Athearn Genesis HO GEN AC4400CW Locomotive w/DCC & Sound, SP #146
PROTOTYPE AND BACKGROUND INFO:
Introduced by GE in 1993 and built until 2004, when it was replaced by the Evolution Series Tier II compliant model, the AC4400CW is a staple of modern railroading. 2,834 examples were built with many still plying the rails in their as-delivered configurations or as rebuilt variations. Many Class 1, regional, and foreign railroads purchased the AC4400CWs. Ownership spanned the North American Continent and with their long lives, have seen numerous paint scheme variations and ownership changes through the years. The AC4400CW went through a large number of changes during its production. Some are easily noticeable; early units being delivered with GE’s Hi-Adhesion Trucks, while later units that had the option for newly developed GE Steerable Truck. Other details are smaller and takes a careful eye to see; the addition of a door stop, how the step wells are reinforced, or the number and positioning of panels and doors.
Athearn has captured all these details thorough research and precision tooling to reproduce dozens of variations. The newly tooled Genesis AC4400CW takes its reign as the new flagship model for Athearn.
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, protofreelancing, 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?”
MODEL FEATURES:
- 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
- LED lighting adjusted to lifelike settings
- Illuminated number boards
- Illuminated ground lighting above front truck (where applicable)
- Illuminated front and rear walkway lights
- Illuminated marker lights (where applicable)
- Etched, see-through walkway steps
- Animated roller bearing caps
- Coupler cut levers
- Flexible rubber MU hoses for durability
- Flexible rubber trainline hose
- See-through cab windows
- Full cab interior
- Walkway tread
- Fine-scale Celcon handrails for scale appearance
- Windshield wipers
- Lift rings
- Wire grab irons
- Detailed fuel tank with fuel fillers, fuel gauges, & breather pipes
- Sander lines
- Brass horns correct to the prototype
- McHenry® scale knuckle couplers - Kadee compatible
- 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
- Heavy die-cast frame for greater traction and more pulling power
- Packaging securely holds model for safe storage
- Minimum radius: 18” — Recommended radius: 22”
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
- 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
ROAD NUMBER SPECIFIC FEATURES:
- #136 In service replacement engine compartment doors: “CCSX” conductor’s side; “CSXX” engineer’s side, Hi-adhesion trucks
- #136 As-delivered YN3; PTC skate parts included for later-era modeling; steerable trucks; double, jogged inverter cabinet handrail
- #591 As-delivered YN3; PTC skate parts included for later-era modeling; steerable trucks; double, jogged inverter cabinet handrail
- #107 Unique spare knuckle box on rear pilot
- #146 Daylight herald printed on inverter cabinet, unique spare knuckle box on rear pilot
- #212 Unique spare knuckle box on rear pilot
- #6344 Former SP unit, high number boards, Nathan P-3 horn, alternating flash ditch lights (effect in DCC), SP-style spare knuckle boxes on rear pilot
- #6715 Former CNW OLS units, low number boards, flag repaint, PTC antenna, white nose grabs, extended range dynamic brakes
- #6732 Former CNW OLS units, low number boards, non-flag repaint, PTC antenna, grey nose grabs, extended range dynamic brakes
CSX FEATURES:
- Front ditch lights
- Prime air dryer
- Low number boards
- Equipped with a CSX standard ‘tow-chain'
- Capacitor box behind inverter cabinet
DRGW FEATURES:
- Nathan P-3 horn
- High number boards
- Early body features
- Unevenly spaced rear grab irons
- Central air intake in forward position
- Early no-notch bolted on fuel tank
- Extended radiator hatch on engineer’s side
- Prime air dryer
- Vertical handrail behind invertor cabinet
- GE Hi-Adhesion trucks
- Modified outside struts on opposite sides of trucks
- Alternating flashing front ditch lights (Effect in DCC)
FXE FEATURES:
- 2025+ “Zebra” repaints
- Low number boards
- Late body features
- Steerable trucks
- Central air intake in rearward position
- Extended rage dynamic brakes
- Double, jogged inverter cabinet handrail
KCS FEATURES:
- Nathan K5LAR24 horn
- Late body features
- PTC antennas and GPS domes
- Late, notched fuel tank
- Central air intake moved rearward
- Fuel tank welded to frame
- Evenly spaced rear grab iron
- High number boards
- Extended Range Dynamic Brakes
- Electric air dryer
- GE steerable trucks
- Front and Rear ditch lights
- Two handrails above inverter cabinet
MRL FEATURES:
- Nathan P-3 horn
- High number boards
- Early body features
- Unevenly spaced rear grab irons
- Central air intake in forward position
- Early no-notch bolted on fuel tank
- Extended radiator hatch on engineer’s side
- Prime air dryer
- Vertical handrail behind invertor cabinet
- GE Hi-Adhesion trucks
- Modified outside struts on opposite sides of trucks
- Alternating flashing front ditch lights (Effect in DCC)
SP FEATURES:
- Nathan P-3 horn
- High number boards
- Early body features
- Unevenly spaced rear grab irons
- Central air intake in forward position
- Early no-notch bolted on fuel tank
- Extended radiator hatch on engineer’s side
- Prime air dryer
- Vertical handrail behind invertor cabinet
- GE Hi-Adhesion trucks
- Modified outside struts on opposite sides of trucks
- Alternating flashing front ditch lights (Effect in DCC)
TFM FEATURES:
- Low number boards
- Early body features
- Prime air dryer
- Steerable trucks
- Extended range dynamic brakes
- Central air intake in foreward position
UP FEATURES:
- GE - Hi-Adhesion trucks with late outside strut configuration
- Prime air dryers
- Central air intake in foreward position
- Single vertical inverter cabinet handrail
- Early body features