Athearn 86881 HO Scale EMD SD45T-2 Bessemer & Lake Erie 900

The SD45T-2 is a six-axle diesel electric locomotive built by General Motors Electro-Motive Division having a 20-cylinder 645-series diesel engine producing 3600 horsepower. Over 200 examples were produced between 1972 and 1975. This locomotive including the SD40T-2 were nick-named “Tunnel Motors” due to the rear cool air intake lowered to just above the walkway at the rear of the locomotive. This helped provide cooler air into the locomotive’s radiator cooling system and ultimately reducing the chance of the engine overheating in tunnels.

In the early 2000’s, BLE went on the used locomotive market looking for heavy and reliable motive power. They purchased 11 former SP/SSW SD45T-2’s designating them as SD40-3’s. These units were rebuilt with the removal of the SP nose headlight, “L” window cab, and large front plow. Additions included front ditch lights, a unique BLE-style cab headlight with upper gyra light and lower standard headlight, MU catches on the front pilot, and the horn being moved to the long hood.

FEATURES:

• Cab headlight with upper gyralight (Operates in DCC mode)-unique to BLE
• Standard window cab
• Leslie 3-chime Horn on long hood
• Pilot mounted front ditch lights
• Small front anticlimber
• Fine scale handrails
• Photo-etched windshield wipers
• Separately applied air tanks
• LED Lighting
• HTC truck sideframes
• See-through cab windows
• Welded electrical cabinet air filter box
• All-wheel electrical pickup
• See-through dynamic brake fans
• Separately applied wire grab irons
• Rubber trainline and MU hoses with silver ends
• Standard late Dash-2 cab with or without “L” window per prototype
• See-through radiator grilles with new rear truck gearbox specific for the tunnel motor
• Speed recorder attached to appropriate axle per prototype (except undecorated)
• McHenry® operating scale knuckle couplers
• All-wheel drive with precision gears for smooth and quiet operation
• 5-pole motor with flywheels and multi-link drivetrain for trouble-free operation
• Chassis accepts Genesis motor retro fit kit for an even higher performance motor.
• DCC Ready 21-pin NEM Quick Plug™ technology
• Nickel plated, blackened machined wheels
• Wheels with RP25 contours operate on all popular brands of track
• Highly-detailed, injection molded body
• Minimum radius: 18” — Recommended radius: 22”

SPECIFICATIONS:

• DCC: Ready / 21-Pin NEM
• SOUND: Ready
• PROTOTYPE MANUFACTURER: EMD
• Axles: 6
• LIGHTED: LED Lighting
• Minimum Age Recommendation: 14 years
• Is Assembly Required: No