A new run of the Athearn HO scale Electro-Motive Division (EMD) GP7 is arriving in hobby shops. The Genesis-series diesel locomotive features railroad- and road-number-specific details. Join Model Railroader senior editor Cody Grivno as he hosts this video review of the four-axle road switcher.
Paint schemes offered in this run of the GP7 include Pennsylvania RR (Dark Green Locomotive Enamel); Bangor & Aroostook (dark blue in two road numbers, American Revolution Bicentennial scheme in one number); Great Northern (simplified scheme); Kansas, Oklahoma & Gulf (black, red, and white in one number); Midland Valley (black, red, and white in one number); and St. Louis-San Francisco (Frisco, Mandarin Orange and white). Each road name is offered in three numbers unless noted.
The Athearn HO scale EMD GP7 features an injection-molded plastic body; a die-cast metal chassis; and a Genesis driveline with a five-pole skew-wound motor, machined flywheels, and multi-link drivetrain. The road switcher, which has a minimum radius of 18”, has all-wheel drive and electrical pickup.
Additional features include light-emitting-diode lighting; Celcon handrails; separate, factory-installed windshield wipers, m.u. and trainline hoses, lift rings, uncoupling levers, and wire grab irons; and etched-metal radiator intake and fan grills. The model has a plastic fuel tank with fillers, gauges, breather pipes, and retention tanks. The Blomberg-B trucks have railroad-specific bearing caps. The cab window glazing is clear, and the side windows are positionable. The cab interior is painted and detailed.
Direct-current models with a 21-pin NEM connector are priced at $219.99. Versions with a dual-mode SoundTraxx Tsunami 2 sound decoder sell for $319.99. Look for a full review of this model in an upcoming issue of Model Railroader magazine.
Trains.com Product Review videos showcase the latest new items from manufacturers of products in Z, N, HO, S, O, and large scales. In the videos, you can watch locomotives in action, take a close-up look at details on freight cars, see kit components, and much more.
If you are a manufacturer and have products you would like reviewed, please email Senior Editor Cody Grivno at cgrivno@kalmbach.com for more information.
