🎄Get it by Christmas Eve: Order by 12/15🎄
SKU: ATH-2978-PRE

PREORDER Athearn HO 2978 SD40-2 Locomotive, Burlington Northern Santa Fe #1596 (DCC & Sound Equipped) | 265.49

10% down: $26.55
Our Price: $265.49
MSRP: $294.99

Note: You will reserve this item today for a 10% down payment of $26.55. Approximately 30-45 days before your item is expected at the warehouse, we will invoice you $238.94 plus shipping and any applicable taxes.

How Preorders Work

Expected release date is Nov 14, 2026

Quantity
30-Day Hassle-Free Returns

Description

In 1989, Burlington Northern returned to its traditional colors of Cascade Green and black with the unveiling of what was soon called by many railfans, the "whiteface." Locomotives sported a large BN logo on the nose of the locomotive and featured a white cab face and a white stripe applied to the frame below the cab and radiator areas. In 1991, BN added the now familiar 2-inch wide separator stripe on the long hood between the upper black and lower green section. America flags were also added to the locomotives battery boxes in support for those employees who were called to active service for Desert Storm.

ATHEARN EMD SD40-2 DIESEL LOCOMOTIVE PROTOTYPE AND BACKGROUND INFO:

The SD40-2 was introduced in January 1972 as part of EMD's Dash 2 series, responding to competing products from GE and ALCO. Reliability and versatility of the 3,000-horsepower SD40-2 made it the best-selling model in EMD's history and the standard of the industry for several decades after its introduction. The SD40-2 was an improvement over the SD40, with modular electronic control systems similar to those of the experimental SD45X and DDA40X. The last SD40-2 delivered to a United States railroad was built in July 1984, with production continuing for railroads in Canada until 1988.

ATHEARN EMD SD40-2 DIESEL LOCOMOTIVE FEATURES:

Flexible rubber MU hoses for durability
Flexible rubber trainline hose
See-through cab windows
Coupler cut levers
Wire grab irons
Exhaust stack
See-through dynamic brake and radiator fans
Frame mounted bell (unless noted)
Detailed fuel tank with fuel fillers, fuel gauges, & breather pipes
Separately applied air tanks
Fine-scale Celcon handrails for scale appearance
Photo-etched stainless steel windshield wipers
LED Illuminated front and rear headlights, ditch lights, and beacons (where applicable to the prototype)
DCC-ready Non-sound version features 21-pin NEM DCC plug
McHenry operating scale knuckle couplers
All-wheel drive with precision gears for smooth & quiet operation
All-wheel electrical pickup provides reliable current flow
5-pole motor with precision-machined flywheels and multi-link drive train for trouble free operation
Wheels with RP25 contours operate on all popular brands of track
Heavy die-cast frame for greater traction and more pulling power
Scaled from prototype resources including drawings, field measurements, photographs, and more
Accurately –painted and –printed paint schemes
Packaging securely holds model for safe storage
Fully-assembled and ready-to-run
Minimum radius: 18" Recommended radius 22"

SOUND-EQUIPPED MODELS ALSO FEATURE:

Onboard DCC decoder with SoundTraxx Econami sound
Single cube speaker for optimal sound quality
Sound units operate in both DC and DCC
Engine, horn, and bell sounds work in DC
Some functions are limited in DC
All functions NMRA compatible in DCC mode
Effect lighting (if applicable) using F5 and/or F6
Excellent low-speed operation
Program a multiple unit (MU) lashup with lead unit only horn, bell, and lights
Many functions can be altered via Configuration Value (CV) changes
CV chart included in the box

Preorders: Frequently Asked Questions

What is preordering and why would I want to do that?

In the model railroading world, most products are made in limited runs. Manufacturers no longer produce large quantities to sit in warehouses. Instead, they announce new items and set a preorder deadline. After that date, production is based largely on the number of reservations received.

Preordering through Model Train Stuff guarantees your spot in line for these limited releases. When the products arrive, orders are filled in the order they were placed. The earlier you preorder, the better your chance of getting your items, even if there are shipping delays or shortfalls from the manufacturer.

Preordering is as easy as 1-2-3!
  1. Preordering is available on any item with the word "Preorder" as the first word in the product title.
  2. We will email your invoice approximately 30-45 days before your preorder items land at the warehouse. With the interactive invoice you can select your preferred shipping method and pay the balance of your order right online!
  3. We'll ship you your preorder once your invoice is paid online. 

How can I place a preorder?

To place a preorder, simply look for items marked with "PREORDER" in their title on our website. Add the item to your cart and proceed to checkout. You'll be required to pay a 10% non-refundable deposit to secure your reservation.

When will I be charged for my preorder?

You'll be charged a 10% deposit at the time of placing your preorder. The remaining balance, along with any applicable sales tax and shipping charges, will be due when the item is ready to be shipped. We'll notify you via email with a link to complete your payment.

Can I cancel my preorder?

Preorders can be canceled, but please note that the 10% deposit is non-refundable and will not be credited to store credit, as it goes toward covering the cost of the uncollected reservation.

When will my preorder ship?

The estimated shipping date for each preorder item is listed on the product page. We'll also keep you updated via email if there are any changes to the shipping schedule. Once your final payment is received, your item will be shipped according to your selected shipping method.

What happens if a preorder item is delayed or canceled by the manufacturer?

In the rare event that a preorder item is delayed or canceled by the manufacturer, we'll notify you as soon as possible. You can choose to wait for the item, apply your deposit to a different item, or request a refund or store credit for your deposit.

How do I check the status of my preorder?

You can check the status of your preorder by logging into your account on our website and viewing your order history. We'll also keep you updated via email with any important information regarding your preorder.

What if I have more questions about preordering?

If you have any further questions about preordering, feel free to contact our customer service team. We're here to help you with any inquiries you may have.