January News column - 7
is based on a group of eleven diesels built for GO Transit (the
Ontario provincial government commuter service) which were
later sold to CN and numbered in 9668-9677. Prototype spe-
cific details on the Atlas ready-to-run model include two styles
of long-hood (CN single light without number boards and GO
Transit dual lights with number boards and classification lights),
3,000 gallon fuel tank, optional CN-style working ditch lights,
optional snow shields over air intakes, round or square sand
hatches, cab-mounted bell, three-chime air horn, and etched-
metal radiator fan grilles.
Standard features on all Atlas GP40-2 models include golden-
white LEDs, directional lighting, cab interior with crew, mov-
able drop steps, walkway safety tread, uncoupling levers, MU
and trainline hoses, snow plow, windshield wipers, individual
grab irons, and fine-scale handrails. Road names available
on this run will be Aberdeen, Carolina & Western; CN (zebra
stripes, as seen here); CN (CNNA); Central Michigan; Huron &
Eastern; Pan Am Railways; and GO Transit (new road numbers).
Undecorated models will be available for early GO Transit ver-
sions, and both early and late CN versions.
Each roadname will be available DCC-ready (Atlas Master™
Silver series at $169.95) with an NMRA plug for an aftermarket
decoder. Also DCC and sound equipped (Atlas Master™ Gold
Series at $259.95) with QSI® Quantum System™ sound and
Dual-Mode® Decoder (e-DMD) that allows operation in DCC or
analog DC. QSI includes dual speakers, diesel engine sounds,
squealing brakes, doppler effect, air release in neutral, and
coupler impact sounds when operated with DCC Helper mode
that mutes the whistle and bell for double heading. Atlas cau-
tions that due to the higher starting voltage required to
MRH-Jan 2013
