Customers have reported increasing rates of “porch pirate” package thefts. Extend™ Shipping Protection replaces any lost, damaged, or stolen packages, and we recommend adding this protection to your order. FDH is unable to recover lost, damaged, or stolen packages that are not covered by Extend™ Shipping Protection.
The SD60E is the star of the Norfolk Southern Railway ’s diesel rebuilding program, which it describes as “the ultimate in recycling. ” In the road ’s ex-Pennsy Juniata shops in Altoona, PA, more than 150 1980s-era EMD SD60s are being rebuilt into 21st-century locomotives. Introduced in 1984, Electro-Motive ’s SD60 was the first EMD diesel to incorporate computer technology, onboard diagnostics to aid the engineer, and the new model 710 diesel motor. The SD60E (E for “Enhanced ”) program adds the major advances in locomotive technology in the ensuing three decades: improved crashworthiness, better fuel efficiency, lower emissions and a more user-friendly crew environment. The most obvious change is the new Crescent Cab, designed in-house and named for the NS ’s Crescent Corridor, an infrastructure project that speeds up traffic across 11 states from Louisiana to New York. Built for a post-caboose era when the entire train crew rides in the locomotive, the cab is “one of the roomiest ever built ” according to NS, and incorporates a large sun visor, padded floor and ceiling, a desk for the conductor, an air-controlled stainless steel restroom, and improved crash protection. In the engine room, a completely rebuilt 16-cylinder model 710G3B prime mover delivers 4,000 hp, 200 more than the original engine. Electronic fuel injection is only one of the improvements that helps this motor deliver lower emissions and better fuel economy than the stock 1980s power plant. Another is a patented dual-circuit or “split ” cooling system that makes the new engine run 40 to 50 degrees cooler than the original. It was designed by two NS employees who describe themselves as “old hot rodders, ” drawing on ideas from high-performance racing engines. The improved 710 diesel also features automatic stop/start to reduce unnecessary idling, saving both fuel and engine wear. In addition, a GPS-based computer system tells the engineer the optimum train speed for maximum fuel efficiency at any point on the road. Since the start of the SD60E program in 2010, several locomotives have received special commemorative paint schemes. Unveiled at Altoona in November 2012, engine 6920 honors the commitment of America ’s military veterans. It also symbolizes the Norfolk Southern ’s commitment to hiring veterans and members of the National Guard and Reserves, who include more than 4,200 NS employees. Outshopped in March 2014, engine 6963 commemorates the 10th anniversary of GoRail, a non-profit group that mobilizes support for business and government policies that lead to more freight moving by rail. Engine 911, originally slated to be NS 7003, became the latest commemorative engine this past June in a ceremony at Washington D.C. ’s Union Station. Featuring the Maltese Cross of fire services, the Emergency Medical Services ’ “Star of Life, ” and the Police shield, No. 911 honors the dedication and sacrifices of first responders. In addition, it underscores the railroad ’s commitment to its outreach program for hazmat training, which in 2014 reached more than 5,400 emergency first responders in lineside communities.
Features: Intricately Detailed Durable ABS Body Die-Cast Truck Sides, Pilots and Fuel Tank Metal Chassis Metal Handrails and Horn Moveable Roof Fans Detachable Snow Plow (2) Handpainted Engineer Cab Figures Authentic Paint Scheme Metal Wheels, Axles and Gears (2) Remote Controlled Proto-Couplers O Scale Kadee-Compatible Coupler Mounting Pads Prototypical Rule 17 Lighting Directionally Controlled Constant voltage LED Headlights Lighted LED Cab Interior Light Illuminated LED Number Boards Operating LED Ditch Lights (2) Precision Flywheel-Equipped Motors Operating ProtoSmoke Diesel Exhaust Onboard DCC/DCS Decoder Locomotive Speed Control In Scale MPH Increments Proto-Scale 3-2 3-Rail/2-Rail Conversion Capable 1:48 Scale Proportions Proto-Sound 3.0 With The Digital Command System Featuring Freight Yard Proto-Effects Unit Measures: 18 3/8 ” x 2 1/2 ” x 3 15/16 ” Operates On O-42 Curves
Payment & Security
Your payment information is processed securely. We do not store credit card details nor have access to your credit card information.
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Refund Policy
Factory Direct Hobbies has a 30-day return policy, which means you have 30 days after your item has shipped to request a return.
To be eligible for a return, your item must be in the same condition that you received it and in its original packaging.
To start a return, click to our Returns Center. If your return is approved, we'll send you emailed instructions on how and where to send your package. You will be responsible for return shipping costs, unless Factory Direct Hobbies made an error in the fulfillment of your order. Items sent back to us without first requesting a return will not be accepted and will be returned to sender.
Damages and issues
Please inspect your order upon receipt and contact us immediately if the item is defective, damaged, or if you receive the wrong item, so that we can evaluate the issue and make it right.
Exceptions / non-returnable items Unfortunately, we cannot accept returns on gift cards.
Exchanges The fastest way to ensure you get what you want is to return the item you have, and make a separate purchase for the new item on our website. Please note that we cannot process manual exchanges over the phone.
Refunds We will notify you once we’ve received and inspected your return, and let you know if the refund was approved or not. If approved, you’ll be automatically refunded on your original payment method. In certain instances, store credit may be provided instead of a refund. Please remember it can take some time for your bank or credit card company to process and post the refund too.
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Rewards Program Details
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Get 5% back on all your purchases! We like to keep it simple and believe points unnecessarily complicate things.
Preorder FAQs
How preorders work
Guarantee your reservation on any item marked with the red "Preorder item" flag, by paying just 10% down. Preorder items also display a date badge indicating the anticipated arrival.
