August 18, 2010 - M.T.H. Electric Trains has begun shipping our DCC-ready HO SD70ACe diesel engines equipped with our all-new NMRA DCC Compliant board. This attractively priced diesel features our high-quality diesel drive train capable of running at very slow speeds. Unlike a lot of DCC-ready locomotives available today, the M.T.H. HO SD70ACe DCC-Ready diesel contains high quality lighting features that make operating sessions realistic and fun. Check it out by clicking on the video icon in the website news story.
As you watch the video, you'll notice that the lighting is bright and clear. Each locomotive's instruction manual contains no directions for replacing light bulbs in your diesel. That's because there aren't any. We use specially designed and controlled LEDs to create realistic lighting effects that occur automatically. All the lights for this model are LED’S, including the headlight, two number boards, two ditch lights and a tailight.
By equipping the locomotive with an NMRA compliant DCC-Ready receiver receptacle, you're ready-to-run using any DC power supply and are ready to quickly update your locomotive to command control with any DCC decoder. M.T.H.'s HO DCC-ready models feature directionally controlled LED's for lighting effects. We've even included board locations for DCC decoders to drive the Number boards and Ditch Left and Ditch Right LED's. Most importantly, these locomotives are compatible with any DCC decoders that use the standard 8-pin NMRA connection.
Each M.T.H. DCC-Ready engine has pre-installed jumpers that allow for out-ofthe-box operation. However, you can remove these jumpers to change the lighting to your liking. You can shut off the Ditch Lights or the Number Board Lights by removing the jumpers on the engine's circuit board. It's all explained in the easy-to-follow operator's manual.
Running your locomotive is a snap. Set the engine on the rails, and apply DC power. As you increase power, at about 3 volts, the lights will come on and she'll move out! Reduce the throttle until the engine stops, flip the direction switch, and then increase the throttle again. Continue increasing the voltage all the way to 16 volts DC for maximum speed.
Though each model is equipped with a headlight, operating ditch lights, and number board lights that are fully automatic in analog DC operatiing environments, we've included an Alternate Lighting Supply Jumper in case you have a DCC decoder that doesn't have an appropriate lighting supply line. Most all current DCC decoders have a lighting supply line so in most cases you won't need this jumper installed. If you have programmed your DCC decoder correctly and you still have no lights then you will need to install this jumper.
Prototype Facts
The SD70ACe is Electro-Motive Diesel’s hope for the future. While designed to meet the Environmental Protection Agency’s Tier-2 emissions requirements that took effect on January 1, 2005, this replacement for the SD70MAC also has a higher purpose: to recapture the lead in North American locomotive sales that EMD lost to General Electric in 1987.
Under the hood beats a third-generation model 710 diesel with 4300 horsepower; only slight modifications were needed to make the existing model 710 meet new emission standards. With 5000 such motors in service worldwide and a reputation for dependability, EMD reasoned that shop crews would prefer familiar technology.
Other than the prime mover, however, virtually every element of the SD70ACe has been re-thought to create a 21st century locomotive. Ergonomics were a prime consideration. The engine’s angular nose offers the crew far better visibility than most other locomotives, and the cab is comfortable for engineers of almost any size. Digital screens provide a range of information on what is happening both inside the locomotive and out on the road. The cab easily accommodates a crew of three — an important factor in a modern world without cabooses. And there is, of course, a cupholder for the engineer.
The SD70ACe also offers, in EMD’s words, “outstanding improvements in maintainability.” All electrical wires are on the right side of the locomotive and all piping is on the left, with most pipes and wires routed under the frame so they can be serviced by a man standing outside the engine — rather than crawling around at the bottom of the engine room. And the time between service intervals has been doubled, from every three months to every six months.
After a year of testing on the road and at the Association of American Railroads’ test track in Pueblo, CO, the first SD70ACe’s (‘e” stands for “enhanced”) were delivered to CSX Transportation in 2004. Today they are rostered by nearly every North American Class 1 railroad. At the present time, mainline American railroads generally maintain dual fleets of locomotives. AC power is used for heavy coal hauling and hotshot intermodal traffic because AC traction motors offer higher starting tractive effort with the same horsepower. Less expensive, traditional DC power is used for more mundane duties. But with the SD70ACe, Electro-Motive hopes it may have the 21st Century successor to its 1949 Geep — a locomotive that can be nearly all things to all railroads.
Did you know?
IntelliTrain, an option on the SD70ACe, uses cellular and GPS technology to allow a railroad’s maintenance department to monitor operating conditions and problems as they occur out on the road — making diagnosis and repair considerably easier.
The suggested retail price for these DCC Ready models is $189.95.
