ScaleTrains SXT42478 Rivet Counter Wabtec AC44C6M, Norfolk Southern/Horsehead/Sinewave #4753 DCC & Sound HO Scale

ScaleTrains SXT42478 Rivet Counter Wabtec AC44C6M, Norfolk Southern/Horsehead/Sinewave #4753 DCC & Sound HO Scale (Note pictures may show a different road number).

Road Number Specific ScaleTrains

• All-new model
• Series 4275 to 4574; ex-Dash 9-44CW 9245 to 9308, and 9310 to 9394 built 1998 to 1999
  • Era: 2022 to present
  • Road number 4504 and 4513; ex-NS 9306 and 9267
    • Lost-wax brass cast Nathan AirChime K5LAR24 horn mounted on engine cab
  • Road number 4505; ex-NS 9351
    • Lost-wax brass cast Nathan AirChime K5LAR24 horn with shower caps mounted on engine cab
• Series 4749 to 4760; ex-Dash 9-44CW 9395 to 9534, built 2000
  • Era: 2023 to present
  • Road numbers 4749 and 4751; ex-NS 9416 and 9413
    • Tall and narrow plow with no doors, filleted coupler opening, and two (2) grab irons
  • Road number 4753; ex-NS 9497
    • Low and wide plow with no doors, flanged coupler opening, and two (2) grab irons
• Fully-assembled
• Operating LED-illuminated ground lights on both sides of locomotive*
• Operating LED-illuminated front and rear deck-mounted alternating ditch lights**
• Operating LED-illuminated front, rear, and side walkway lights*
• Printed cab-mounted number boards with separately controlled LED-illumination*
• Directional LED-illuminated headlights
• LSL (Locomotive Speed Limiter) indicator lights on cab sides (non-operating) 
• Low and wide plow with no doors, flanged coupler opening, and two (2) grab irons
• Rear pilot with no reinforcement plate
• Semi-scale GE type coupler buffer equipped with durable metal semi-scale Type E knuckle couplers, painted a dingy gray/brown color to represent the color of couplers in service
• Inside loop uncoupling levers with down brackets
• 5-step stepwells with see-through steps
• Walkway with front and rear anticlimbers
• GE “nub” pattern walkway tread
• Wide profile end handrails
• Front high (cab) mounted headlight 
• Nose door with window; security padlock with hasp
• Two-piece nose top grab irons
• Battery cabinet access door with latch
• GE safety cab with four (4) side windows
• Right side cab under floor access doors: dual large louver panels per door
• Left side cab under floor access doors: bolted panel forward of the HVAC unit
• Cab interior with detailed back wall and front dash, high-back seats, conductor’s workstation, and engineer’s AAR-style control stand
• In-cab grade crossing camera
• Tinted cab side windows
• Tall mirror mounted in front of sliding cab side windows on both sides; additional small mirror on right side
• JEM Communications PTC antenna farm with Sinclair antennas
• Cab HVAC vent panels with 13-louvers and circular latches
• Inverter Cabinet with Bolted and hinged access door, top two X panels same size, three lower X panels with 4 - 6 - 4 Bolt Pattern
• Continuous reinforcement rib under dynamic brake intake grilles
• High-capacity dynamic brake exhaust (3-port)
• Rearward right-side air intake grille
• Left side auxiliary cab: 3 short doors with latches on the #2 door and wide auxiliary cab filter box door
• Right side auxiliary cab: four (4) doors with latches on #1 and #4 doors
• Late wide width inertial cabinet with no spacer between the engine cab.  Short rectangular vent and wide X-panel on the right side and rectangular vent on the left side.  Partial length horizontal access panel on the left side with a small adjacent X-panel  
• Late angled engine cab profile with raised “dot” treadplate on centerline 
• No lift rings on engine cab power assembly door
• Three door latches per side on the exhaust cab doors
• Late non-flanged exhaust stack housing
• “Bathtub” exhaust silencer
• 22 individually-applied etched metal see-through radiator intake and exhaust grilles on sides and top of radiator compartment
• Right side late radiator door grilles in alternating heights
• No right side radiator wing access door
• Electronic Handbrake with panel to the rear of the brake wheel
• Flat stamped brakewheel
• Left rear hood door grille arrangement: tall, short, tall grilles
• Low-mounted rear sand fill
• Early “box” lifting lugs on ends of radiator wings
• No forward radiator lifting lugs
• Left side long rail all stanchions, early type
• Right side long rail, all stanchions are early type
• Accurately profiled frame with separately-applied plumbing and traction motor cabling
• GE Hi-Ad trucks with reinforcement plate over center axle on right front and left rear side frames and separately applied brake cylinders, single bracket air plumbing, and rotating bearing caps 
• Wheel faces painted a dingy gray/brown color to represent the color of wheelsets in service
• No speed recorder
• Dual Graham-White (Salem) 824-100 centrifugal air filters
• Graham-White 994-500 series air dryer
• 5,000-gallon fuel tank with vertical weld seams on the right side with a single angled seam on the left with late late-style air reservoir drain notch
• Fuel tank mounted steel bell
• Separate air tanks with upper mounting brackets
• Curved handbrake chain bracket
• Spare coupler knuckle holders on rear pilot face
• Factory-applied detail parts: wire grab irons, spare knuckles, trainline hoses with silver gladhands, 3-hose MU clusters with silver gladhands, uncoupling levers, windshield wipers, mirrors, sunshades, and more
• Motor with 5-pole, skew-wound armature
• Dual flywheels
• All-wheel drive
• All-wheel electrical pick-up
• Printing and lettering legible under magnification
• Operates on Code 70, 83, and 100 rail
• Packaging safely stores model
• Minimum Radius: 18”
• Recommended Radius: 22”

