Athearn Genesis HO G82618 GP7, Maine Central #566

In 1949, EMD introduced the GP7. The basic design followed most diesel switchers with the addition of a short hood instead of an end-cab. The hoods were also full height to better accommodate the diesel engine and mechanical and electrical components. In 1954 EMD upgraded the GP7 to become the 1,750 horsepower GP9. Externally, the first GP9s were virtually unchanged from the last GP7s. Later versions would include different louver arrangements and the last ones would come without the frame skirting. The GP9 was available with all of the fuel tank, steam generator, and dynamic brake options as the GP7, including “torpedo tube” air tanks mounted on the roof. Many railroads chose to rebuild their GP7s and GP9s for continued service. Often times, it was cheaper to do this rather than purchasing brand-new locomotives.

Maine Central continued the process of dieselization of their freight operations in Fall 1950 and 1953 with the purchase of nine EMD GP7 locomotives equipped with dynamic brakes. We are offering these units in MEC’s “simplified” green paint scheme for the first time in our Genesis product line.

ROAD NUMBER SPECIFIC FEATURES:
#563 Unique MEC logo on front and rear – New color formulation of gold color based on input from MEC modelers
#564 ‘Simplified’ green paint scheme – first time in Genesis!
#566 ‘Simplified’ green paint scheme – first time in Genesis!

MEC FEATURES:
Winterization hatch
Full sill skirts
Nose-mounted bell
Tall MU stands

FEATURES:
Coupler cut levers
Trainline and MU hoses
Drop steps unless noted
MU stands
“Nub” style walkway tread
Windshield wiper
Lift rings
Wire grab irons
Windshield wipers
Sander lines
Bell placement & type per prototype
Detailed fuel tank with fuel fillers, fuel gauges, breather pipes, and retention tanks
Blomberg-B trucks with appropriate bearing caps
Speed recorder unless noted
See-through cab windows and full cab interior
Fine-scale Celcon handrails for scale appearance
Etched metal radiator intake grilles and fan grilles
Air tanks mounted below sill unless noted
Body-mounted McHenry scale knuckle couplers – Kadee compatible
DCC-ready features Quick Plug plug-and-play technology with 21-pin NEM connector
Scaled from prototype resources including drawings, field measurements, photographs, and more
Accurately painted and printed paint schemes
Genesis driveline with 5-pole skew wound motor, precision machined flywheels, and multi-link drivetrain
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
Minimum radius: 18″

PRIMED FOR GRIME MODELS FEATURE:
Duplicated look and feel of “In Service” equipment
Faded base colors matched to the prototype
Perfect starting point for adding grime and rust