News & Reviews Product Reviews Staff Reviews Athearn Genesis HO GP40-2L

Athearn Genesis HO GP40-2L

By Cody Grivno | July 9, 2025

See the four-axle road unit in action in this product review video

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The Athearn Genesis HO GP40-2L diesel locomotive, based on a prototype built by General Motors Diesel Division, recently arrived at our offices. Join Model Railroader Senior Editor Cody Grivno as he provides a brief history of the four-axle road unit and Quebec-Gatineau Ry. No. 3014; points out the many factory-applied details; and demonstrates the sound and light functions on the model, which has a SoundTraxx Tsunami2 sound decoder. Then enjoy watching the GP40-2L switch cars on our Winston-Salem Southbound Tar Branch project layout.

The Athearn Genesis HO GP40-2L is part of the company’s GP40-2 series. In addition to Quebec-Gatineau Ry., the GP40-2L is decorated for Maine Central (Guilford Rail System and fictional Harvest Gold schemes). Athearn also offers an Electro-Motive Division GP40P-2 painted for Southern Pacific and Union Pacific and an EMD GP40-2 lettered for CSX; Detroit, Toledo & Ironton; and Ontario Northland. The models are available in one to three road numbers per paint scheme.

Features on the Athearn Genesis model include an injection-molded plastic body, die-cast metal chassis, and all-wheel drive and electrical pickup. The EMD and GMDD models have a detailed cab interior, Celcon handrails and stanchions, and body-mounted McHenry scale couplers. Prototype-specific features on Quebec-Gatineau No. 3014 include large road numbers on the cab sides and a weed cutter plow on the rear pilot.

Direct-current models with 21-pin NEM connector are priced at $229.99. Models with a dual-mode SoundTraxx Tsunami2 sound decoder retail for $329.99. Add $10 to Primed for Grime models.

Trains.com Product Review videos showcase the latest new items from manufacturers of products in Z, N, HO, S, O, and large scales. In the videos, you can watch locomotives in action, take a close-up look at details on freight cars, see kit components, and much more.

If you are a manufacturer and have products you would like reviewed, please email Senior Editor Cody Grivno at cody.grivno@firecrown.com for more information.

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