DCC & sound equipped locomotives also feature:

• ESU-LokSound 5 DCC and Sound decoder with “Full Throttle” Functions
• Two (2) cube-type speakers
• Accurate FDL-16 prime mover and auxiliary sounds, horn, bell, and more
• ESU-designed PowerPack with two (2) super capacitors***
• Operates on both DC and DCC layouts

* Lighting features operate when using an ESU decoder with appropriate programming while operating using DCC

** In DC operation, both front ditch lights illuminate; rear ditch lights (if equipped) do not illuminate

*** Compatible with appropriately programmed ESU decoders while operating using DCC

On December 4, 2024, Norfolk Southern unveiled its newest heritage locomotive, number 4851, at the Juniata Shops in Altoona, Pennsylvania. The AC44C6M, rebuilt from a C40-9W, was painted in the dark blue, yellow, and black colors of the Tennessee, Alabama & Georgia Railway, known as the “Tag Route.” The public debut took place at the neighboring Railroaders Memorial Museum, where attendees viewed the freshly painted locomotive. It entered freight service shortly after the event.

The decision to honor the TAG came from a social media poll conducted by Norfolk Southern in October 2024. Over 3,400 people voted on Facebook, choosing between four railroads: Tennessee, Alabama & Georgia, Atlantic & East Carolina, Pittsburgh and West Virginia, and Delaware & Hudson. TAG and D&H were the top contenders, with TAG ultimately selected. The TAG operated from 1891 to 1971, running less than 100 miles between Chattanooga, Tennessee, and Gadsden, Alabama. It transported coal, steel, and other goods until its acquisition by Southern Railway in 1971. Norfolk Southern noted its historical role as a vital link in the region.

The only surviving TAG diesel, a high-hood GP38 numbered 80, operates at the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum in Chattanooga. Named “The John A. Chambliss” after a TAG vice president, it was the railroad’s final diesel purchase. Restored to its original number and paint scheme in 2017, it remains active in museum service. The new heritage unit, 4851, does not carry a historic name but reflects the TAG’s color scheme, adapted to fit the modern AC44C6M design.

Norfolk Southern has a history of heritage locomotives. In 2012, as part of its 30th anniversary, the company painted 20 new GE ES44AC and EMD SD70ACe locomotives in the schemes of predecessor railroads. Unveiled at an event in Spencer, North Carolina, these units honored lines like the Pennsylvania Railroad and Nickel Plate Road. Since then, no new heritage locomotives had been added until 4851, though some existing units were rebuilt or repainted over the years. The TAG design was applied at Juniata Shops, where workers tailored the historic colors to the locomotive’s contemporary frame.

Following its debut, 4851 was sent to Chattanooga for a special appearance at the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum on January 25 and 26, 2025. The event, dubbed “Heritage Meets History,” showcased the new heritage unit alongside the original TAG GP38, number 80. The two locomotives, both in TAG colors, were displayed together, highlighting their shared legacy. The museum operated its Missionary Ridge Local train with number 80 pulling hourly trips, while 4851 remained on static display for photographs. A temporary exhibit in a baggage car featured TAG artifacts, including timetables and photographs, offering visitors a glimpse into the railroad’s past. The event drew rail enthusiasts and locals to celebrate the connection between the modern 4851 and the historic short line it honors. After the weekend, 4851 returned to regular freight service with Norfolk Southern.