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The Union Pacific #1979 is no ordinary entry in the Athearn Genesis catalogue. Unveiled in June 2021 in Omaha, Nebraska, this SD70M carries the 'We Are ONE' livery, a multicolour design created to honour the company's nine Employee Resource Groups. The cab number is no coincidence: 1979 was the year Union Pacific's first ERG, the Black Employee Network, was founded. It is just the 18th commemorative locomotive in the entire history of the company. Athearn has brought it to HO scale with the level of finish the Genesis line is known for.
SoundTraxx Tsunami2 and full factory electronics
The SoundTraxx Tsunami2 decoder comes factory-installed and operates on both DCC and analogue DC, with engine sound, horn and bell active in both modes. Under DCC, CVs are fully programmable and the system is NMRA-compliant, making integration with any digital command station straightforward. Lighting includes directional LEDs, illuminated number boards and operational front ditch lights, all managed through the decoder. The box also includes a CV chart for easy programming reference.
Genesis line mechanics and detail
The chassis is die-cast metal, with a five-pole skew-wound armature motor and computer-machined flywheels. Drive is all-wheel, with electrical pickup on every axle and metal RP25-profile wheels compatible with standard commercial track. Applied details include a painted interior cab with screens and seats, photo-etched stainless steel windshield wipers, rubber air hoses, fine-scale Celcon plastic handrails and hand-applied lift rings.
On the layout and in a consist
The SD70M is a locomotive with real visual presence on the track. Its multicolour 'We Are ONE' livery makes it stand out at the head of any contemporary freight consist set in the American West. The 18-inch minimum radius (22 inches recommended) allows it to handle layouts with moderate curves without difficulty. For those running multiple-unit formations, the MU lash-up system lets it be combined with other units under a single digital command, as is common in large Union Pacific consists. In a display case, the combination of commemorative livery, active LED lighting and interior cab detail makes it particularly striking.