ATH-G41177 Athearn Genesis U50 Locomotive with DCC & Sound, UP #52 HO Scale

Description

ATHG41177Athearn GenesisHO ScaleU50 Diesel-ElectricUP #52DCC & SoundUP FEATURES:Beacon (Flash function in DCC only)Classification lights (Function in DCC only)Working Truck lightsNumber board lightsSeparate see-through air intake grillsMU hosesDue to the increase of better highways in the 1950s the trucking industry was beginning to siphon off time sensitive traffic from the railroads. Consequently, in the late 1950s the Union Pacific began seeking ways to increase the horsepower of their locomotives in order to help improve train speeds without having to add more locomotives to their trains. One method to achieve these goals was to mount two complete prime movers on one chassis. UP asked the 3 major locomotive builders at that time to submit proposals using this concept. In response, General Electric created their 5,000-horsepower U50 model, a design which utilized two 2500-horsepower prime movers. Starting in September 1963, UP purchased a total of 23 U50s, all of which were retired by the mid-1970s.There were few changes made to these units during their time on the UP but one, #41, suffered from a significant fire and had to be repainted. It was the only one to receive UPs 1970s era slogan, We Can Handle It.ROAD NUMBER SPECIFIC FEATURES:#52Dependable Transportation sloganU50 SERIES LOCOMOTIVE FEATURES:Illuminated truck lightsIlluminated classification lightsIlluminated number boardsSee-through air intakes4-cube speakersMinimum radius: 18 Recommended radius: 22U50 SERIES LOCOMOTIVE FEATURES:Illuminated truck lightsIlluminated classification lightsIlluminated number boardsSee-through air intakes4-cube speakersMinimum radius: 18 Recommended radius: 22GENESIS DIESEL LOCOMOTIVE FEATURES:Coupler cut leversMU hosesTrainline hoseSee-through cab windowsFull cab interiorWalkway treadWindshield wipersWire grab ironsDCC-ready features Quick Plug plug-and-play technology with 21-pin NEM connectorFine-scale Celcon handrails for scale appearanceDetailed fuel tank with fuel fillers, fuel gauges, breather pipes, and retention tanksBody-mounted McHenry operating scale knuckle couplersGenesis driveline with 5-pole skew wound motor, precision machined flywheels, and multi-link drivetrain for trouble free operationAll-wheel drive with precision gears for smooth and quiet operationAll-wheel electrical pickup provides reliable current flowWheels with RP25 contours operate on all popular brands of trackLED Lighting for trouble free operationHeavy die-cast frame for greater traction and more pulling powerScaled from prototype resources including drawings, field measurements, photographs, and moreAccurately-painted and printed paint schemesFully-assembled and ready-to-runPackaging securely holds the model for safe storageLEGENDARY LIVERIESWhat are Legendary Liveries? An Athearn exclusive, they are the ultimate answer to What if? Featuring some of the most popular railroad paint schemes of all time, these models are perfect for collecting, proto-freelancing, or just plain fun! Whether company proposed paint schemes, canceled locomotive orders, or alternate takes on history, Legendary Liveries are fun and unique additions to any roster. Enjoy these items, and answer the ultimate railroad question of: What if?SOUND-EQUIPPED MODELS ALSO FEATUREOnboard DCC decoder with SoundTraxx Tsunami2 soundFour cube speakers for optimal sound qualitySound units operate in both DC and DCCFull DCC functions available when operated in DCC modeEngine, horn, and bell sounds work in DCAll functions NMRA compatible in DCC modePrecision slow speed controlProgram a multiple unit (MU) lash up with lead unit only horn, bell, and lightsMany functions can be altered via Configuration Value (CV) changesCV chart included in the boxPROTOTYPE SPECIFIC INFORMATIONIn 1963, the diesel horsepower race had just reached 2,500 horsepower and the only way to get 5,000 horsepower was by putting two diesel engine and generator sets onto one chassis. Given the wheel slip and traction motor technology at the time, eight traction motors and powered axles were needed to convert the horsepower into pulling power. EMD had already produced the DD35, two cab less GP35s on one chassis. General Electrics answer was to do the same with two U25Bs, which created the U50.The U50 was 83 feet 6 inches long and towered over most contemporary locomotives at 15 feet 10 inches tall. They weighed in at 559,620 pounds and produced 139,175 pounds of starting tractive effort. Inside the hood were two FDL-16 diesel engines, each with a generator, full radiator, and dynamic brake setup. The U50 rode on two sets of two-axle AAR-B trucks mounted on a span bolster. The trucks were recycled from the scrapped gas turbines. Up front was a tall, blunt nose cab without a front walkway, which gave the U50 its unique appearance.