PRE-ORDER: Athearn Genesis 2984 - EMD SD70ACu (DC Silent) Norfolk Southern (NS) 7241 - HO Scale

Pre-Order Due Date:  April 04 2026

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Pre-Order FAQ

Most manufacturers give an ETA on when they expect to release the pre-order which can be seen near the "add to cart" button on the product page. They also give an order due date (found in the product description) which is indicative of when the product is expected to go into production.

There is a 5% NON-refundable deposit for preorders, this amount will be deducted from the price of the product when it arrives. You will see how much downpayment is required after adding the item to your cart. We do not store your payment information and it is not charged by us when the product arrives.

For any pre-order submitted after the due date, we will try our best to fulfill your pre-order, but are at the mercy of the manufacturer and if they produce more than were preordered by their dealers. If we cannot fulfill your pre-order we will credit the 5% deposit to you.

When the pre-ordered product(s) are available to ship, you will receive an email requesting the remaining 95% payment that will take you to your cart. It is at this point you are asked for shipping address and method OR in-store pickup.. We will never charge your payment method without you checking out. At this time you are also able to add other in-stock items if you wish.

Please note that Estimated Arrival Dates can change at any point. Midwest Model Railroad is not responsible for manufacturers delaying production. Visit midwestmodelrr.com/pre-orders/ for more information.

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FXE FEATURES:
• NEW TOOLING! Rock guards (protective screens over the cab windows)
• Deck mounted front ditch lights
• Nathan 5-chime horn
• High headlight location (between number boards)
• NS style PTC antenna array
• Large front snowplow

Approximately 30 retired Norfolk Southern SD70ACu’s were reportedly sold to Progress Rail and subsequently acquired by Ferromex (FXE) in 2024 for rebuilding and deployment in Mexico, with work done by Progress Rail and FXE at their Guadalajara shops. These locomotives, once common on NS, have been given a new life as FXE units.

NS FEATURES:
• Deck mounted front and rear ditch lights, alternating flashing with horn activation (Function in DCC)
• Nathan 5-chime horn
• High headlight location (between number boards)
• NS style PTC antenna array
• Large front snowplow

In 2016, NS started an ambitious rebuild program using ex-UP SD9043MAC’s as cores. The rebuild included upgraded computers and electronic brakes, engine and main generator overhaul, and new EMD cab. NS designated them as SD70ACU’s.

CP FEATURES:
• CP “System Red” scheme with monochrome Beaver logo
• Traditional nose detail configuration, featuring a blue flag bracket and center mounted nose door lock

In 2019, CP began to acquire their SD70ACu units (#7000 - 7059) after providing SD9043MAC cores to Progress Rail for completion of these rebuilt units. The “Standard System Red” scheme was applied to most units (#7000 - 7009, #7025 - 7059), featuring the modern Beaver logo.

CP FEATURES:
• CP Heritage scheme with “script” lettering
“Heritage” nose detail configuration, featuring a blue flag
bracket and high mounted nose door lock

In 2019, CP began to acquire their SD70ACu units (#7000 - 7059) after providing SD9043MAC cores to Progress Rail for completion of these rebuilt units. #7010 - 7014 were painted into the Tuscan red and gray “script” paint scheme, reminiscent of earlier CP locomotives and rolling stock that was used between 1960 and 1968

CP FEATURES:
• CP Heritage scheme with “block” lettering
• “Heritage” nose detail configuration, featuring a blue flag
bracket and high mounted nose door lock

In 2019, CP began to acquire their SD70ACu units (#7000 - 7059) after providing SD9043MAC cores to Progress Rail for completion of these rebuilt units. #7015 - 7019 feature a similar scheme to the Tuscan red and gray “script” units, except that these units feature the block lettering that was used between 1949 and 1959.

All Road Names

SOUND-EQUIPPED MODELS ALSO FEATURE
• Onboard DCC decoder with SoundTraxx Tsunami2 sound
• Dual cube speakers for optimal sound quality
• Sound units operate in both DC and DCC
• Full DCC functions available when operated in DCC mode
• All functions NMRA compatible in DCC mode
• Precision slow speed control
• Program a multiple unit (MU) lashup with lead unit only horn, bell, and lights
• Many functions can be altered via Configuration Value (CV) changes
• CV chart included in the box

PROTOTYPE SPECIFIC INFORMATION

In September of 2014, Norfolk Southern purchased 100 exUnion Pacific SD90MAC locomotives from EMD/Progress Rail to assist in the high volume traffic that NS was experiencing. As AC traction was being more accepted by the railroad, which previously had relied solely on DC power, the 90MACs fit the new direction of motive power for the railroad.

Starting in 2016, NS began the SD70ACU capital rebuild program using the SD90MAC units as cores. All major components were either overhauled or replaced, including an overhaul of the 710G3C prime mover. Most notable in the rebuild is that from the electrical cabinet forward, all new components were used, including a new ACe style isolated cab with AAR-style control stand. The new electrical cabinet contains Mitsubishi electronics, replacing the 90MAC’s original Siemens equipment.

Later, starting in 2018, Canadian Pacific announced a plan to acquire 30 SD70ACU units from EMD/Progress Rail using their laid up fleet of SD90MAC locomotives as core units. That number was later increased from 30 to 60. They also acquired 2 ex-Union Pacific units, in 2019.

In November of 2019, CP painted 5 SD70ACU’s into 5 separate military inspired paint schemes. These units commemorate the armed forces and a special tribute locomotive for D-Day wearing camo and the Allied invasion stripes used on June 6, 1944.

All Canadian Pacific units were completed by 2020, including CP 7030 which features the Lord Strathcona’s Herald. The CP Rail units can be seen plying the rails of Canada and the US, with a few having even reached Mexico!

Approximately 30 retired Norfolk Southern SD70ACu’swere reportedly sold to Progress Rail and subsequently acquired by Ferromex (FXE) in 2024 for rebuilding and deployment in Mexico, with work done by Progress Rail and FXE at their Guadalajara shops. These locomotives, once common on NS, have been given a new life as FXE units,

SD70ACU SERIES LOCOMOTIVE FEATURES:
• Illuminated truck lights • Illuminated number boards
• See-through air intakes
• Minimum radius: 18” — Recommended radius: 22”

GENESIS DIESEL LOCOMOTIVE FEATURES:
• Animated Roller Bearing Trucks
• Coupler cut levers • Flexible MU hoses
• Flexible trainline hose • See-through cab windows
• Full cab interior • Walkway tread
• Windshield wipers • Wire grab irons
• Lift rings • Sander lines
• Rock guards (protective screens over the cab windows) per prototype
• DCC-ready features Quick Plug™ plug-and-play technology with 21-pin NEM connector
• Fine-scale Celcon handrails for scale appearance
• Detailed fuel tank with fuel fillers, fuel gauges, and breather pipes,
• Body-mounted McHenry® operating scale knuckle couplers
• Genesis driveline with 5-pole skew wound motor, precision machined flywheels, and multi-link drivetrain for trouble free operation
• Eight-wheel drive with precision gears for smooth and quiet operation
• All-wheel electrical pickup provides reliable current flow
• Wheels with RP25 contours operate on all popular brands of track
• LED Lighting for trouble free operation
• Heavy die-cast frame for greater traction and more pulling power
• Scaled from prototype resources including drawings, field measurements, photographs, and more
• Accurately-painted and –printed paint schemes
• Fully-assembled and ready-to-run
• Packaging securely holds the model for safe storage