HO SD45T-2 Locomotive with DCC and Sound Cotton Belt #9403 (ATH86980)

HO Scale SD45T-2 Locomotive with DCC and Sound in Cotton Belt livery, Cotton Belt #9403. This detailed HO model reproduces SP Cotton Belt's SD45T-2s, part of the Tunnel Motors family, and captures their late-1970s look with a nose headlight, a modified L-window cab, roof-top air conditioning, and a Nathan P-3 horn. It supports operation on both DC and DCC layouts, and the sound-equipped version includes an onboard DCC decoder with SoundTraxx Economi sound for realistic engine, horn, and bell effects. With a 21-pin NEM Quick Plug interface, it’s ready for easy decoder upgrades, and nickel-plated, blackened machined wheels with RP25 contours help ensure smooth running on common HO track.

Beyond its visual fidelity, the model is packed with prototypical details: fine-scale handrails, photo-etched windshield wipers, separately applied air tanks, LED lighting, and see-through cab windows and radiator grilles. The six-axle drive uses an all-wheel pickup with a 5-pole motor and flywheels for steady, quiet operation, while McHenry operating scale knuckle couplers keep equipment connected in multiple-unit consists. The livery features faded base colors that resemble an “In Service” appearance, making it an ideal starting point for adding grime and rust. For layout planning, the model fits HO curves with a minimum radius of 18 inches (22 inches recommended). Prototype notes describe the SD45T-2 as a six-axle diesel-electric locomotive with a 20-cylinder 645-series engine producing 3600 horsepower, built in the early 1970s and nicknamed Tunnel Motors for its cooling design in tunnels.