In 1943, in the midst of World War II, thousands of Union Pacific employees voluntarily increased their War Bond payroll deductions to fund the construction of a heavy bomber. To honor their efforts, a new Boeing B-17 was christened Spirit of the Union Pacific. Nearly three-quarters of a century later, in October 2017, the Union Pacific unveiled SD70AH diesel No. 1943 (an SD70ACe with extra weight to improve traction), in tribute to the United States armed forces.
Named after that original B-17, No. 1943’s paint scheme was created in collaboration with UP veterans and honors every branch of the U.S. armed forces. The front of the locomotive is painted in Air Force Silver, emblazoned with the blue “nose sash” of the former Strategic Air Command. The lettering inside the sash is the original hand-drawn font used on the Spirit B-17. In contrast, all engine numbers are in a military-style block font. Behind the cab is the Coast Guard’s “Racing Stripe,” followed by the Navy’s Battleship Gray, framing the Union Pacific's traditional American flag. The military camouflage in the radiator area honors the Army and Marines, and the final message on the rear of the engine is the POW/MIA symbol and its motto, "You Are Not Forgotten."
Upgrade your railroad to 21st century power with our new RailKing One-Gauge SD70ACe, the first One-Gauge model of this fourth-generation pioneer. Our accurate, full 1:32 scale model is loaded with added-on details, including separate grab irons and windshield wipers, hand-painted crew figures, see-through metal grilles and moveable roof fans.
Under the hood are powerful twin motors and our Proto-Sound 3.0 sound and control system, featuring sounds recorded from an actual Union Pacific SD70ACe; conventional and DCS control as well as full 28-function DCC operation; variable intensity diesel exhaust smoke; and LED lighting effects that include directionally controlled headlights, cab illumination, and flashing ditch lights. And in DCS operation, you can easily double- or even triple-head an SD70ACe with any other M.T.H. steam or diesel locomotive. If you’re looking for realism and a lot of fun in a modern locomotive, it doesn’t get any better than this!
