The Athearn ATHG82376 GP9 locomotive represents the Great Northern #688 in HO scale, equipped with DCC and Sound Tsunami. In 1967, Great Northern adopted the Big Sky Blue paint - scheme of blue, white, and dark grey - green. In 1970, GN merged with other Hill roads to form Burlington Northern, and the Big Sky Blue units continued with a simple BN patch. GN features include a winterization hatch with a horn on top, long hood - forward operation, a “nail” style antenna, and GN style fuel tank skirts. Road - number specific features for #688 are dynamic brakes and a bell on the long hood. The GP9 series locomotive has many features. It has a full cab interior, wire grab irons, and see - through cab windows. It uses a Genesis driveline with a 5 - pole skew wound motor, ensuring smooth and quiet operation. The body - mounted McHenry® operating scale knuckle couplers and all - wheel electrical pickup provide reliable performance. Sound - equipped models come with an onboard DCC decoder with SoundTraxx Tsunami2 sound and dual cube speakers for great sound quality. They work in both DC and DCC modes.

Using this Athearn GP9 locomotive is easy. First, place it on your HO - scale track. If you're using DC mode, the engine, horn, and bell sounds will work right away. For DCC mode, you can access full DCC functions. You can also program a multiple - unit lashup with the lead unit controlling horn, bell, and lights. When it comes to maintenance, keep the locomotive clean. Wipe off any dust or dirt regularly. Check the wheels and couplers to make sure they move freely. If you notice any loose parts, secure them gently. For storage, use the provided packaging. It's designed to hold the model securely. Also, make sure to store it in a dry place away from direct sunlight. When running the locomotive, use a recommended track radius of at least 22 inches for the best performance.