Facing growing competition from the larger "Dash 7s" of General Electric, EMD pushed its 16-cylinder 645 engine to its max. The 3500 horsepower SD50 produced nearly the same horsepower output as the SD45 but with a power plant 20% smaller. Although the front of the locomotives didn't change much in appearance, a longer frame and hood allowed rearrangement of the dynamic brakes and produced a long, sleek, and imposing design. With its engine pressed to its limits, operating problems plagued the SD50s. Despite being delivered to 12 railroads, production would last less than 5 years. In 1986 the new SD60 replaced the earlier model in a very similar car body but with an all-new engine. It would be the building block for the next generation of EMD power. Despite the early problems, many railroads rebuilt and tuned the SD50s into reliable power which would serve well for decades to come. In the past 10 years, more extensive rebuilds have kept fleets running for second, third or even fourth owners. You can still find them in service across the United States today looking as powerful and imposing as ever. Although there have been Lionel "stand ins" in the past, these new SD50s have been retooled to offer accurate long hood details as well as improved and different cab and short hood options, kinematic pilots and accurate trucks per road name. Internally, the models feature our LEGACY and Bluetooth control systems, RailSounds, fan-driven smoke and LED lighting, including ditch lights or Mars lights where appropriate. For even more audible awesomeness, add a SuperBass unit to capture the deep rich sounds of a large locomotive. SuperBass locos feature the same lighting and smoke effects as powered models but are not powered. From the 1980s to today, no layout should be without one of these beauties!
LEGACY® Control System equipped – able to run in LEGACY® Control mode, in TrainMaster® Command Control mode, or in Conventional mode with a standard transformer
Bluetooth® Control - Operate with Universal Remote or LionChief® App
Lionel Voice Control (LVC) - run your locomotive by speaking commands into your phone via LionChief® App
Odyssey® II Speed Control
IR Transmitter for SensorTrack™
Kinematic pilots for closer coupling on curves
Dual powerful maintenance-free motors with momentum flywheels
ElectorCoupler™ on front and rear
Traction tires
Refined Conventional Transformer Control mode with lower starting speeds
Fan-driven smoke unit
Adjustable smoke output
Directional lighting including LED headlights
Marker lights on front and rear
Illuminated number boards
Lighted cab interior
Die-cast trucks, pilot and fuel tank
Metal frame
High levels of separately applied metal details
Engineer and conductor figures
LEGACY® RailSounds® sound system featuring:
CrewTalk™ dialog with different scenarios depending on whether the locomotive is in motion or stopped
TrainSounds that mimic realistic radio chatter when the locomotive is in motion or stopped
Six official railroad speeds with CrewTalk dialog
Eight diesel RPM levels
LEGACY® "Real-Time Quilling Horn" control with instant response for realistic signature "quilling" and correctly timed warning signals
5 different horns to choose from for a more customized experience
Single hit or continuous mechanical bell sounds
5 levels of bell pitching for customized sounds
Sequence Control: Plays the sound effects of an entire trip, including warning sounds and announcements, based on the movement and speed of the locomotive
Current speed and fuel dialog, refueling sound effects
