Athearn® Trains has just announced they have purchased select tooling from T55, the plastic division of Overland Models. T55 is one of the model railroading industry’s leading producers of high-quality injection-molded models. Using T55’s tooling, Athearn states the Genesis line will soon be producing a run of General Electric GEVO (ES44AC and ES44DC) models, as well as EMD SD70ACe and SD70M-2 models.

These prototypes are the most current locomotives from North America’s primary builders, and are found in the fleets of Union Pacific (including the Heritage Fleet and Bush Presidential Library and Museum), BNSF, CIT Leasing, CSX, Canadian National, Canadian Pacific, EMD Demonstrators, Ferromex, Florida East Coast, GE Demonstrators, Kansas City Southern, Montana Rail Link and Norfolk Southern.

Just as these locomotives are the backbone of today’s Class One and Regional railroads, they will also be an important addition to Athearn’s Genesis® series of HO model locomotives, and Athearn says they will be offered with and without sound. They will also feature directional lighting; operating ditch lights; separately applied, etched metal details; which is consistent with Athearn's Genesis line approach.

Athearn says that any backorder you may have placed with T55 will not be transferred. As Athearn announces each new Genesis run, they ask that you contact your local train store to place any new orders. Release dates, pricing and specific product information will be announced in future editions of Athearn News and online at Athearn.com.