| Prototype
Information —
The
General Motors Locomotive Group (GMLG) Electro-Motive Division
(EMD) SD70MAC is one
of the most common locomotives plying the rails today. Originally
introduced in late 1993 with
an order for the Burlington Northern, the production now
totals over 900 units, exceeding the
combined production of the SD80MAC and SD90MAC locomotives
by over 300 units.
Designed
to be a solid locomotive to upgrade the Burlington Northern
fleet, the SD70MAC has
its origins in the SD60MAC design demonstrated on the BN.
At
this time, the SD70MAC, in all of its versions, has been
operated
by six different railroads
in a total of eight different paint schemes. The railroads
that operate this locomotive span
from East to West and from Mexico to Alaska! The locomotives
are used to haul all kinds of
freight, and even passenger trains (Alaska Railroad). For
comparison, the SD80MAC has been
operated in three paint schemes and the SD90MAC has been
operated by three railroads in
four paint schemes.
Model Features —
All
of these models will feature our White LED Headlight,
magnetic knuckle couplers, printed
and lighted number boards, MU hose detail, a powerful
five-pole motor with dual brass flywheels,
and a DCC-friendly mechanism. Additionally, the models will
feature walkway-mounted, lighted
ditch lights! Handrails will be made of a paintable material
so modelers can easily add white end
railings.
Featuring
a new bodyshell and trucks to correctly represent this
version
of the SD70MAC,
these models will also be equipped with all-wheel electrical
pick-up and blackened metal
wheels. The trucks replicate EMD's HTCR Phase I trucks.
Paint Scheme Information —
Burlington Northern
As
noted above in the Prototype History, the SD70MAC grew
out of the EMD/BN SD60MAC demonstrators.
The first SD70MAC was delivered to the BN in 1993 and
established a
standard locomotive type that remains a favorite on
BNSF today. As the last new locomotives
purchased by Burlington Northern, the SD70MAC has a special
place in US Railroad History.
BNSF Merger Scheme
When
the Burlington Northern and Santa Fe railroads announced
that they would be merging, a special
one-of-a-kind locomotive was released from the paint shop.
This very special locomotive commemorated
the merger in a unique way: the famous Santa Fe "Warbonnet"
styling was painted using the attractive
Burlington Northern "Executive" colors. The locomotive
was a rolling "paint scheme merger!" As the only
SD70MAC to ever wear a "Warbonnet" paint scheme,
Kato is pleased to offer the locomotive in model form.
BNSF "Swoosh" SD70MAC
Kato
is happy to announce the SD70MAC in BNSF (Burlington Northern
Santa Fe) “Swoosh” Cab
Headlight and Nose Headlight variations. The “Swoosh” paint
scheme is the latest look for the BNSF rail road; at once
celebrating its past history, while at the same time modernizing
its look for the future. Available in both Cab
headlight variation and Nose headlight
variations. This
scheme is also known as the "PowerBar, Wedge, Nike,
2005, and New Image" scheme.
Photo provided by Kato USA
|
Wig-Wag, LLC
Click
photo to see large view
Click
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