Atlas N scale General Electric Dash 8-40B diesel is beautifully detailed

Atlas has released an N scale General Electric Dash 8-40B road diesel locomotive and it’s a beautifully detailed, fine-running model. From the exquisitely rendered m.u. cables on the front and rear pilots to the amber warning beacon atop the cab, this Dash 8-40B sets a high standard by which all other future mass-produced N scale diesels are likely to be judged.

GE introduced the 4,000-hp Dash 8-40B in April 1988 and intended it for high-speed intermodal trains. According to the Field Guide to Modern Diesel Locomotives (Kalmbach), GE delivered 151 standard-cab versions through May 1989. By this time North American railroads were turning to six-axle, higher-horsepower units that delivered greater tractive effort and higher speed as intermodal trains grew in size.

Dash 8-40B purchasers included the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe; Conrail; New York, Susquehanna & Western; and St. Louis Southwestern (Cotton Belt). CSX later acquired 20 units from NYS&W in 1989.

This model is also offered decorated for LMX (GE’s leasing subsidiary); however, there were no Dash 8-40Bs in LMX livery. Rather, LMX owned 100 almost identical 3,900-hp B39-8Es (the “E” stood for “enhanced”) that were leased to Burlington Northern.

I easily removed the body shell by grasping it with a thumb and forefinger just aft of the cab and gently pulled upward while holding the fuel tank. Inside this all-new model, which is made in China, is a split, cast zinc alloy frame. The five-pole, skew-wound, double-ended motor is isolated except for the brush holder tabs.

Power from the rails is conducted from the chemically darkened wheels through brass bearing wipers contacting the axle ends. Springy phosphor bronze pickups inserted into the frame contact metal tabs atop the wipers and energize the frame halves.

Turned-brass flywheels smooth out the motion to the drive train, which is made of plastic and metal parts. A brass worm over each truck drives the wheels through plastic gears in the trucks.

The wheels meet National Model Railroad Association standards for gauge and flange depth, and the body-mounted Accumate knuckle couplers are at the correct height.

Atlas is offering this model with or without a factory-installed Lenz Digital Command Control (DCC) decoder. Locomotives without decoders can be converted to DCC by simply replacing the lighting circuit board with a Lenz decoder available through Atlas.

Our samples closely matched prototype drawings published in the April 1989 Model Railroader. Like Atlas’ previous B23-7 and B30-7 locomotives, the Dash 8-40B features painted hand-rails, numbers in the number boards (the rear number boards on the Union Pacific version are blank, which is correct), a snowplow, and cab sunshades.

The brake wheel, exhaust hatch, handrails, and three-chime horn are separate parts. The body shell and walkway are superbly molded with sharp definition – including a silhouette of the radiator fan – and the plastic trucks have good relief detail.

Paint and lettering on our samples were generally crisp and opaque, with numerous tiny warning labels. I did find a few places on our LMX unit where the white striping was blurred, and one place where the striping on the nose had a blemish.

The model features Atlas’ new slower-speed motor, which it introduced last year with the GP38. Our sample started smoothly and performed well throughout its speed range.

During testing, the locomotive drew so little current that the needle on our ammeter (which measures in milliamperes) barely budged! Most operators will find the usable speed range is between 1.5 and 7 volts. The drawbar pull of .64 ounces will be good for about 15 free-rolling freight cars on straight and level track.

So far in 2002 N scalers have had a lot to cheer about in regard to new locomotives, and this new Dash 8-40B is rightfully garnering a good share of the plaudits.

N scale GE Dash 8-40B

Price: $94.95 to $104.95; or
$129.95 to $139.95 with decoder

Manufacturer:
Atlas Model Railroad Co.
603 Sweetland Ave.
Hillside, NJ 07205
www.atlasrr.com

Features:
Directional headlight with white LEDs
Drawbar pull: .64 ounce
Engine weight: 2.75 ounces
Minimum radius: 9¾”
Painted handrails

Dash 8-40B road names:
(All road names come in two numbers plus unnumbered)
Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe
Burlington Northern Santa Fe
Conrail
CSX
LMX
Norfolk Southern
St. Louis Southwestern (Cotton Belt)
Susquehanna
Union Pacific
Undecorated