GE C36-7 - Sound and DCC -- Norfolk Southern #8542 (Claytor Scheme, black, white)

The Rapido Trains HO Scale C36-7 is based on General Electric's higher-horsepower six-axle Dash-7 offering, with a 16-cylinder 3,600 horsepower or 3,750 hp rating (compared to the C30-7's 3,000 hp.). Built between July 1979 and February 1989, over 599 total units were produced. Of those, 129 were domestic orders for Conrail, Missouri Pacific, Norfolk & Western, and Norfolk Southern. Another 40 were made for Ferrocarril del Pacifico and National de Mexico. Lastly, 422 were made for China with many significant export differences, and the final units produced were 8 for Comilog in Gabon. Despite smaller production numbers, the C36-7 was ordered at key moments that resulted in it representing the evolution of GE s Dash-7 line more than the popular C30-7s. When GE launched "1977 Series Locomotives" (Dash-7s) in, they cataloged a C30-7, C33-7, and C36-7. Railroads immediately ordered C30-7's for booming coal service. The C33-7 was never ordered. The C36-7 was ignored until 1979, when National de Mexico and Ferrocarril del Pacifico placed orders. These export C36-7s for Mexico were essentially identical externally to C30-7s, which were being built by the hundreds at the time. Ferrocarril del Pacifico's units were repainted into striking two-tone blue FNM paint and worked both freight and passenger service. Of the 40 C36-7s built for Mexico, only one is still in service in 2024 - Ferromex 9336. Incredibly, despite being the last operating C36-7 (among few remaining operating C30-7's) 9336 was repainted in Ferromex's classy "Diet Coke" scheme in 2023. The Rapido model features railroad and era-specific details, etched-metal grilles and details, roadname-appropriate lighting packages and Rapido semi-scale knuckle couplers on both ends. The smooth-running drive features a five-pole motor with dual flywheels, backed up with the MoPower capacitor system for uninterrupted operation. This GE C36-7 is equipped with a full-featured ESU LokSound and DCC decoder for realistic sound and control. The C36-7 is part of the line of Rapido Trains HO Scale locomotives.