The HO scale General Electric (GE) P40DC diesel locomotive has returned to the Athearn product lineup. The Genesis-series model features a newly tooled body with cab-mounted strobe lights, a red emergency light, and other prototype-specific details.
The prototype
Our review sample is decorated as Amtrak P40DC No. 813, part of the passenger carrier’s 800 through 843 series. The full-size unit was built in June 1993. In Amtrak terminology, the locomotive was classified a Dash 8-40BP. The passenger diesel was also known as an AMD-103 (Amtrak Monocoque Diesel — 103 mph) and P40.
As delivered, the 813 was decorated in a variation of Amtrak’s phase 3 paint scheme consisting of Platinum Mist sides and ends, a Charcoal Gray roof, and red, white, and blue stripes. Silver dots and squares near the rear of the body made the stripes look like they’re rippling when the diesel is in motion. Later in its career the 813 was repainted in Amtrak’s phase 4 scheme.
After a decade of service, the 813 was stored dead in June 2003. The four-axle passenger unit was retired in October 2019 and sold to Larry’s Truck & Electric, a McDonald, Ohio-based company that scraps, rebuilds, leases, and resells diesel locomotives.
Model features
Athearn’s model of the 813 is detailed in its as-built configuration, with strobe lights and a red emergency light above the cab windows and a rear hostler window. Though the emergency light is wired, it’s not connected (and therefore non-functioning) in both the direct current and Digital Command Control (DCC) versions.
The manufacturer also offers its P40DC in Amtrak’s phase 5 scheme with a bolted nose, revised headlights, and no strobe or emergency lights. The rear hostler window is also removed.
The P40DC has an injection-molded plastic body with many factory-applied parts, including wire vertical handrails, plastic Sinclair and end-of-train device antennas, and a cast-metal five-chime air horn. The radiator exhaust grill is etched metal.
The model has a detailed cab interior that includes a floor, three seats, engineer and conductor cab consoles, and a rear wall. Crew figures aren’t included but would be easy to install.
A closer look
To separate the shell from the chassis, you need to remove two screws — one behind the front truck on the engineer’s side, the other in front of the rear truck on the conductor’s side. Wires for the strobe lights are connected to the printed-circuit board, so slide the shell off slowly.
A motor with dual flywheels is centered in the die-cast metal chassis. A plastic printed-circuit board mount above the motor supports the sound board (or motherboard and dummy plug on direct-current models). Sound-equipped models also include two 28mm round speakers, located above the front and rear trucks.
Underneath, the chassis includes factory-installed air tanks and pipes, air filters and dryer, and battery boxes. The front pilot on the P40DC is a separate part with a freestanding snow plow, uncoupling lever, and m.u. and trainline hoses.
The plastic Krupp-MAK truck sideframes include freestanding shock strut, brace, and Automatic Train Stop pickup shoe detail.
Performance
The P40DC we received is neatly decorated in the phase 3 scheme. The color separation lines are crisp, and the lettering placement matches prototype photos I found online. The model’s dimensions closely follow prototype drawings in the January 1994 Model Railroader.
I used an NCE Power Cab to test our sound-equipped P40DC. At step 1, the model moved at 5 scale mph. The passenger hauler hit 88 smph at step 28. The prototypes could run 110 mph. The speed range can be fine-tuned using configuration variables.
Then I took the Athearn model to our Milwaukee, Racine & Troy for testing in a layout environment. It pulled a passenger train between Troy and Williams Bay without issue. The four-axle unit pulled 10 Superliner cars up the 3 percent grade between Bay Junction and Skyridge.
The Athearn Genesis GE P40DC is a major leap forward from the blue box kit and Ready-to-Roll versions offered earlier. Improved paint, better details, and advanced lighting features make this passenger hauler look (and sound) more like its prototype counterpart.
Facts & features
Price: Direct-current model with 21-pin NEM connector, $209.99 to $219.99; with dual-mode SoundTraxx Tsunami 2 sound decoder, $309.99 to $319.99
Manufacturer
Athearn Trains
2904 Research Rd.
Champaign, IL 61822
Era: June 1993 to June 2003 (as decorated)
Road names: P40DC — Amtrak (phase 3 and 5 paint schemes). P42DC — Amtrak (phase 4 and Operation Lifesaver) and VIA Rail Canada (2015 repaint, “Love the Way,” and Poppy schemes). One to three numbers per scheme.
Features
- Correctly gauged metal wheels
- McHenry scale couplers, at correct height
- Minimum radius, 18”; recommended radius, 22”
- Weight: 1 pound, 7.4 ounces
