Athearn HO G2 SD80MAC, CR #4129

Athearn HO G2 SD80MAC, CR #4129 Overview

In 1995, Conrail placed an order for 30 SD80MAC's, being the sole original purchaser. They were painted like the then-recently delivered SD70MAC's. This would end up being the last new locomotive order CR would place before they were split up between CSX and NS in 1999.

With the increase in available adhesion and tractive effort due to AC-traction technology, an unofficial horsepower race between the two dominant locomotive builders was on.

The SD80MAC was the first EMD locomotive to utilize a V20 engine since the SD45 series. For Conrail, the SD80MACs were the first AC-traction diesel locomotives on the roster. These locomotives became Conrail's choice for handling long and heavy coal trains on their Pittsburgh and Boston Lines, also over their Allegheny Mountain routes in Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Virginia, and New York.

After the split-up of Conrail in 1999, the SD80MACs went to CSX Transportation, and Norfolk Southern. Eventually NS traded with CSX to acquire the remaining SD80MACs becoming the sole operator of these models to date.