Each DCC Ready model includes the following features:
Intricately Detailed ABS Body
Authentic Paint Scheme & Cab Numbers
Detailed Truck Sides, Pilots and Fuel Tank
Die-Cast Metal Chassis
Detachable Scale Snow Plow
(2) Cab Figures
Directionally Controlled, Constant Bright Headlights
RP-25 Metal Wheels Mounted On Metal Axles
Powerful 12 Volt, Skew Wound 5-Pole Precision Flywheel Equipped Motor
Illuminated Number Boards
Operating Ditch Lights
(2) Scale Kadee Compatible Couplers
Built-In NMRA 8-pin plug for DCC
Operates On Code 70, 83, & 100 Rail Curves
Unit Measures:10 9/16” x 1 7/16” x 2 3/16”
Operates On 18" Radius Curves
AVAILABLE IN
Item No. 80-2006-0 Union Pacific SD70ACe Diesel Engine (DCC Ready)
Cab No. 8321
Item No. 80-2007-0 Missouri Pacific SD70ACe Diesel Engine (DCC Ready)
Cab No. 1982
Item No. 80-2008-0 Western Pacific SD70ACe Diesel Engine (DCC Ready)
Cab No. 1983
Item No. 80-2009-0 Katy SD70ACe Diesel Engine (DCC Ready)
Cab No. 1988
Item No. 80-2010-0 Denver Rio Grande Western SD70ACe Diesel Engine (DCC Ready)
Cab No. 1989
Item No. 80-2011-0 Chicago NorthWestern SD70ACe Diesel Engine (DCC Ready)
Cab No. 1995
Item No. 80-2012-0 Southern Pacific SD70ACe Diesel Engine (DCC Ready)
Cab No. 1996
Item No. 80-2013-0 George H. Bush SD70ACe Diesel Engine (DCC Ready)
Cab No. 4141
Item No. 80-2014-0 Norfolk Southern SD70M-2 Diesel Engine (DCC Ready)
Cab No. 2649
Item No. 80-2015-0 Norfolk Southern SD70M-2 Diesel Engine (DCC Ready)
Cab No. 2651
Item No. 80-2016-0 Norfolk Southern SD70M-2 Diesel Engine (DCC Ready)
Cab No. 2654
Item No. 80-2017-0 Electro Motive Division SD70M-2 Diesel Engine (DCC Ready)
Cab No. 74
Item No. 80-2018-0 Electro Motive Division SD70M-2 Diesel Engine (DCC Ready)
Cab No. 75
Item No. 80-2019-0 Electro Motive Division SD70M-2 Diesel Engine (DCC Ready)
Cab No. 76
Item No. 80-2020-0 Florida East Coast SD70M-2 Diesel Engine (DCC Ready)
Cab No. 100
Item No. 80-2021-0 Florida East Coast SD70M-2 Diesel Engine (DCC Ready)
Cab No. 102
Item No. 80-2022-0 Florida East Coast SD70M-2 Diesel Engine (DCC Ready)
Cab No. 103
Item No. 80-2023-0 Union Pacific SD70ACe Diesel Engine (DCC Ready)
Cab No. 8444
Item No. 80-2024-0 Union Pacific SD70ACe Diesel Engine (DCC Ready)
Cab No. 8439
Item No. 80-2025-0 Union Pacific SD70ACe Diesel Engine (DCC Ready)
Cab No. 8453
Item No. 80-2026-0 Canadian National SD70M-2 Diesel Engine (DCC Ready)
Cab No. 8000
Item No. 80-2027-0 Canadian National SD70M-2 Diesel Engine (DCC Ready)
Cab No. 8010
Item No. 80-2028-0 Canadian National SD70M-2 Diesel Engine (DCC Ready)
Cab No. 8023
Item No. 80-2029-0 Florida East Coast SD70M-2 Diesel Engine (DCC Ready)
Cab No. 106
Item No. 80-2030-0 Florida East Coast SD70M-2 Diesel Engine (DCC Ready)
Cab No. 105
Item No. 80-2031-0 Florida East Coast SD70M-2 Diesel Engine (DCC Ready)
Cab No. 107
Item No. 80-2062-0 CSX SD70ACe Diesel Engine (DCC Ready)
Cab No. 4833
Item No. 80-2063-0 CSX SD70ACe Diesel Engine (DCC Ready)
Cab No. 4836
Item No. 80-2064-0 CSX SD70ACe Diesel Engine (DCC Ready)
Cab No. 4839
Item No. 80-2065-0 Kansas City Southern SD70ACe Diesel Engine (DCC Ready)
Cab No. 4030
Item No. 80-2066-0 Kansas City Southern SD70ACe Diesel Engine (DCC Ready)
Cab No. 4031
Item No. 80-2067-0 Kansas City Southern SD70ACe Diesel Engine (DCC Ready)
Cab No. 4051
Item No. 80-2068-0 BNSF SD70ACe Diesel Engine (DCC Ready)
Cab No. 9371
Item No. 80-2069-0 BNSF SD70ACe Diesel Engine (DCC Ready)
Cab No. 9370
Item No. 80-2070-0 BNSF SD70ACe Diesel Engine (DCC Ready)
Cab No. 9374
Item No. 80-2071-0 EMD Demonstrator SD70ACe Diesel Engine (DCC Ready)
Cab No. GM70
Item No. 80-2072-0 EMD Demonstrator SD70ACe Diesel Engine (DCC Ready)
Cab No. GM71
Item No. 80-2073-0 EMD Demonstrator SD70ACe Diesel Engine (DCC Ready)
Cab No. GM73
Item No. 80-2074-0 Montana Rail Link SD70ACe Diesel Engine (DCC Ready)
Cab No. 4304
Item No. 80-2075-0 Montana Rail Link SD70ACe Diesel Engine (DCC Ready)
Cab No. 4308
Item No. 80-2076-0 Montana Rail Link SD70ACe Diesel Engine (DCC Ready)
Cab No. 4311
Item No. 80-2134-0 Union Pacific SD70ACe Diesel Engine Comfort Cab (DCC Ready)
Cab No. 8622
Item No. 80-2135-0 Union Pacific SD70ACe Diesel Engine Comfort Cab (DCC Ready)
Cab No. 8625
Item No. 80-2134-0 Union Pacific SD70ACe Diesel Engine Comfort Cab (DCC Ready)
Cab No. 8631
Item No. 80-2137-0 BNSF SD70ACe Diesel Engine Comfort Cab (DCC Ready)
Cab No. 9162
Item No. 80-2138-0 BNSF SD70ACe Diesel Engine Comfort Cab (DCC Ready)
Cab No. 6168
Item No. 80-2139-0 BNSF SD70ACe Diesel Engine Comfort Cab (DCC Ready)
Cab No. 9172
WHERE TO BUY
The DCC Ready version of the SD70ACe and SD70m-2 can be ordered through any M.T.H. Authorized Retailer.