Athearrn ATHG65208 Norfolk Southern SD60E NS GoRail #6963 Locomotive HO Scale

NS #6963 "GoRail" FEATURES:
4500 gallon EMD fuel tank
Cab mounted PTC antenna array
NS designed snow plow
Horse head style blower duct kick plate
Different cab panel louver arrangement per prototype
LOCOMOTIVE FEATURES:
Fully-assembled and ready-to-run
LED lighting including:
Headlights
Illuminated deck mounted ditchlights front and rear
Numberboards
Ground lights above front trucks
Long hood mounted Nathan 5-chime air horn
Sunshades
Rounded or rectangular cab windows per prototype
Flexible rubber multiple unit (MU) hoses with silver glad hands
Flexible rubber front and rear trainline air hose with silver glad hands
Step wells feature seperately applied individual see through photo-etch steps
Coupler cut levers with loops
Anticlimbers
Safety tread on the walkways
Anti-glare panel painted on the nose
Factory applied photo-etch windshield wipers & lift rings
See through and tinted cab windows
Detailed and painted cab interior with control stand, display screens, detailed crew seats
See-through radiator fans
Factory installed wire grab irons
Fine-scale handrails for scale appearance
Underframe mounted E-bell
HT-C trucks with Timken bearings
DCC-ready features Quick Plug™ plug-and-play technology with 21-pin connector
McHenry scale knuckle spring couplers
Scaled from prototype resources including drawings, field measurements, photographs, and more
Accurately painted and printed paint schemes
Genesis driveline with 5-pole skew wound motor, precision machined flywheels, and multi-link drivetrain for trouble free operation
All-wheel drive with precision gears for smooth and quiet operation
All-wheel electrical pickup provides reliable current flow
Wheels with RP25 contours operate on all popular brands of track
Bidirectional constant lighting so headlight brightness remains constant
Heavy die-cast frame for greater traction and more pulling power
Packaging securely holds for the model for safe storage
Minimum radius: 18”
Recommended radius: 22”
SOUND EQUIPPED MODELS ALSO FEATURE:
Onboard DCC decoder with SoundTraxx Tsunami2 sound
Frame mounted 1” high fidelity premium speaker
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
Excellent Slow speed control
Operating lighting functions with F5 and/or F6 (Flashing ditch lights, beacon, etc)
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 HISTORY
Beginning in early 2010, NS 6653 entered Juniata shop for 240 units planned through 2019. In August 2010, two SD60s (6567 and 6576) were retired and ear-marked for the SD60E program. Mechanically, the original prime mover, a 16-cylinder 710G3 model remained, but it was thoroughly rebuilt to 710G3B specs and rerated to 4,000 horsepower. The original shaft-driven air compressor was replaced with a new motor-driven compressor. All-new electrical cabinets and wiring, coupled with EMD’s EM2000 microprocessor controls, were installed, along with D99BTR traction motors. A new split-cooling system helps the SD60E meet Tier 0+ emissions requirements and reduce fuel consumption by an estimated 5 percent as compared to an older SD60 model. The SD60E’s tractive effort is rated at 109,000 pounds – unrebuilt SD60s are rated at 96,320-100,000 pounds.

Externally while most of the SD60’s carbody remained intact during the remanufacturing process, the program included installation of a completely new cab. Offering crews more protection – the original SD60 cab weighs 3,800 pounds versus 12,500 pounds for the new cab – as well as a spacious work environment, the cab – 59 square feet versus 74 square feet in the SD60E – was designed by NS with input from outside consultants and train crews. Fabricated by Curry Railroad Supply, a local vendor, it looks unlike anything else on U.S. rails with its pronounced numberboard/headlight housing and flat front with a centered cab door.

The first unit was finally released for service on November 15, 2010, carrying road number 6900. In March 2011, 6901 was released, followed by 6902 in June of that year. These three units gave NS mechanical personnel valuable feedback as the units toured the system, enduring “real life” testing.

In March 2012, the fourth SD60E emerged from Juniata as one of the 12 units initially funded for the program. But the pace of the remanufacturing process picked up as initial teething problems were addressed. The units soon met the carrier’s expectations and began entering revenue service on a regular basis.

Diesel Era Vol. 25 #5 Sept/Oct 2014
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