The Athearn ATHG81314 P42 Amtrak 50th Anniversary Midnight Blue #100 HO Scale model locomotive is a must - have for train enthusiasts. Amtrak created five commemorative 50th Anniversary P42 locomotives to mark 50 years as America's Railroad. Each has a unique design, including old favorites, a present - day look, and new concepts like the Midnight Blue livery. Athearn worked closely with Amtrak to replicate these special liveries accurately. This specific model (#100) features a bolt - on nose and a PTC antenna farm. As an officially licensed Amtrak product, it has many great features. There are 3 nose variations, DCC - ready with Quick Plug technology and a 21 - pin NEM connector. It has flexible rubber hoses, separately applied wire handrails, and a photo - etched metal radiator fan grille. The highly - detailed underframe includes air tanks and different rock shields. McHenry scale knuckle couplers are Kadee - compatible. The Genesis driveline provides smooth and quiet operation, with all - wheel drive and electrical pickup. Wheels with RP25 contours work on popular track brands. LED lighting includes ditch lights and red marker lights. The die - cast frame offers superior tractive effort, and the packaging ensures safe storage. For sound - equipped models, they come with an onboard DCC decoder with SoundTraxx Tsunami2 sound. The sound units work in both DC and DCC, with full DCC functions in DCC mode. Engine, horn, and bell sounds operate in DC, and all functions are NMRA - compatible in DCC mode. You can program multiple - unit lashups and change many functions via CV changes. The prototype, the General Electric P42DC (Genesis), is Amtrak's primary passenger locomotive. It produces 4250 HP, has a top speed of 110mph, and is used on short and long - distance trains. Via Rail also has a fleet of these locomotives with special features like spotlight and horn sets. These models are highly detailed, with a cab interior and underbody details. They offer all the expected operational, light, and sound features of the Genesis series.

Using this Athearn Amtrak locomotive model is easy. First, make sure you have the right power source. If you're using a DC power supply, the engine, horn, and bell sounds will work. For more functions, switch to DCC mode. When programming a multiple - unit (MU) lashup, just set it up with the lead unit controlling the horn, bell, and lights. The model runs smoothly on all popular brands of track thanks to its RP25 contour wheels. As for maintenance, keep it clean. Use a soft brush to remove dust from the body, wheels, and details. Avoid using harsh chemicals that could damage the paint or the plastic parts. Store it in the provided packaging when not in use to protect it from scratches and other damages. If you need to change any functions, refer to the CV chart included in the box. It will guide you through making changes via Configuration Value (CV) changes. Enjoy your model train experience with this high - quality locomotive!