{"product_id":"scaletrains-38759-rivet-ho-ge-c39-8-phase-iii-ditch-lights-conrail-quality-cr-6009-dcc-sound","title":"ScaleTrains 38759 Rivet HO GE C39-8 Phase III \"Ditch Lights\" Conrail Quality CR 6009 DCC \u0026 Sound","description":"\u003ch1\u003eScaleTrains 38759 Rivet HO GE C39-8 Phase III \"Ditch Lights\" Conrail Quality CR 6009 DCC \u0026amp; Sound\u003c\/h1\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAs the 1980s began, and with the success of their DASH 7 series, introduced in 1976, locomotive builder General Electric sought to build upon their momentum with an improved line of locomotives. Based upon technological advances and customer feedback, GE debuted its “Dash 8” series in 1983. Featuring improvements to the FDL series prime mover and microprocessor controls, the DASH 8 line promised improved performance, as well as improved reliability and maintainability, over their DASH 7 predecessors. One of the first models to be unveiled was the C39-8, with a pair of testbed units built and painted for Norfolk Southern, numbered NS 8550-8551.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhile keeping the clean contours of the long hood and rounded cab roof, two characteristics of the DASH 7 series, these new DASH 8s featured larger, angular radiator “wings” at the rear of the carbody, an angular low short hood, and a boxy dynamic brake and clean air compartment at the front of the long hood, which jutted above the cab roofline. The NS testbed units made an imposing sight in their black paint, and were soon joined by an additional 12 units, NS 8552-8563, built in 1984. While similar to their testbed siblings, these additional units featured slight changes to their carbodies, known as “phases” to railfans and modelers. The testbed units would be dubbed “Phase Ia”, while NS 8552-8563, with slight production changes to their radiator grills and dynamic brake compartment would be known as “Phase Ib” units.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePleased with their performance, an additional 50 units were delivered in 1985, NS 8564-8613. “Phase II” units, they differed from the previous orders by featuring high-capacity dynamic brakes that resulted in an additional dynamic brake intake and exhaust opening (for a total of three), a handbrake wheel instead of ratchet handbrake, and a larger 4,400 gallon fuel tank replacing the 3,900 gallon tank of previous orders. Also eliminated were the vertical grab iron “ladder strips” on the end of the long hood. Rounding out the NS fleet would be an additional 50 units, built in two batches of 25 units each, NS 8614-8638 and NS 8639-8663, delivered in 1986. These so-called “Phase III” units would feature even more subtle changes; the radiator grills at the end of the long hood featured a slightly different configuration and a flush mounting, the cab doors changed to a square-cornered design, and the units featured a tall 42” snowplow at both ends, in contrast with the smaller 35” plow of previous deliveries.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eJust when it seemed like NS would be the sole operator of the C39-8, eastern carrier Conrail ordered 22 units, delivered as CR 6000-6021, in 1986. Phase III units that shared some common features as their NS contemporaries, they did have some physical differences unique to Conrail; single-color red marker lights were installed instead of the tri-color class lights found on the NS units, and a massive anticlimber assembly was installed on the front pilot. Delivered in Conrail’s attractive blue and black scheme, they featured the then-standard large Conrail “Wheels on Rail” logo on the long hood.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOn the NS, the C39-8s could often be found hauling one of NS’s key commodities at the time: coal. Setup with bidirectional control stands, it wasn’t uncommon to see a C39-8, or several, working long-hood first on a lengthy coal drag on NS territory. Conrail’s small fleet was commonly seen working on a variety of assignments, from mixed freight to intermodal. Both CR’s and NS’s C39-8s could be routinely seen operating as run-through power on connecting railroads, such as CSX, Union Pacific, and Southern Pacific. CR and NS C39-8s have been photographed far away from home; they’ve been seen as far west as Long Beach, California, operating on the Southern Pacific. In fact, a power-hungry SP leased Conrail C39-8s in the early 1990s, with the leased units featuring a small red “L” painted on their cab sides, signifying their leased status, and adding a splash of color to SP motive power consists over the system.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAs the years and miles added up, the C39-8s of both CR and NS would undergo small physical changes. To aid crews climbing aboard, small vertical grabs would be added to the nose fronts of the NS units, while Conrail opted to add large “inverted-L” grabs to the noses of theirs for the same purpose. Repaints in later years would introduce new paint scheme variations; some NS units would receive dashed white sill stripes, while some CR units would receive solid white frame stripes. Several CR units were noted to receive the “Conrail Quality” paint scheme, as well. Their as-built class lights eventually disappeared from the NS fleet, and by the mid-1990s, FRA-mandated ditch lights began to appear on both the CR and NS fleets.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe year 1998 brought more change, as Norfolk Southern and CSX acquired Conrail. The eastern giant was split between the two carriers, including locomotives and rolling stock. NS received 13 former CR C39-8s, while the remaining 9 CR C39-8s went to CSX. While most kept their blue paint, gaining a “patch” renumber into the CSX fleet, four of them received CSX paint - two painted in YN2, and two receiving YN3. Norfolk Southern repainted several of their former Conrail C39-8s as well, exchanging their coats of Conrail Blue for NS black.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBy the early 2000s, with many miles racked up by the C39-8s, and newer, more reliable and fuel-efficient locomotives coming online, the trailblazing GEs began to be set aside in deadlines, with many meeting the scrapper’s torch. Some were spared that fate, being exported to Central America, home to railroads with a healthy appetite for used US locomotives. A handful found new homes on US shortlines and lease operators, but their use was to be short-lived. As of this writing, the only examples in operation in the US are a pair of former Conrail (by way of NS) units in use by eastern shortline Pennsylvania Northeastern Railroad. While no longer hustling along the high iron with long coal or hotshot intermodal trains in tow, the PNRR’s pair of units operates regularly, and represents the last of GE’s pioneering early DASH 8s.