P42DC Locomotive, Amtrak, Phase IV #8

AMTRAK FEATURES:

• Newly-tooled body with cab mounted strobe lights and emergency light (Operational in DCC)
• Single Sinclair Antenna
• 5-chime forward facing horn
• Rear hostler window
• Front and rear red marker lights
• Amtrak approved artwork

In 1993, Amtrak placed an order with GE for 44 “Genesis AMD 103” P40DC passenger locomotives. They were designed to be short enough to fit in low-profile tunnels and had extra bracing installed in the nose for collisions. The sleek and modern design made the locomotive more aerodynamic than other models which made them more fuel efficient. They were all equipped with HEP (Head End Power) for providing power to the passenger cars. By 2004, Amtrak started to retrofit their locomotives with bolt-on noses. In the event of a grade crossing accident, they could be easily replaced and put back into service.

ROAD NUMBER SPECIFIC FEATURES:

#813

• As-build configuration
• Ph III faded stripe scheme
• front strobe lights (Function in DCC mode)
• Rear hostler window

#822

• As-build configuration
• Ph III faded stripe scheme
• front strobe lights (Function in DCC mode)
• Rear hostler window#839

#839

• As-build configuration
• Ph III faded stripe scheme
• front strobe lights (Function in DCC mode)
• Rear hostler window

P40DC/P42DC SERIES LOCOMOTIVE FEATURES:

• Officially licensed product of Amtrak® (Amtrak-painted units)
• Officially licensed product of Via Rail Canada® (Via painted units)
• Officially licensed product of Operation Lifesaver (Operation Lifesaver-painted unit)
• 4 different nose variations: Amtrak as-built with strobes, Amtrak as-built without strobes, Amtrak rebuilt, and Via
• Operating marker lights front and rear on Tsunami2 equipped models
• Rear marker lights installed, but not connected on DCC Ready models
• Newly-tooled lit number boards
• Flashing strobe light and “Big-Hole” emergency light on equipped Amtrak units (Operational on DCC only)
• Flashing ditch lights on non-strobe equipped Amtrak units synced with horn blow (Operational on DCC only)
• Flexible rubber MU hoses
• Flexible rubber trainline hose
• Separately applied wire handrails
• Exhaust stack
• Photo etched metal radiator fan grille
• Highly-detailed underframe including air tanks with air lines, air filter, and air dryer with two different types of rock shields
• McHenry® scale knuckle couplers – Kadee® compatible
• DCC-ready features Quick Plug™ plug-and-play technology with 21-pin NEM connector
• 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
• LED lighting including operating ditch lights and red marker lights
• Completely-redesigned die-cast frame for superior tractive effort
• Scaled from prototype resources including drawings, field measurements, photographs, and more
• Accurately-painted and –printed paint schemes
• Fully-assembled and ready-to-run
• 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
• Equipped with dual 28mm round speakers
• Sound units operate in both DC and DCC
• Full DCC functions available when operated in DCC mode
• Engine, horn, and bell sounds work in DC
• 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

PROTOTYPE SPECIFIC INFORMATION

The General Electric P40DC/P42DC, also known as the Genesis, is the current primary passenger locomotive of Amtrak. The original P40DC’s produced 4000 HP and their upgraded successor the P42DC were rated for 4250 HP while both having a top speed of 100 mph, these units are seen nationwide on short and long-distance trains. The originally delivered P40DC units were equipped with two unique features; an additional rear window, known as a “hostler’s window” allowed the locomotive to be operated from the rear of the locomotive, and a light package on the nose, above the front window, which included two Xenon strobes and a central red light that would illuminate when the train went into “emergency.” Both the light package and hostlers window were removed as these units were shopped during their life and subsequent orders did not include these features. Flashing ditch lights replaced the Xenon strobes on later units, but on the strobe equipped units, the ditch lights did not flash. Equipped with marker lights on each end, the units are also seen in service on push-pull trains. Amtrak originally rostered 208 of the units, numbered from 1-207.

Via Rail owns a fleet of 21 units numbered 900-920, and they have been active since 2001. These locomotives are equipped with both standard and emergency horn sets. Some units also are equipped with a bright spotlight on the center of the nose, in addition to the standard headlights and ditch lights.

These highly-detailed models will finally answer one of our top customer requests for a Genesis Genesis. Highlights include a detailed cab interior complete with all of the appropriate controls and seats. A wealth of underbody detail includes piping, air filters, air dryer, and complete pilot detail. The models also feature prototype-specific details for Amtrak and Via Rail Canada. Amtrak units are available with either the as-built or the rebuilt (bolted-on) nose. They also feature several different styles of antenna arrays, ranging from the simple as-built appearance to the complex arrangement of the Illinois service units. Via Rail units feature the unique nose-mounted spotlight as well as prototypical standard and emergency horn sets.

All versions feature the operational, light, and sound features that have come to be expected from Genesis. Under the hood, the proven Genesis motor and a massive die-case frame combine to provide ample tractive effort. LED headlights, ditch lights, and marker lights are all provided. On the DCC/sound equipped versions, the ditch lights will alternate when the horn is activated, and the marker lights are independently-controlled and directional. Finally, A Soundtraxx Tsunami2 sound decoder and dual 28mm speakers provide our model with high-quality sound.