By Maxwell Brisben

The holidays are at our doorstep, and so are the new Athearn Genesis 2.0 EMD SD90MAC-H diesel locomotives. These are part of Athearn's new "Genesis 2.0" line, which sets itself apart from previous models by including features that they should've been doing on Genesis models all along, like see-through etched metal steps, tread plate, and more lighting effects.

The SD90MAC-H entered full production in 1996 and featured the massive 6,000 horsepower 16-265H four-stroke diesel prime mover which was plagued with mechanical issues due to its rushed development and EMD's lack of experience with four-stroke diesels. Canadian Pacific and Union Pacific were the only two railroads to take delivery of the H model. All of them have since been scrapped or rebuilt using a 16-710 prime mover.

Athearn's rendition of this beast is pretty spectacular. The first thing I noticed when I took one out of the box was the considerable weight. These things are heavy and feel solid in your hands, despite the delicate detailing. Combined with Athearn's powerful motor and drive, you can be sure that these models will likely last longer than their real life counterparts.

The detailing is quite spectacular. Athearn's "better than brass" tag line holds water. Check out the radiator screens and tread plate detail!

The paint and printing is both vibrant and accurate. One thing that Athearn has been doing on their newer models, is to darken the radiator screens. This provides a much more prototypical look out of the box. Soundtraxx has also gone above and beyond to synthesize sounds that accurately represent the 265H, and word on the street is that ESU LokSound will have their own rendition available soon.

The Genesis 2.0 SD90MAC-H is an excellent addition to the plastic model world and looks great both on and off the layout. For everyone who's always wanted a brass one, your day has come! Grab your own Big MAC before they're all gone!

CLICK HERE to View & Order!