium speaker 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 Excellent slow speed control Operating lighting functions with F5 and/or F6 (Flashing ditch lights beacon etc) 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 HISTORY Beginning in early 2010 NS SD60 #6653 entered the Juniata shops in Altoona PA as what would be the first of 240 planned units of the SD60E Capital Rebuild Program for Norfolk Southern. Following in August the same year SD60s #6567 & #6576 were retired and destined for the SD60E program that was planned to continue through 2019. Mechanically the original prime mover a 16-cylinder 710G3 remained but was thoroughly rebuilt to 710G3B specs and rerated to 4000 horsepower. The original shaft-driven air compressor was replaced with a new motor-driven compressor. All-new electrical cabinets and wiring coupled with EMD’s EM2000 microprocessor controls was installed along with D99BTR traction motors. A new split-cooling system helps the SD60E meet Tier 0+ emission requirements and reduce fuel consumption by an estimated 5% as compared to an older SD60 model.The SD60E’s tractive effort is rated at 109000 pounds while an un-rebuilt SD60 is rated at 96320-100000 pounds. Externally while most of the SD60’s carbody remained intact the program included the installation of a completely new cab offering crews better crash protection. The original SD60 cab weighs 3800 pounds compared to 12500 pounds for the new cab. A more spacious work environment is available with the new cab of the SD60E. This cab was designed by NS with input from outside consultants and train crews. Fabricated by Curry Railroad Supply a local vendor it looks unlike anything else on U.S. rails with its pronounced numberboard/headlight housing and flat front with a centered cab door. The first unit was finally released for service on November 15 2010 carrying road number 6900. In March 2011 6901 was released followed by 6902 in June of that year. These three units gave NS mechanical personnel valuable feedback as the units toured the system enduring “real life” testing. In March 2012 the fourth SD60E emerged from Juniata as one of the 12 units initially funded for the program. But the pace of the remanufacturing process picked up as initial teething problems were addressed. The units soon met the carrier’s expectations and began entering revenue service on a regular basis.