Prototype Profile
Learn the in-depth history of the actual real-world prototype trains that inspired your favorite scale models.
January 31, 2021
Prototype Profile: Amtrak’s Inter-American
One of Amtrak’s lesser known and remembered Texas trains was “The Inter-American” operated in the mid-1970s to early 1980s.
January 29, 2021
Athearn HO-scale SD40T-2s for early 2022 delivery
Athearn will have a new production of Ready To Roll HO-scale SD40T-2 Tunnel Motors in early 2022.
January 15, 2021
Prototype Profile: EMD SD80MAC
An early 2021 delivery from Athearn brings a run of SD80MAC diesel locomotives in several road names.
January 5, 2021
Prototype Profile: Espee’s 100-plus C44-9Ws
Among Southern Pacific’s last locomotive purchases was a group of 101 General Electric C44-9Ws.
December 25, 2020
Prototype Profile: EMD’s Elegant E8
After several early efforts EMD’s E-unit series came into wide-spread use with models like the E8 in the 1950s.
December 7, 2020
Prototype Profile: Toronto, Hamilton & Buffalo Diesels
Among Athearn November 2020 announcements are all three GP7s owned by Toronto, Hamilton & Buffalo. This small Canadian railroad makes for an interesting road to model.
November 9, 2020
Canadian National and Norfolk Southern SD70ACU
The SD70ACU is a rebuilt six-axle diesel locomotive that utilizes SD90MAC cores.
October 5, 2020
Rio Grande’s Famous 5771
Rio Grande’s 5771 may be the photographed F-unit of all time.
September 24, 2020
Four EMD GP38-2s for Illinois Terminal
Illinois Terminal added four EMD GP38-2s to its roster in the late 1970s and Athearn included them in a Genesis-series production of HO-scale models.
September 21, 2020
Santa Fe’s SD40-2s and Kato’s N-scale model
Santa Fe’s SD40-2 fleet joined the roster in the late 1970s and saw several modifications later in their careers.
