HO Scale: Athearn Gensis SD70M with custom sound and lights

Filmed 03/26/16

You all have seen this locomotive before, but not like this. Now it has sound and custom lighting effects. Used to be this unit was just yard fodder that would sometimes get to lead a train only because it had functional head and ditchlights. It was a "Plain Jane," run of the mill Genesis SD70M. But now it's a bit more.

It all started with Josh's (NSmodeler24) video on the interior dashboard lighting he posted in a video on YT a year or so ago. My buddy Shane saw it and wanted to try it for himself. However, he models N scale and needed an HO scale unit to try this on. He ended up taking two of mine. This SD70M being one.

After he did the dashboard lights, I modernized the body, making it look more like the real 3984. Added the superdetailing the pilots, adding the wipers and various other details including the big PTC antenna array on the cab and changing the red side sill striping to yellow.

The more I ran this unit and posted it on YT, the more I really needed to get sound in this one. Come to find out, the ESU Loksound steam decoder I had could be rewritten into a decoder for an SD70M. So I had Shane work his magic again and not only got sound, but some extra lighting too, he even installed control levers on the dash for the Engineer, which he also installed. However, the coolest feature didn't make it into this video. I totally dropped the ball on that. But when the headlights and ditchlights are on, F3 with dim the heads, and shut off the ditchlights. So if it's stopped in a siding or working DPU nose out, I can use the dimmed headlight.

Here's a video Shane posted of his work on this locomotive...
   • Athearn HO SD70M With Sound, People a...  

This unit has become one of my favorites and after using it with that ESU decoder, I actually like how it performs over that of my Tsunami sound equipped units. It's rock solid, where as I never know what random goofy shit the Tsunamis may or may not do. They are testy, picky and I don't like the red light on the decoder that can often be seen through the fans or even shining through the body shell. And I have yet to have one with a decent sounding horn with any amount of volume.

Anyway, end rant. Up next, I have some railfanning footage from Friday afternoon up at Eton/Atherton area on the BNSF transcon. Then next Sunday will be one of my Dad's new "toys." Steam fans should like this. But that's all for now, till next time... thanks for watching!

Jason

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