We will email your invoice approximately 30-45 days before your preorder item lands at the warehouse. This interactive invoice will allow you to select your preferred shipping method, and pay the balance of your order, right online!
We'll ship you your preorder once your item arrives at our warehouse. Preorder fulfillments are queued in the order in which they were paid for.
Recently, our suppliers have made a major policy change and are no longer accepting product returns for non-paying end customers. After much consideration, we unfortunately must also change our policies to align with the realities our suppliers have created.
As our preorder offerings have grown, we’ve found that a large percentage of preorder reservations are canceled or left unpaid without notice. We pay our suppliers for every preorder item that arrives at our warehouse, so when a customer does not pay for their item, we are left no choice but to absorb that cost. We have tried our best to cope with the effects of this change; however, after more than a year of trying, we have found we cannot continue to do so.
We understand that this is an unwelcome change, and no one wants to pay earlier than necessary. However, this is unavoidable in order for us to be able to continue to offer the wide variety of preorder options you’re used to getting from Factory Direct Hobbies. We must now ask that customers pay a 10% good-faith down payment toward the price of their item. This non-refundable good-faith payment is applied to the price of the product, and the balance (plus shipping and any applicable taxes) will be invoiced approximately 30-45 days before the item is slated to arrive at our warehouse.
We thank you for your patience and understanding. If you have questions or would like further clarification, feel free to contact us through the gold chat bubble.
The good-faith down payment is not refundable if you choose to cancel your preorder or do not pay your invoice.
However, if a manufacturer cancels a project for which you have made a down payment, you will receive a refund for your down payment.
Yes. We know that paying ahead of time can be unnerving when delivery dates are distant, and not every project makes it to the production line. Rest assured that, in the event the manufacturer cancels your preorder project, you will be refunded your 10% down payment.
Hobbies should be fun, not stressful!
The manufacturing process involves many different moving parts, and this complexity often renders production timelines unpredictable. Therefore, some level of unpredictability in timing is inherent to preordering hobby products. Down payments are not refundable in cases of routine manufacturing, delivery, or other short-term delays.
However, we know it can be frustrating when a project gets delayed for many months. In the event a project is delayed more than 6 months beyond the delivery window originally estimated by the manufacturer, we will handle refunds of down payments on a case-by-case basis.
Friendly Reminder: Should you choose to cancel a preorder, it will no longer be reserved for you; in the event the item becomes available on our website, all customers will have equal access to purchase the item.
Nope! The policy is not retroactive: if you already made a preorder reservation before this policy update, you do not owe a down payment for that reservation. However, any future preorders you make will require the 10% good-faith down payment.
We make every effort to keep our website updated with information that reflects manufacturers' current estimated delivery schedules. To find the estimated delivery month of an item, you can visit our Preorder Section and use the filters to narrow down your selection.
However, we encourage you to directly visit the manufacturer's site for the most current delivery dates.
Approximately 30-45 days before your preorder items land at the warehouse, we'll email your invoice to you to pay in full. At this point, you'll be able to provide your shipping address and select your preferred shipping method.
Your item will be reserved for 7 days, beginning when your invoice is sent. After 7 days, your preorder will be canceled.
Recently, our suppliers have made a major policy change and are no longer accepting product returns for non-paying end customers. We have tried our best to absorb the effects of this change; however, after more than a year of trying, we have found we cannot continue to do so. After much consideration, we unfortunately must also change our policies to align with the realities our suppliers have created.
As a result, we must now ask that customers pay in full prior to the supplier finalizing shipment to FDH, about 30-45 days ahead of product arrival. This gives us the time we need to cancel with our suppliers any unpaid orders prior to shipment.
We understand that this is an unwelcome change and no one wants to pay earlier than necessary. However, this is unavoidable in order for us to be able to continue to offer the wide variety of preorder options you’re used to getting from Factory Direct Hobbies.
One silver lining is that this change will result in preorder items getting to your door even faster, as all payment processing will be well out of the way and the usual several day wait after product has arrived will be eliminated. We thank you for your patience and understanding. If you have questions or would like further clarification, feel free to contact us through the gold chat bubble.
Manufacturing schedules can sometimes be unpredictable. In the event your preorder item does not arrive at our warehouse within 60 days of your invoice payment, then you will have the option to cancel your preorder and receive a refund OR you may elect to continue waiting for the item.
Friendly Reminder: Should you choose to cancel a preorder, it will no longer be reserved for you; in the event the item becomes available on our website, all customers will have equal access to purchase the item.
We know life happens, and missing out on a great item can be a drag!
We're here to help; just contact us via the gold chat bubble and we'll do all we can to work with you!
If you have an account with factorydirecthobbies.com, you can view all your preorders, as well as your active orders. Login to your account, and select the “My orders” option. All your preorders and active orders will be listed along with the current status of each order. If you have further questions about your order, please feel free to reach out to us through the gold chat bubble.
Although we try to keep our preorder arrival estimates as accurate as possible, we encourage you to visit each manufacturer’s website to find the most up-to-date delivery information.
For instance, with Athearn and Walthers, you can enter the part number into their websites and navigate to the item. Most of the time, the delivery date will be listed there. Broadway Limited has a published delivery schedule, as does Rapido.
Rewards and Preorders
Yes. Rewards can be used on both your 10% good-faith down payment and on the balance of your preorder at invoicing time.
Yes! Preorders are awarded reward dollars at the same 5% rate. You'll receive your reward within several days of paying the balance of your preorder invoice.
Still more questions?
If we still haven't answered your question, please click the gold messaging bubble in the bottom right of our site, and we'll help in any way we can!
