A Norfolk Southern AC44C6M diesel locomotive is one of the latest additions to the ScaleTrains Rivet Counter line. The HO scale model, based on General Electric Dash 9-40C and Dash 9-44CW rebuilds, features an injection-molded plastic body, die-cast metal chassis, and body-mounted metal Type E semi-scale couplers.
Prototype history
Norfolk Southern No. 4000 was built by General Electric as Dash 9-40C No. 8799 in January 1995. The locomotive was rebuilt by American Motive Power in Roanoke, Va., in August 2015 and converted from a direct current transmission to alternating current. The road unit, one of the prototypes for what GE calls the DC2AC program, was painted in a special scheme with a blue mane trimmed in yellow and a gray carbody, dubbed the “Sonic Bonnet” after video game character Sonic the Hedgehog.
For more information on the prototype locomotives, check out Greg McDonnell’s article “DC2AC” in Locomotive 2016 from Trains magazine.
Model features
The first thing I noticed after removing the AC44C6M from the packaging was the incredible number of factory-installed details on the model. The front pilot has a snow plow, m.u. and train line hoses (with the glad hands picked in silver), an uncoupling lever, m.u. receptcales, and an m.u. cable. The rear pilot lacks a plow, but has many of the same details, as well as spare coupler knuckles painted a rust color.
That high level of detail continues on the cab, which has formed-wire grab irons, a blanked out nose headlight, and a plain cab door. On top, the 4000 has a JEM Communications Positive Train Control antenna farm with Sinclair antennas. Both sides of the cab have a sunshade, a pair of wind deflectors with mirrors, and a molded (non-functioning) Locomotive Speed Limiter light. Like other Rivet Counter line models, the AC44C6M has a detailed cab interior.
See-through, etched-metal parts are the name of the game on the long hood. More than 20 intake and exhaust grills can be found on the radiator compartment alone. Additional long hood details include a bathtub-style exhaust silencer and a cast brass Nathan AirChime P5R24 air horn.
The locomotive has plastic GE Hi-Ad truck sideframes with raised foundry data, factory-installed brake cylinders, and rotating bearing caps. I appreciated that the wheel faces are painted a medium rust color.
Even the 5,000-gallon fuel tank is well detailed. Two air tanks fit into a notch on the engineer’s side. Details on both sides include a digital fuel gauge, fuel filler, and emergency fuel cutoff.
Separating the shell from the chassis was a simple matter of removing the front and rear draft-gear boxes. The motor, framed by brass flywheels, is centered in the chassis. Screws secure the motherboard to a weight that spans the motor; the ESU LokSound V5 decoder is plugged into the board. The speakers are located over the rear truck.
A closer look
Our review sample is neatly painted in the eye-catching blue-and-gray paint scheme applied to NS 4000 and 4001. The lettering placement matched the many prototype photos that I found online. For the most part the colors were opaque, but some blue from the mane was visible under the yellow trim.
I did the initial speed testing at the workbench using an NCE Power Cab. At step 1, the six-axle road unit moved at 0.9 scale mph. At step 28, the locomotive achieved a top speed of 63 smph. The maximum operating speed of the prototype is 75 mph. With a drawbar pull of 5.4 ounces, the NS diesel can pull 76 free-rolling cars on straight and level track.
Then I took the AC44C6M over to our Winston-Salem Southbound to see how it would perform in an operating layout environment. Though the six-axle locomotive looked a bit out of place on the compact Tar Branch, it had no problem navigating the No. 4 turnout and 30-degree crossing serving Atlas Supply Co.
It’s refreshing to see model manufacturers looking beyond stock locomotives and producing rebuilds. Though some rebuilds are small in number, that’s not the case here. There are more than 900 AC44C6M diesels on the NS roster. The modernized units travel throughout the North American rail network, so even if you don’t model the NS, the ScaleTrains Rivet Counter line diesels would look right at home on a contemporary layout.
Watch footage of the ScaleTrains HO NS AC44C6M in action on the Winston-Salem Southbound Tar Branch.
Facts & features
Price: Direct-current model with 21-pin connector, $225; with ESU LokSound V5 sound decoder, two cube-type speakers, and ESU-designed PowerPack with two super capacitors, $335
Manufacturer
ScaleTrains
4901 Old Tasso Rd. NE
Cleveland, TN 37312
scaletrains.com
Era: 2015 to present (as decorated)
Road names: Norfolk Southern (blue mane with yellow stripe, black mane with blue stripe, black mane with Tuscan Red stripe, Thoroughbred, Thoroughbred in partial primer, and Thoroughbred with sinewave). One to three numbers per paint scheme
Features
- Body-mounted metal semi-scale Type E couplers without trip pins, at correct height
- Metal wheel stubs on plastic drive axle gears, correctly gauged
- Minimum radius, 18”; recommended radius, 22”
- Weight: 1 pound, 7.4 ounces