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFEATURES:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eNew road number\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSeries 6000 to 6021, built 1986\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eRoad number 6009\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMid to late 1990s appearance\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eOperating ditch lights on front pilot face – alternately flash when horn is blown, per prototype\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMixed Adirondack and GSC trucks with rotating Timken bearings; separate brake cylinders, center axle shock snubber, brake lines and handbrake chain detail; and separate sanding lines and brackets\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eRetrofitted “inverted-L” nose grab irons\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eRetrofitted tall vertical grab iron on rear end of long hood\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eConrail ‘Quality’ scheme\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFully-assembled\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMultiple road numbers\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eOperating LED-illuminated ground lights on both sides of locomotive*\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eOperating LED front, rear, and side walkway lights*\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eOperating LED-illuminated tricolor front and rear class lights with lenses**\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePrinted and LED-illuminated front and rear number boards*\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSmall front and rear snowplows with wire grab irons\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSemi-scale coupler buffers equipped with durable metal semi-scale standard Type E knuckle couplers\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e3-hose multiple unit (MU) hose clusters with silver gladhands\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSee-through round-hole stepwell steps\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFront and rear drop steps\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eGE “nub” tread plate on walkways\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eShort hood with blanked lower headlight housing\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDetailed cab interior with separate floor, rear wall, seats, and control stand\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCab sunshades\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSliding cab side windows\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDual wind deflector with mirror mounted fore and aft of sliding cab windows on both sides\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSunshades on both sides of cab\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDual Motorola ASP-16 “Firecracker” antennas on cab roof (communication and End of Train EOT)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eNathan P135R24 horn mounted on engine compartment roof\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSee-through dynamic brake exhaust\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e24 individually applied etched metal see-through radiator intake and exhaust grilles on sides and top of radiator compartment\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eEarly 6-panel radiator exhaust grilles\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eExhaust silencer with extension\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAccurately profiled frame with separately applied plumbing and cabling\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eGSC trucks with Hyatt bearing housings; separate brake cylinders, center axle shock snubber, brake lines and handbrake chain detail; and separate sanding lines and brackets\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDual Graham-White (Prime) finned 075 air filters\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHighly-detailed 4,400 gallon fuel tank with fuel fillers, round and vertical fuel gauges\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAir reservoirs with separate plumbing\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFactory-applied wire grab irons, spare knuckles, trainline hoses with silver gladhands, MU cables, uncoupling levers, windshield wipers, underframe bell, and more\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMotor with 5-pole skew wound armature\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDual flywheels\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAll-wheel drive\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAll-wheel electrical pick-up\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePrinting and lettering legible under magnification\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eOperates on Code 70, 83, and 100 rail\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePackaging safely stores model\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMinimum Radius: 18”\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eRecommended Radius: 22”\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDCC \u0026amp; sound equipped locomotives also feature:\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eESU LokSound 5 DCC \u0026amp; Sound decoder\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eTwo (2) cube-type speakers\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e16-cylinder FDL-16 prime mover sound\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eESU designed PowerPack with two (2) super capacitors****\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eOperates on both DC and DCC layouts\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e* Lighting features operate when using an ESU decoder with appropriate programming while operating using DCC\u003cbr\u003e** Class lights illuminate in white color only in DC operation. Access and changing colors requires an ESU decoder with appropriate programming while operating using DCC\u003cbr\u003e*** In DC operation, both front ditch lights illuminate; rear ditch lights (if equipped) do not illuminate\u003cbr\u003e**** Compatible with appropriately programmed ESU decoders while operating using DCC\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"ScaleTrains","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44084288585941,"sku":"SXT38759","price":299.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0520\/1972\/4454\/products\/scaletrains-38759-rivet-ho-ge-c39-8-phase-iii-ditch-lights-conrail-quality-cr-6009-dcc-sound.jpg?v=1679699108","url":"https:\/\/www.whiterosehobbies.com\/products\/scaletrains-38759-rivet-ho-ge-c39-8-phase-iii-ditch-lights-conrail-quality-cr-6009-dcc-sound","provider":"White Rose Hobbies","version":"1.0","type":"link"}