From February 1939 through December 1949, the General Motors Electro-Motive Division built 1,145 EMD NW2 1,000 horsepower switcher locomotives. The NW2 was widely popular, with more than fifty Class 1 railroads purchasing more than 1,100 NW2’s. They were also popular with industries, and several were purchased by the US Navy. The NW2’s were EMD’s new 12-cylinder, 567A prime mover. The NW2 was 44 feet long and equipped with the standard B-B truck arrangement. Typical distinguishing features of the NW2 switchers include two stacks in the middle of the hood, a half-height radiator grill on the front, no sand box on the front platform, no small louvers at the front corners, and the tops of the front cab windows are curved to match the curve of the roof. Our model is of the phase V locomotives. The main difference between the Phase V and the Phase 1-4 NW2’s is the slope of the long hood just ahead of the cab

The EMD SW7 is a 1,200 horsepower diesel switcher locomotive built by General Motors Electro-Motive Division between October 1949 and January 1951. At 1,200 horsepower, the SW7 replaced the 1,000 horsepower NW2 in the EMD catalog. The SW7 was reasonably priced and was widely popular, being found on over 50 railroads and numerous industries (where some can still be found in use today). The SW7 was 44 feet long and equipped with the standard B-B truck arrangement. Typical distinguishing features of the SW7 switchers, compared to the NW2s, are a full-height radiator grill on the front (Phase 1), dual versus single headlights and rear lights, and the tops of the front cab windows are straight, rather than curved like the NW2’s.

In this production, we are offering models in seven prototypical paint schemes, two non-prototypical paint schemes (denoted with “NP”), and also one Unpainted model. Each model is equipped with the Paragon4 DC/DCC Sound & Control System. Industry-leading Model Features:

  • Paragon4 Sound & Control System featuring ROLLING THUNDER
  • Integral Dual-Mode Decoder with Back EMF for Superb Slow Speed Operation in DC and DCC 
  • Precision Drive Mechanism Engineered for Heavy Towing and Smooth Slow Speed Operation
  • All Wheel Electrical Pick-up
  • Die Cast Body with Die Cast Chassis for Maximum Tractive Effort
  • Premium Caliber Painting
  • Prototypically Accurate Paint Schemes and Road Numbers
  • Many Separately Applied Details such as Handrails, Grab Irons, Smokestacks, Horn, and Bell
  • Dual and Single Headlight Options Accurate for Each Paint Scheme
  • Prototypical Light Operation
  • Prototypically Accurate Sounds for the EMD SW7 Switchers
  • Metal Kadee-compatible Couplers (2)
  • Will Operate on Code 55, Code 70, and Code 80 Rail
  • Minimum Operating Radius: 9 inches