Athearn RTR 71500 – EMD SD39 Southern Pacific (SP) 5298 – HO Scale

SP FEATURES: 

• By the end of the SP in the mid 90’s, a small handful of SD39’s were used around the LA area, known as “LA Basin Haulers”. They were used for heavy switching duties between Long Beach and West Colton, sometimes venturing off to other areas. Two of the numbers offered (5296 and 5298) were renumbered units to avoid conflict with similar numbered Rio Grande SD45’s. They were assigned UP numbers, but were all retired before they could be renumbered. All 3 numbers feature unique faded paint and lettering effect per unit number, working beacon with DCC, large ballast boxes, removed gyralights, modified L-Window cab, rear brake wheel, roof mounted bell, large front plow, and P-3 horn. 

ROAD NUMBER SPECIFIC FEATURES: 

#5296

• Ex SP 5315
• hi-brake mounted trucks
• early inertial grills
• faded to red lettering effect
• patched numbers

#5298

• Ex SP 5317
• hi/low brake mounted trucks
• late inertial grills
• faded white lettering effect
• patched numbers

#5316

• Still in it’s original number
• hi-brake mounted trucks
• late inertial grills
• faded white to red lettering effect

SD39 SERIES LOCOMOTIVE FEATURES: 

• Separately applied air tanks
• Coupler cut levers
• Rubber MU hoses
• Photo-etch stainless steel windshield wipers
• Fine scale handrails
• Non-sound version features 21-pin NEM DCC plug
• See-through dynamic brake and radiator fans
• Curved radiator fan grab iron
• Exhaust stack
• Frame-mounted bell (unless noted)
• Detailed 4000 gallon fuel tank (unless different capacity is noted)
• Flexicoil-C trucks with high or low brake cylinders (per prototype)
• McHenry^® scale knuckle spring couplers
• See-through cab windows
• Bi-directional LED lighting
• All-wheel drive with precision gears for smooth and quiet operation
• All-wheel electrical pickup
• 5-pole motor with flywheels and multi-link drivetrain for trouble-free operation
• Wheels with RP25 contours operate on all popular brands of track
• Painted and printed for realistic decoration
• Highly-detailed, injection molded body
• Minimum radius: 18″
• Recommended radius: 22″

PRIMED FOR GRIME MODELS FEATURE:

• Duplicated look and feel of “In Service”equipment
• Faded base colors matched to the prototype
• Perfect starting point for adding grime and rust

PROTOTYPE SPECIFIC INFORMATION

In 1966, EMD updated its locomotive catalog with entirely new models, all powered by the new 645 diesel engine. The SD39 had 2,300 hp from a turbocharged V12. The SD39 had the smallest prime mover of the SD locomotives in the EMD catalog. 54 were built for American railroads.

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