Rapido 1048517 - HO SD70MAC (DC/DCC/Sound): Colorado Pacific Railroad: #209

Rapido 1048517 - HO SD70MAC (DC/DCC/Sound): Colorado Pacific Railroad: #209

• Late production Tier-1 units for the first time in plastic!
• A wide variety of phase variations covering nearly all production
• Unique rebuilt features on BNSF, CSX, KCS, and Metra
• Multiple nose and cab variations (Nose light, high headlight, Gyralite)
• Railroad and era appropriate PTC antennas, where applicable
• Three HTCR truck variations, all with rotating bearing caps (where appropriate)
• Full lighting package including track lights, step lights, and walkway lights
• Metra: features a Gyralite, marker light, and emergency light on the nose and cab.
• Metra: tons of unique rebuild details, including HEP, HEP cables, buffers and more
• Alaska: unique shell details for Alaska’s HEP power components
• Alaska: unique walkway grates for extreme weather
• CSX: unique rear of hood housing Eco-Trans Auxiliary Power Unit 
• Road-specific horns and roof details
• Heavy die-cast frame with many separate details
• Full interior cab details
•  Metal grab irons
• Full traction motor casing details
• Rapido’s innovative dead-straight metal handrails with plastic stanchions
•  Etched-metal steps with fold-over step edge designs
• Rubber sanding lines
• Metal knuckle couplers
• MoPower capacitor system for uninterrupted DCC running
• Dual-Mode DC/DCC/Sound
• Suggested minimum radius: 22”

 In the mid-1990s, the race for high horsepower locomotives was on. Electro-Motive Division was busy designing the SD70MAC, which combined 4,000hp (later models produced 4,300hp) from a 16-cylinder 710 prime mover and AC traction — a must for high horsepower, six axle locomotives at the time. Burlington Northern became the largest customer, extending well into the formation of the BNSF Railway with over 780 units. CSX rostered 220 versions, with 130 of those featuring the unique flared radiators — now a first in plastic with our models! TFM ordered 75 units, which eventually were rebranded under the KCS/KCSM umbrella. Alaska Railroad ordered 32, of which 12 are rated at 4,300hp and include head end power (HEP) which makes them true modern freight/passenger locomotives!

By the mid-2010s, many of these roads were looking into rebuild programs to bring them into Tier-1 emissions compliance. At the same time, many of these locomotives were also sold off to second hand owners. Perhaps the most unusual and groundbreaking second life for the SD70MACs was Metra’s design to rebuild 42 of these with HEP, microprocessors, Tier-1 emissions and higher-speed gearing for 80MPH operations. In the commuter operations universe, six axle power had not ben seen in daily service since the early-2000s with the F40C! We’re excited to offer ALL of these variations on this initial run of SD70MACs.