First built for Union Pacific in the late 1980's by General Electric, the DASH 8-40C diesel locomotives were identified by an enlarged exhaust stack and the mounting of the dynamic brake grids in a square-like unit behind the cab, which housed an enlarged equipment blower fan. These six-axle, 4,000 hp engines are still in service today in North America.
The 4,000hp Dash 8-40CW was produced by General Electric between 1989 and 1993 as a follow-up to the successful Dash 8-40C locomotive. The most distinguishing feature of this model was the introduction of GE’s version of the wide-nose “North American Safety Cab.” This style of cab would become a common sight on railroads across the country. Four major railroads purchased the Dash 8-40CW in fairly large quantities, including Conrail, CSX, Santa Fe and Union Pacific. Most of these units are still in regular mainline and heavy-haul freight service today. Due to various mergers, they can also be seen operating for new owners Norfolk Southern and BNSF.
Upgraded Features (2024 or Later):
- Metal Couplers
- Improved headlight/ditchlight color and brightness
- Independently controlled lit number boards
- Independently controlled lit marker lights (for appropriate road names)
- Improved windshield glazing
- Etched metal windshield wipers
- New cab side without sunshade mount track (for appropriate road names)
Features:
- Ditch lights
- Number boards, sand fill hatch, and marker lights where appropriate by railroad (8-40CW only)
- Realistic die-cast underframe
- Factory-equipped with AccuMate® knuckle couplers
- Coupler pocket designed to accept AccuMate® Proto-couplers
- Highly detailed coupler cut bars
- Multiple unit hoses and trainline hoses
- Five-pole skewed armature motor with dual flywheels for optimum performance at all speeds
- Separately-installed scale windshield wipers, metal grab irons and fine scale handrails
- Directional lighting
- Painted crew members
- Snowplow and piping on trucks
- Recommended minimum radius: 22”
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Atlas Master™ Series Gold Additional Features:
- Supports all DCC-programming modes
- Flexible mapping of function keys F0 to F31 .
- Follows all NMRA DCC standards and recommended practices.
ESU LokSound Functionality Features:
- Over 20 sound effects are available, including engine start-up and shutdown, prime mover sounds through all eight notches, bell, air horn, air compressor, dynamic brakes and more.
- There are 16 user-selectable horns, 2 user-selectable bells, and 2 user-selectable synchronized brake squeals.
- Manual and Automatic Notching modes with the ability to change modes ”on the fly” are provided for true realism.
