Modeling diesels that didn’t

Classic Trains’ series “Diesels that didn’t” explores diesel locomotives that didn’t make it to large-scale production due to a variety of factors. However, some of those diesels made it to mass-production in the scale model world. Let’s take a look at the products offered to those modeling the diesels that didn’t.

Electro-Motive Division BL2

HO scale: Bachmann announced its model of the BL2 in 2022, with a release date of 2023. Many dealers have pre-order available for this locomotive. It will feature new and existing tooling, a dual-mode decoder, and Rule 17 lighting. The locomotive will be decorated for Chesapeake & Ohio, Monon, Rock Island, and Western Maryland.

The BL2 was also an early Proto 2000 model, produced in the early 90s.

N scale: Life-Like produced two runs of the BL2, one in 1992 and another in 2001.

Diesel hydraulics

HO scale: PIKO America recently announced a model of the ML4000, scheduled for release in November 2023. The PIKO model will be available in Southern Pacific paint with or without a sound decoder.

Rivarossi produced the ML4000 for AHM from 1964 until the late 1970s. Later, in the 1980s, Rivarossi briefly produced the model under its own name.

Alco C415

HO scale: IHC produced a run of the C415 in 2002.

General Electric passenger U-boats

HO scale: Atlas released its General Electric U28CG in early 2023. You can watch a video review of this locomotive here. Road names include Conrail; Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe (U28CG); Louisville & Nashville; Pennsylvania RR; Southern Pacific; and Union Pacific. It’s available as a direct-current model or with an ESU LokSound decoder.

N scale: Minitrix released a model of the U30CG in the 1970s.

Electro-Motive Division Model 40

HO scale: Roundhouse originally offered the Electro-Motive Division Model 40. The tiny switcher is now part of Athearn’s Roundhouse line. A new run was announced in February 2023. Paint schemes for the EMD Model 40 include “Shop Goat”, blue and gray, Borg Warner Calumet Steel, Electro-Motive, faded red and yellow, Professional Locomotive Service, and United States Army. The model features all-wheel electrical pickup and a Digital Command Control decoder plug.

Baldwin Centipede locomotives

HO scale: Broadway Limited Imports has produced runs of the Baldwin Centipede in multiple generations of its Paragon line, with the most recent being announced in March 2023 under the Paragon4 banner. Paint schemes for this run include Pennsylvania RR; Baldwin demonstrator; National Railways of Mexico; Seaboard Air Line; and Union Pacific. The unit features a dual-mode Paragon4 sound decoder and separately controllable lighting features.

N scale: Broadway Limited has also offered the Centipede in N scale, with the latest offering in 2016. You can read the Model Railroader review here. This run featured the same paint schemes as the above-mentioned HO scale Paragon4 run.

Alco RS27

HO scale: Life-Like, at the time a division of Wm. K. Walthers Inc., offered the Alco RS27 in its Proto 2000 line in 2006. It was reviewed in the May 2006 issue of Model Railroader Magazine. Paint schemes included Green Bay & Western; Alco demonstrator; Chicago & North Western; Penn Central; Pennsylvania RR; Soo Line; and Union Pacific. It was also available undecorated. The DCC version featured a dual-mode QSU Quantum sound decoder. The DC unit had an NMRA 8-pin decoder plug.

General Electric BQ23-7

HO scale: Bachmann offered the GE BQ23-7 in the 1980s, with the last release being in the early 1990s.

Electro-Motive Division GP39-2

HO scale: Athearn has produced multiple runs of the EMD GP39-2 in its Genesis line. The most recent run was announced in 2020. Paint schemes included Burlington Northern Santa Fe; CSX; Delaware & Hudson; Reading Co.; and Union Pacific. Digital Command Control versions had a dual-mode SoundTraxx Tsunami 2 decoder. Direct-current models were fitted with an NMRA 21-pin plug. Take a look at a review of the Athearn Genesis GP39-2 here.

Atlas Model Railroad Co. has offered Phase I and II versions of the GP39-2 in its Trainman series. The Phase I model was announced in November 2008 and has been offered four times, most recently in March 2017. The Phase II version debuted in February 2010, with a second run announced in August 2014. Read the Model Railroader review of this locomotive here.

N scale: Atlas produced the GP39-2 in multiple runs. The most recent was released in 2019 and included a new model to support a LokSound decoder and speaker. Paint schemes for this model included Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe; Burlington Northern; BNSF Ry.; Soo Line; Twin Cities & Western; and Union Pacific. The DCC version included a LokSound decoder. For the first time in Atlas’ history, the direct-current version of this locomotive included a speaker for an easy conversion to a sound-equipped engine. A review can be read here.