Southern O Gauge RailKing ES44AC Imperial Diesel Engine With Proto-Sound 3.0

The Norfolk Southern operates a fleet of 20 Heritage freight diesels, honoring "fallen flag" railroads that have been merged into the NS. The ES44AC shown on these pages honors the Southern Railway, whose freight cars proudly carried the slogan "Southern Gives a Green Light to Innovation."

On its Heritage diesel website, the NS honors the Southern's history: "Southern Railway originated as the South Carolina Canal and Rail Road Company in 1827. On Christmas Day, 1830, it put into service the nation's first regularly scheduled steam passenger train, "The Best Friend of Charleston." Southern was incorporated in 1894 from the reorganization and consolidation of numerous predecessors, and absorbed another 68 railroad companies over the next six years.Our Southern Railway Heritage unit was unveiled in Chicago on July 15, 2006."

At the heart of the Evolution Series is a brand new prime mover, the four-cycle, 12-cylinder GEVO-12. While producing the same 4400 horsepower as its 16-cylinder FDL-series predecessor, the GEVO-12 uses less fuel and spits out 40% fewer emissions. GE claims the EVOs are "the most fuel-efficient, most environmentally friendly diesel locomotives in history." Everything about these locomotives has been examined, questioned, and re-thought, generating 25 new U.S. patents in the process. And every Big Six railroad has ponied up to buy them, with the BNSF currently rostering the largest EVO fleet.

Like our debut RailKing Imperial diesel, the SD70ACe, the ES44AC comes accurately decorated in modern motive power paint schemes. Our near-scale model is a full 17" in length, yet operates comfortably on O-31 curves. Under the hood of the Proto-Sound 3.0 version is the same sound and control system found in our more expensive Premier model of this locomotive this locomotive, with sounds recorded from the actual prototype. Additional Imperial features include operating diesel exhaust smoke and flashing ditch lights. If you're looking for realism and a lot of fun at a RailKing price, it doesn't get any better than this!

Did You Know?

Fully loaded, an Evolution Series diesel carries 5000 gallons of diesel fuel, 450 gallons of lube oil, and 400 gallons of cooling water.

• Intricately Detailed Durable ABS Body
• Die-Cast Truck Sides, Pilots and Fuel Tank
• Metal Chassis
• Metal Handrails and Horn
• (2) Handpainted Engineer Cab Figures
• Authentic Paint Scheme
• Metal Wheels, Axles and Gears
• (2) Remote Controlled Proto-Couplers
• Prototypical Rule 17 Lighting
• Directionally Controlled Constant voltage LED Headlights
• Lighted LED Cab Interior Light
• Illuminated LED Number Boards
• Operating LED Ditch Lights
• (2) Precision Flywheel-Equipped Motors
• Operating ProtoSmoke Diesel Exhaust
• Onboard DCC/DCS Decoder
• Locomotive Speed Control In Scale MPH Increments
• Near Scale Sizing
• Proto-Sound 3.0 With The Digital Command System Featuring Freight Yard Proto-Effects
• Unit Measures: 17" x 2 1/2" x 3 3/4"
• Operates On O-31 Curves Diesel DCC Features
• F0 Head/Tail light
• F1 Bell 
• F2 Horn 
• F3 Start-up/Shut-down 
• F4 PFA 
• F5 Lights (except head/tail)
• F6 Master Volume 
• F7 Front Coupler 
• F8 Rear Coupler 
• F9 Forward Signal 
• F10 Reverse Signal 
• F11 Grade Crossing 
• F12 Smoke On/Off 
• F13 Smoke Volume 
• F14 Idle Sequence 3 
• F15 Idle Sequence 2 
• F16 Idle Sequence 1 
• F17 Extended Start-up 
• F18 Extended Shut-down 
• F19 Rev Up 
• F20 Rev Down 
• F21 One Shot Doppler 
• F22 Coupler Slack 
• F23 Coupler Close 
• F24 Single Horn Blast 
• F25 Engine Sounds
• F26 Brake Sounds
• F27 Cab Chatter
• F28 Feature Reset