MTH Trains MTH20-21739-1 O Scale AC4400cw Diesel Engine w/Proto-Sound 3.0 (Hi-Rail Wheels) - CSX Cab No. 601 Spirit of Waycross

From the dawn of dieselization through its first sixdecades, virtually every American diesel locomotive used DC traction motors. Bythe early 1990s, however, a series of technological advances allowed designersto tap the inherent superiority of AC traction  namely, the ability of an ACmotor to start a heavier load than a DC motor, with the same prime mover. Thesuperior adhesion of AC power touched off a new horsepower race because, withthe same number of wheels, AC traction could put more horsepower on the rails.

Two years behind rival EMD, General Electric entered the ACtraction business in June 1993 with the AC4400CW  4400 horsepower, C for3-axle trucks, and W for wide North American cab. The new engine wasbasically an AC version of the Dash 9-44CW introduced the same year. The keyexternal difference between the two engines is the large box behind the cab onthe left side of the AC 4400CW, which houses much of the AC tractionelectronics.

Although General Electrics AC power arrived on the scenelater, its AC engines have outsold those made by EMD. One reason may be GE suse of one inverter bank per traction motor, a design that allows the crew tocut out a single malfunctioning motor and still retain more than 80% of alocomotives function. On a comparable EMD AC-powered engine, an entire truckhas to be taken offline if one of its three motors fails.

One area of weakness for GE was its high adhesion trucks,which were generally acknowledged to be inferior to EMDs steerable radialtruck. Later model AC4400CWs feature GEs own version of a steerable truck,which improves adhesion on curves.

Now you can bring the brute strength of the AC4400CW to yourown freight operations. This model offers the industry-leading features youexpect in a Premier diesel: awesome sounds, superb detailing, see-through bodygrilles, a wealth of added-on details, and smooth operation at any throttlesetting from a crawl to high-speed mainline service.

Intricately Detailed, Durable ABSBody

Die-Cast Truck Sides, Pilots andFuel Tank

Metal Chassis

Metal Handrails and Horn

Moveable Roof Fans

Metal Body Side Grilles

Detachable Snow Plow

(2) Handpainted Engineer CabFigures

Authentic Paint Scheme

Metal Wheels, Axles and Gears

(2) Remote-ControlledProto-Couplers

O Scale Kadee-Compatible CouplerMounting Pads

Prototypical Rule 17 Lighting

Directionally Controlled ConstantVoltage LED Headlight

Lighted LED Cab Interior Light

Illuminated LED Number Boards

Operating LED Ditch Lights

(2) Precision Flywheel-EquippedMotors

Operating ProtoSmoke Diesel Exhaust

Onboard DCC/DCS Decoder

Locomotive Speed Control In ScaleMPH Increments

Proto-Scale 3-2 3-Rail/2-RailConversion Capable

1:48 Scale Proportions

Proto-Sound 3.0 With The DigitalCommand System Featuring Quillable Horn With Freight Yard Proto-Effects

Unit Measures: 19 1/2x 2 1/2 x4

Operates On O-42 Curves