Athearn RTR 64959 HO Scale EMD F59PHI Diesel Metrolink SCAX 887 DCC & Sound

The EMD F59PHI is a high speed locomotive produced by Electro-Motive Division (EMD) from 1994 to 2001. It features an isolated cab, lightweight body, and a streamlined shape, features that were absent on the original commuter F59PH.

First built for the California Department of Transportation(CDOT), the F59PHI has seen service in all four corners of America, (Mostly seen in California) as well as in the Pacific Northwest/Montreal area in Canada , and most recently Chicago’s METRA Railroad.

CDOT wanted a locomotive that was both reliable and attractive. They approached EMD, who responded with the lightweight, high-speed F59PHI locomotive. Soon after, more orders arrived. Amtrak ordered 21 of these locomotives for their Pacific Surfliner service (separate from Amtrak California).

The F59PHI was produced until 2001. It was taken off of EMD’s lineup because it wasn’t able to meet the EPA Tier 1 regulations.

Some of Amtrak California’s F59PHI’s have been rebuilt by EMD, these are ECO repowers.

Founded as the Southern California Regional Rail Authority, Metrolink serves the southern area of California with eight different lines. The fleet consists of 52 locomotives, 260 rail cars, and three DMUs. The service owns hundreds of miles of its own track, much of which was purchased from other railroads in the area. EMD F59PHIs served on Metrolink from 1994 until the late 2010s. Included in this month’s release is an alternate history presentation of Metrolink’s F59PHI where the railroad’s launch livery stuck around for a couple years longer.

FEATURES:

• LED Lighting for realistic appearance
• DCC-ready features Quick Plug™ plug-and-play technology with 21-pin NEM connector
• See through window glazings and radiator fans
• See-through dynamic brake fans if applicable
• Separately-applied horn and wire grab irons
• Separately applied Celcon scale handrails on rear pilot
• Snowplow
• McHenry® operating scale knuckle couplers
• All-wheel drive with precision gears for smooth and quiet operation
• Heavy die-cast frame for greater traction and pulling power
• All-wheel electrical pickup provides reliable current flow
• 5-pole skew wound motor with precision-machined flywheels and multi-link drive train for optimal operation
• Wheels with RP25 contours operate on all popular brands of track
• Painted and printed for realistic decoration
• Fully-assembled and ready-to-run out of the box
• Highly detailed, injection molded body
• Multiple road numbers
• Minimum radius: 18”
• SOUND-EQUIPPED MODELS ALSO FEATURE:
• Onboard Econami Sound by SoundTraxx
• Sound units operate in both DC and DCC
• Full DCC functions available when operated in DCC mode
• Engine, horn, and bell sounds work in DC
• All functions NMRA compatible in DCC mode
• Excellent Slow speed control
• Effect lighting (if applicable) using F5 and/or F6
• Program a multiple unit (MU) lashup with lead unit only horn, bell, and lights
• Many functions can be altered via Configuration Value (CV) changes