ScaleTrains Rivet Counter N SXT40842 DCC Ready GE AC44C6M Locomotive Norfolk Southern 'Horsehead w/Primer Cab' NS #4047

ScaleTrains Rivet Counter N SXT40842 DCC Ready GE AC44C6M Locomotive Norfolk Southern 'Horsehead w/Primer Cab' NS #4047

ScaleTrains Rivet Counter N SXT40842 DCC Ready GE AC44C6M Locomotive

Norfolk Southern 'Horsehead w/Primer Cab' NS #4047

Road Number Specific ScaleTrains

• All-new model
• Era: 2017 to 2018
• Series 4043 to 4073, rebuilt 7/17
• Road numbers 4047; ex-NS 8781
  • Partial Horsehead paint scheme with primer-painted replacement cab
• Rebuilt by NS Roanoke Shops
• Fully re-painted at NS Juniata Shops in 11/18
• Fully-assembled
• Multiple road numbers
• Operating LED-illuminated front and rear deck-mounted alternating ditch 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)
• Tall snowplow with MU hose openings and two (2) grab irons
• Body mounted knuckle couplers; Micro-Trains® compatible
• Inside loop uncoupling levers with down brackets
• 5-step rear stepwells
• Walkway with front and rear anticlimbers
• GE “nub” pattern walkway tread
• Wide profile end handrails
• Front high (cab) mounted headlight
• Nose door with no 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
• 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
• 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 narrow auxiliary cab filter box door with X panel in front
• Right side auxiliary cab: four (4) doors with latches on #1 and #4 doors
• Dual triangular lifting bails on top of clean air cab joint
• Early curved engine cab profile
• High mounted lift rings on engine cab power assembly doors
• Four door latches per side on exhaust cab doors
• Lost-wax brass cast Nathan AirChime K5LAR24 horn mounted on engine cab
• Late non-flanged exhaust stack housing
• “Bathtub” exhaust silencer
• 2 individually applied etched metal radiator exhaust grilles
• Right side late radiator door grilles in alternating heights
• Right side radiator wing access door with looped center latch and no bolt detail on Panel surrounding the door
• Electronic Handbrake with panel to the rear of the brake wheel
• Concave stamped brakewheel with center hub
• Left rear hood door grille arrangement: tall, short, short grilles
• High-mounted rear sand fill
• Early “box” lifting lugs on ends of radiator wings
• Left side long rail all stanchions early type
• Right side long rail all stanchions 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
• No speed recorder
• Dual Graham-White (Salem) 824-100 centrifugal air filters
• Wabtec AirSmart 994-600 series air dryer
• 5,000-gallon fuel tank with vertical wide spaced weld seams
• Fuel tank detail arrangement (front to back) right side – Fuel filler, EFCO, Digital Fuel Gauge
• 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, 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 55 and 80 rail
• Packaging safely stores model
• Minimum Radius: 9 ¾”
• Recommended Radius: 11”

DC/DCC ready locomotives also feature:***

• Operates on DC layouts***
• DCC ready with Nano connector

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

***Lombard Hobbies Recommendation - As modelers ourselves we highly recommend ONLY running DCC on DCC systems and DC on DC systems, regardless of 'Dual-Mode' capability. This gives optimum performance and safeguards the unit from possible damage from running on a different system than originally intended and from any inexperienced operator errors.

Prototype History

In the early 2000s, Norfolk Southern, equipped with one of the largest fleets of GE DASH 9 series locomotives, found itself at a crossroads. With escalating traffic levels demanding more horsepower for efficient train movement, a critical decision loomed. The aging DASH 9s forming the backbone of their fleet were due for overhauls, prompting the need for a strategy to keep the traffic flowing seamlessly.

To modernize its fleet, Norfolk Southern boldly initiated a rebuilding program for its GE DASH 9s. This comprehensive process involved upgrading the electrical systems and traction motors of the aging DC (Direct Current) drives DASH 9s to AC (Alternating Current) traction, effectively transforming them into AC4400s. While AC technology had already proven its effectiveness on other railroads, Norfolk Southern had remained conservative in the 90s, opting for fleets of DC-drive EMD SD70s, GE C40-9s, and C40-9Ws.

As the 90s transitioned into the 2000s, Norfolk Southern couldn't overlook the compelling advantages of AC, which offered significant improvements in unit tractive effort and overall train handling compared to DC units. The rebuild process also included essential enhancements such as new trucks, repairs to the carbody, and additional ballast for increased tractive effort.

Externally, the most noticeable change was the addition of an AC inverter control cabinet to the left side walkway behind the operator’s cab. In the case of units rebuilt from standard-cab C40-9 core units, the original operator’s cab, low nose, and under-cab cabinets were replaced with a new GE Safety Cab, similar to those used on current GEVO production. While some fans lamented the loss of the distinctive C40-9 "Top Hats," crews embraced the new cabs for their superior comfort and crashworthiness.

These revitalized units, designated as AC44C6M by Norfolk Southern, made their debut in August 2015 with NS 4000 and 4001, rebuilt by contractor American Motive Power, Inc., utilizing components from GE. Sporting a unique gray scheme with a blue cab and "mane," these units stood out against the typical black Thoroughbreds in the NS fleet. Rebuilt from NS C40-9s 8799 and 8879, some of the oldest GEs in the fleet gained a new lease on life.

The success of these initial rebuilds prompted Norfolk Southern to fully embrace the AC44C6M, with 16 additional units rebuilt from C40-9 cores in 2016. Work was conducted both in-house at Roanoke and Juniata shops and by GE at their facilities in Erie, Pennsylvania, and Ft. Worth, Texas. The momentum continued, with additional units slated for rebuilding each year. At present, the plan is for Wabtec to rebuild the entire NS GE DASH 9 fleet, ushering in the latest technology and solidifying its position as the "Thoroughbred" of transportation.

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