Just announced by Athearn, another run of Frisco Gp38-2 locomotives. Four SLSF numbers will be offered with locomotive-specific features.; 406, 411, 476 and 478 available with and without SoundTraxx Tsunami 2 sound. Tsunami 2 sound means that the decoder will respond to changes in throttle and engine load to step up the notching of the prime mover automatically. You don't have to lock the locomotive speed, press a function button and then play with your DCC throttle to get those changes while being unable to change the locomotive speed as with another brand. See Athearn's website for more information: www.athearn.com Pre-order through July 28, 2017 with projected delivery late June 2018. For those tolerant of the BN patches, four numbers will be offered with locomotive-specific features; BN 2256, 2258, 2328, 2331.
I have recommended that Athearn re-consider using #476 as it has already been produced by a competitor previously.
So close to 477.....I notice in the ad it mentions chicken-wire radiator grills, wonder if the 476/478 will have the corrugated grills? Roger
Mine arrived today from Spring Creek Model Trains. I am very happy to report that the SoundTraxx sound decoder (TSU-GN1000) that Athearn used is a full-featured decoder with all the functionality of the SoundTraxx TSU-PNP Tsunami 2 decoders (but appropriately just limited to EMD 645 prime mover choices). I am very happy with them, however I will be converting to LEDs with fiber optics for all the lighting.