Athearn HO 71489 SD39, Copper Basin Railway #303

In 1966, EMD updated its locomotive catalog with entirely new models, all powered by the new 645 diesel engine. The SD39 had 2,300 hp from a turbocharged V12. The SD39 had the smallest prime mover of the SD locomotives in the EMD catalog. 54 were built for American railroads.

In the late 1980s, Copper Basin RY picked up some surplus Ex-SP SD39’s for their copper concentrate trains in AZ. When purchased, they were kept pretty close to the old SP-specs other than the removal of some of the oscillating lights and the bell being moved to the long hood. They were repainted into this unique copper and grey paint scheme. Our models depict these details such as: front and rear large plows, rear brake wheel, P-3 Horns, FARR grilles, removed red warning lights, and road number-specific trucks and headlight placement.

ROAD NUMBER SPECIFIC FEATURES:
#302
Ex-SP 5321
High-mounted brake cylinder trucks
Relocated headlight
Unique front and rear stripe pattern
P-3 horn with mis-matched bells
Removed red warning lights
Modified L-window cab
Whip antennas

#303
Ex-SP 5323
Low-mounted brake cylinder trucks
Unique front and rear stripe pattern
P-3 horn
Removed red warning lights
Modified L-window cab
Whip antennas
White painted roof

#304
Ex-SP 5324
Low-mounted brake cylinder trucks
Unique front and rear stripe pattern
P-3 horn
Removed red warning lights
Modified L-window cab
Whip antennas
White painted roof

FEATURES:
Separately applied air tanks
Coupler cut levers
Rubber MU hoses
Photo-etch stainless steel windshield wipers
Fine scale handrails
Non-sound version features 21-pin NEM DCC plug
See-through dynamic brake and radiator fans
Curved radiator fan grab iron
Exhaust stack
Frame-mounted bell (unless noted)
Detailed 4,000 gallon fuel tank (unless different capacity is noted)
Flexicoil-C trucks with high or low brake cylinders (per prototype)
McHenry scale knuckle spring couplers
See-through cab windows
Bi-directional LED lighting
All-wheel drive with precision gears for smooth and quiet operation
All-wheel electrical pickup
5-pole motor with flywheels and multi-link drivetrain for trouble-free operation
Wheels with RP25 contours operate on all popular brands of track
Painted and printed for realistic decoration
Highly-detailed, injection molded body
Minimum radius: 18″
Recommended radius: 22″

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