Detailed Information

NS FEATURES: 

• Primed for Grime
• Patches match prototype deletion of UP reporting marks
• Different patch shapes, paint color, & slogans per road number
• Former UP units; major spotting details remain the same 
• EOTD above left rear of fuel tank

This group consisted of 110 second-hand units in total, 100 coming from UP and 10 from CEFX. Purchased with rebuilding into SD70ACu’s in mind, but were used in service as-is for a time before being rebuilt. 

INRD FEATURES: 

• Former CEFX units; major spotting featured remain
• #9025 features special “warbonnet” 25th Anniversary paint
• EOTD above left rear of fuel tank. 

Indian Railroad has 15 SD90MACs on long term lease from CIT group. 4 of the 10 units sent to NS from CIT group came from INRD. Currently the fleet wears the attractive red & white scheme applied to most Indiana Railroad units, while #9025 wears special “25th Anniversary” paint. 

Hobbywire Features

• BRAND NEW GENESIS 2.0 TOOLING!
• Etched, see-through walkway steps
• Illuminated number boards & Illuminated ground lights

CEFX FEATURES:

• Front and rear ditch lights mounted above the walkway
• Different air horn types per prototype road number
• Bluebird paint scheme 

Originally built in 1999, this order consisted of 40 units in total. They were originally painted in a maroon-and-grey scheme and could be found in lease service as far as British Columbia and Oregon. Recently, several units were acquired by or leased to other railroads, while the “Bluebird” paint scheme was applied to #s 105, 119, 130, 133, and 136. 

CP FEATURES: 

• CP-specific cab and access doors
• Front only ditch lights mounted above the walkway
• As per prototype, ground light only on engineer side. 
• Raised walkways for snow management
• Dual trainlines
• No blue flag holders on engineer’s side of cab
• CP Golden Beaver paint scheme

Canadian Pacific purchased 60 SD90MAC’s with delivery beginning in 1998. Their purpose was to pull freight between Ontario and British Columbia. The entire fleet has been rebuilt into SD70ACu’s as of 2020. 

UP FEATURES: 

• As renumbered to 3470-3775 in 2012
• 3681 as repainted with flag, June 2015
• EOTD holder between starter capacitor box and fuel gauge
• Front only ditch lights mounted on pilot face
• Both Cab door options, with and without window
• Union Pacific specific cab antennas

Union Pacific was the largest buyer of the SD90MAC with 309 units total; the railroad designation was SD9043AC as they were delivered with the 710G engine rated at 4300hp. Taking delivery of the first locomotives in 1995 and the last in 1999; originally numbered in the 8000 series, these locomotives were renumbered in 2012 and some are still in service today. 3681 is one of only a few SD90MACs to receive the flag paint scheme. 

SD90MAC SERIES LOCOMOTIVE FEATURES: 

• Brand new model previously only available in brass
• Fully-assembled and ready-to-run
• DCC-ready features Quick Plug™ plug-and-play technology with 21-pin NEM connector
• Accurately-painted and –printed paint schemes
• Scaled from prototype resources including drawings, photographs, and more
• Coupler cut levers
• Rubber MU hoses
• Trainline hose
• See through cab windows
• Full cab interior
• Walkway tread
• Windshield wipers
• Lift rings
• Wire grab irons
• Sander lines
• Fine-scale Celcon handrails for scale appearance
• Detailed fuel tank with fuel fillers, fuel gauges, & breather pipes
• McHenry® scale knuckle couplers - Kadee® compatible
• Genesis driveline with 5-pole skew wound motor, and precision machined flywheels
• All-wheel drive with precision gears for smooth & quiet operation
• All-wheel electrical pickup provides reliable current flow
• Wheels with RP25 contours operate on all popular brands of track
• LED Lighting for realistic appearance
• Heavy die-cast frame for greater traction and more pulling power
• Packaging securely holds for the model for safe storage

GENESIS 2.0 FEATURES: 

• By integrating and pioneering some of the latest model advancements in the industry, Athearn is redefining model fidelity with Genesis 2.0
• Etched, see-through walkway steps
• Illuminated number boards
• Illuminated ground lights
• DCC+Sound models feature dual Sugarcube speakers for optimal sound quality

PROTOTYPE SPECIFIC INFORMATION

Introduced in 1995, the EMD SD90MAC was intended to become that builder’s most-powerful single-engine diesel locomotive. The new locomotive was to use EMD’s newly-developed 265H prime mover, featuring 6000 horsepower. However, this engine was experiencing technical problems in development, which led to the first groups of locomotives being delivered with the EMD 710G prime mover of 4300 horsepower (the intent being to retrofit these with the more-powerful 265H at a later date). Ironically, the technical problems with the 265H were never fully resolved, and no conversions were done. The 710G-engined SD90MACs outlasted their later 265H cousins in service by a wide margin, with some units only recently having been retired or sold by Union Pacific, and other railroads choosing to rebuild them for continued service.

The Athearn Genesis 2.0 SD90MAC features all of the cutting-edge detail and operational features that are expected by discerning modelers: Working number boards and ground lights, see-through steps, numerous separately-applied details on the body and underframe, and a heavy die-cast frame for massive pulling power.

Specifications