December 10, 2025 - M.T.H. Electric Trains will be releasing the 2026 O Scale Premier SD40T-2 Tunnel Motor Diesel Locomotive in SEVEN popular roadnames next Spring. Each of these offerings will be available in limited quantities and feature prototypical cab numbers. All are expected to begin shipping to M.T.H. Authorized Retailers in May 2026.

Check out each of these offerings HERE.

These items are available to order from your local M.T.H. Authorized Retailer.

ABOUT THE PREMIER O SCALE SD40T-2 TUNNEL MOTOR

If railroads had diseases, the Southern Pacific would have been diagnosed with asthma. The combination of high altitudes and numerous tunnels and snow sheds (tunnel-like sheds that protect track from snowfalls and avalanches) on its mountain divisions caused perennial breathing problems for SP locomotives and crews. In the steam era, this led to the development of cab-forward articulateds that allowed crew members to breathe tunnel air before the locomotive had polluted it. In the diesel era, the solution was the Tunnel Motor.

In a normal diesel locomotive, cooling air for the radiators is taken in near the top of the car body. In a long tunnel, however, hot engine exhaust and heated air from the radiators collects at the top of the tunnel. This hot air is taken into the radiators and cannot cool the engine sufficiently. In a multiple-unit diesel lashup, the result is that trailing units may overheat and automatically shut down. In a worst-case situation, the extra load will cause the overworked lead units to fail and leave the crew stranded in the tunnel. Electro-Motive’s answer for the Southern Pacific was a modification of its SD45, with the air intakes moved lower on the engine so they could take in cooler air. Extra-large radiators were placed on the roof of the engine, with the fans located below them to blow cooler air up from below.

The first SD45T-2 Tunnel Motors were delivered in February 1972, and were among the first "Dash-2" versions of EMD’s muscular 20-cylinder, 3600 hp freighter. Responding to complaints of crankshaft and bearing failures on earlier SD45s, EMD had beefed up its model 645 diesel motor. Perhaps more important, the Dash-2 series’ introduction of solid-state electronics ushered in the third generation of diesel technology. Transistors and circuit boards replaced the massive switches, contacts, interlocks, and relays of earlier diesels, making possible a range of innovations that would make life easier for diesel engineers in coming years.

• Intricately Detailed, Durable ABS Body
• Die-Cast Truck Sides, Pilots and Fuel Tank
• Metal Chassis
• Metal Handrails and Horn
• Moveable Roof Fans
• Metal Body Side Grilles
• Detachable Snow Plow
• (2) Handpainted Engineer Cab Figures
• Authentic Paint Scheme
• Metal Wheels, Axles and Gears
• (2) Remote-Controlled Proto-Couplers
• O Scale Kadee-Compatible Coupler Mounting Pads
• Prototypical Rule 17 Lighting
• Directionally Controlled Constant Voltage LED Headlights
• Lighted LED Cab Interior Light
• Illuminated LED Number Boards
• (2) Precision Flywheel-Equipped Motors
• Operating ProtoSmoke Diesel Exhaust
• Onboard DCC/DCS Decoder
• Locomotive Speed Control In Scale MPH Increments
• Proto-Scale 3-2 3-Rail/2-Rail Conversion Capable
• 1:48 Scale Proportions
• Proto-Sound 3.0 With The Digital Command System Featuring Quillable Horn With Freight Yard Proto-Effects
• Unit Measures: 18 5/8" 2 9/16" x 4"
• Operates On O-42 Curves

Check out each of these offerings HERE.

M.T.H. Electric Trains will be releasing a slew of limited-edition Christmas releases beginning this Fall. With 30 different offerings, these colorful locomotives, cars and accessories are a great way to add to your own holiday collection of past cars, sets and buildings. Each of these offerings is expected to begin shipping to M.T.H. Authorized Retailers in October 2025.

Check out each of these offerings HERE.

These items are available to order from your local M.T.H. Authorized Retailer.

M.T.H. Electric Trains will be releasing the 2026 Premier O Scale E-44 Rectifier Electric Locomotive in SIX different schemes next Spring. Each locomotive will be available in two prototypical cab numbers in extremely limited quantities and are expected to begin shipping to M.T.H. Authorized Retailers in April 2026.

Check out each of these offerings HERE.

These items are available to order from your local M.T.H. Authorized Retailer.

M.T.H. Electric Trains will be releasing the 2026 RailKing O Gauge Engineering Car in Five different schemes next Spring. Each car will be available in extremely limited quantities and is expected to begin shipping to M.T.H. Authorized Retailers in June 2026.

Check out each of these offerings HERE.

These items are available to order from your local M.T.H. Authorized Retailer.