The Athearn ATH71591 SD39 locomotive represents Dakota & Iowa #4027 in HO scale. It comes with DCC and Sound features, offering a highly immersive experience.
Detailed Information
DAIR Features
- These units have an interesting history. They started as SP units, then were repainted for the movie 'Switchback' in Rio Grande colors. After the movie, Anderson Rock Company used them in the same colors. In 2008, Dakota and Iowa bought them, painted them in an attractive scheme, and use them for various railroad services.
Road Number Specific Features - #4027
- Ex SP 5325
- FARR grilles
- Nose-mounted headlight
- Front operating ditch lights
- Large front plow
- P - 3 horn
- Firecracker antenna
- Rear brake wheel
- Removed front and rear SP light packages
Road Number Specific Features - #4028
- Ex SP 5319
- FARR grilles
- Cab-mounted headlight
- Front operating ditch lights
- Large front plow
- Leslie 3 - chime horn
- Sinclair antenna
- Rear brake wheel
- Removed front and rear SP light packages
SD39 Series Locomotive Features
- Separately applied air tanks for added realism
- Coupler cut levers
- Rubber MU hoses
- Photo - etch stainless steel windshield wipers
- Fine scale handrails
- Non - sound version has a 21 - pin NEM DCC plug
- See - through dynamic brake and radiator fans
- Curved radiator fan grab iron
- Exhaust stack
- Frame - mounted bell (unless noted)
- Detailed 4000 - gallon fuel tank (unless different capacity is noted)
- Flexicoil - C trucks with high or low brake cylinders as per the prototype
- McHenry® scale knuckle spring couplers
- See - through cab windows
- Bi - directional LED lighting
- All - wheel drive with precision gears for smooth and quiet operation
- All - wheel electrical pickup
- 5 - pole motor with flywheels and multi - link drivetrain for trouble - free operation
- Wheels with RP25 contours work on all popular brands of track
- Painted and printed realistically
- Highly - detailed, injection - molded body
- Minimum radius: 18'
- Recommended radius: 22'
Primed for Grime Models Feature
- It duplicates the look and feel of 'In Service' equipment
- Faded base colors match the prototype
- It's a great starting point for adding grime and rust
Sound Equipped Models Also Feature
- Onboard Econami sound decoder by Soundtraxx
- Engine startup sound sequence
- Dynamic brake sound or Non - Dynamic Straight to idle on F4
- Extra prime mover and horn sounds exclusive to Athearn
- Sounds recorded from a real EMD 12 - 645E3
- Multiple bell sound files configurable via Configuration Value (CV)
- Sound units work in both DC and DCC
- Full DCC functions available in DCC mode
- Engine, horn, and bell sounds work in DC
- All functions are NMRA compatible in DCC mode
- Excellent slow - speed control
- Current Keeper ready with on - board expansion plug
- Operating lighting functions with F5 and/or F6
- Program a multiple unit (MU) lashup with lead unit only horn, bell, and lights
- Many functions can be changed via CV
Prototype Specific Information
In 1966, EMD updated its locomotive catalog. The SD39 had a 2,300 hp turbocharged V12 engine, the smallest prime mover among SD locomotives in the EMD catalog. 54 were built for American railroads.
This page is based on the copyrighted Wikipedia article 'EMD SD39' under the Creative Commons Attribution - ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License (CC - BY - SA). You can redistribute it, verbatim or modified, as long as you follow the CC - BY - SA terms.
Specifications

Using this Athearn HO scale SD39 locomotive is a breeze. First, make sure you have a compatible power source. If you're using DC power, the engine, horn, and bell sounds will work just fine. For more functions, switch to DCC mode where you can access full DCC features. To start the engine, use the sound decoder to trigger the startup sound sequence. You can control the lighting functions with F5 and F6 buttons. When programming a multiple - unit (MU) lashup, remember that only the lead unit's horn, bell, and lights will be in use. As for maintenance, keep the locomotive clean. You can gently wipe the body with a soft cloth. Check the wheels regularly to make sure they're clean and not stuck. Avoid getting water or other liquids on the electrical components. If you're adding grime or rust to the primed - for - grime model, use appropriate modeling paints and techniques. And always follow the safety instructions, especially since this product is recommended for ages 14 and up.