NEW FEATURES FOR ALL SD45T-2S IN THIS ANNOUNCEMENT:

• First time offering DCC+Sound Version, including new T-2 rear truck design for more visibly see through grilles
• All-new LED lighting
• First time pilot detail including rubber MU hoses for durability
• Photo-etched stainless steel windshield wipers

SSW BICENTENNIAL FEATURES:

• LED illuminated headlights and signal lights
• Cab mounted Nathan P3 air horn on bracket
• Sinclair antenna on antenna plane
• Large capacity 4200 gallon fuel tank
• Large SP style plow
• Large anticlimber
• Cab mounted bell
• SP style four hole jacking pads

According to Espee’s internal memos, the Bicentennial locomotives were affectionately referred to as “Snowflakes.” These unique and colorful Espee locos appeared quite often separately on company public relation exercises, with #9389 being a part of most helper consists for the Freedom Train, and GP40P-2 #3197 was seen everyday as part of the Peninsular commute fleet. The SP ‘snowflake’ paint schemes were all designed by the late Mr. Chester Mack, famed RR designer.

The first unit painted was Cotton Belt (SSW) #9389. This was chosen as being the 600th SD45 to be built for SP, ie. 590 SD45 including SD45T-2’s and 10 SDP45’s. Evidently it was given basic Bicentennial paint by EMD, then completed by SP when delivered to Taylor Shops in Los Angeles in May of 1975. About the same time, that a Southern Pacific loco should also wear Bicentennial paint, so as the GP40P-2’s were about to be shopped, having done a 6 month break-in service on freight, #3197 was selected to be painted Bicentennial. June 1975 saw #3197 (Bicentennial GP40P-2 offered in Genesis ATHG40858, and ATHG40758) roll out in the patriotic paint. To go along with the theme, SP repainted Caboose 1776 in Bicentennial paint. This was originally a C-40-7 built by International Car Co. in 1967 with roofwalks and end ladders. As painted in Bicentennial scheme in 1975. Look for the C-40-7 Bay Window Caboose next month!

SSW FEATURES:

• LED illuminated headlights and signal lights
• Nathan P3 air horn
• Whip antenna
• Cab mounted Gyralight
• Large EMD style plow
• Small anticlimber
• Coupler cut levers no loops
• Cab mounted bell

SP FEATURES:

• 1990s era version with SP light removed and faded paint
• Nathan P3 air horn
• Sinclair antenna
• Large EMD style plows both front and rear
• Small anticlimber
• Coupler cut levers with loops
• Cab mounted bell
• Illuminated Strato-lite beacon w/ LED

NREX FEATURES:

• Ex SP
• Whip antenna
• Large EMD style plow
• Small anticlimber
• Coupler cut levers with loops

• SP style nose w/ headlight
• Cab mounted bell
• Illuminated ditchlights
• Hood mounted Leslie air horn
• Rear MU catch trays

• Frame mounted bell
• Illuminated ditchlights
• Rebuilt EMD style nose
• Cab mounted headlight
• Hood mounted Nathan air horn
• No rear MU catch trays

• SP style nose w/ headlight
• Cab mounted bell
• Cab mounted 5-chime Nathan air horn
• Cab roof A/C knockout panel
• Rear MU catch trays

MRL/SRY FEATURES:

• Fire-cracker antenna
• Large EMD style plow
• Small anticlimber
• Coupler cut levers with loops
• Frame mounted bell
• Illuminated ditchlights
• Rebuilt EMD style nose
• Cab mounted headlight
• Hood mounted Nathan air horn

When the Union Pacifc absorbed the Southern Pacific in 1996, a number of SD45T-2 diesels started parting ranks from the parent railroad. While the MRL or the SRY never owned the SD45T-2, there was a time where the railfan community was hopeful that these rag-tag units would find their way to the MRL. Former SP EMD 20-cyl diesels had made it to the MRL in the early 1990s, making this scenario plausible. In the summer of 2004 a group of NREX SD45T-2s were being stored in Livingston, MT. further fueling the hopes of railfans.

As some MRL power migrated to the SRY, it could’ve been possible that the SRY brought an ex MRL SD45T-2 diesel into British Columbia. While none of this happened in real, model railroading allows for bending the rules a bit and admiring what could have been.

LOCOMOTIVE FEATURES:

• Fully assembled and ready-to-run
• Rubber trainline and MU hoses with silver ends, first time offered
• “Mushroom” nose vent on right side
• Separately applied wire grab irons
• Standard late Dash-2 4-window/L-window cab without louvers or roof seam per prototype
• See through cab windows
• Fixed cab side windows
• Welded ECAFB
• See-through dynamic brake fans
• See through radiator grilles with new rear truck gearbox speific for the tunnel motor
• Fine scale handrails
• Photoetch windshield wipers, first time offered
• Separately applied air tanks
• Speed recorder attached to appropriate axle per prototype (except undecorated)
• McHenry scale knuckle spring couplers
• Highly-detailed, injection molded body
• Painted and printed for realistic decoration
• LED Lighting, first time offered
• All-wheel drive with precision gears for smooth and quiet operation
• All-wheel electrical pickup
• 5-pole motor with flywheels and multi-link drivetrain for trouble-free operation
• Compatible with Genesis motor retrofit kit
• Window packaging for easy viewing
• Interior plastic blister safely holds the model for convenient storage
• DCC Ready 21-pin NEM Quick Plug™ technology
• Available also with factory installed Econami Sound by Soundtraxx, first time offered
• Nickel plated, blackened machined wheels
• Wheels with RP25 contours operate on all popular brands of track
• Replacement parts available including motor brushes
• Minimum radius: 18”
• Recommended radius: 22”

SOUND EQUIPPED MODELS ALSO FEATURE

• Onboard Econami Sound by SoundTraxx
• 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
• Effect lighting (if applicable) using F5 and/or F6
• Program a multiple unit (MU) lashup with lead unit only horn, bell, and lights
• Many functions can be altered via Configuration Value (CV) changes

PRIMED FOR GRIME MODELS FEATURE:

• Duplicated look and feel of “In Service”equipment; “Tattered and Torn” just like the real thing
• Faded base colors matched to the prototype
• Patches applied and shaped per road number mat