Athearn Genesis HO Scale EMD GP39-2 Blue Ridge Southern WAMX #3932 - DCC/Sound

Bring modern North Carolina shortline railroading to life with the Athearn Genesis HO Scale EMD GP39-2 Blue Ridge Southern WAMX #3932. Featuring factory-installed SoundTraxx Tsunami2 DCC/Sound, this premium four-axle diesel locomotive combines authentic WAMX black-and-yellow paint, colorful Blue Ridge Southern logos, road-number-specific details, and the smooth-running performance of Athearn's Genesis locomotive series.

Representing a Phase I EMD GP39-2 in contemporary Blue Ridge Southern service, WAMX #3932 includes the newly tooled revised Delaware & Hudson-style walkway and fuel tank, roof-mounted air conditioning, Nathan 3-chime horn, and front and rear ditch lights. This road number is specifically modeled without yellow pilot stripes and with a front plow only, accurately distinguishing it from other Blue Ridge Southern locomotives.

Blue Ridge Southern Railroad WAMX #3932 Prototype History

The Blue Ridge Southern Railroad operates approximately 91 miles of former Norfolk Southern trackage in western North Carolina. Part of the Watco family of shortline and regional railroads, Blue Ridge Southern serves industries throughout the region while connecting local freight customers with the broader North American railroad network.

Blue Ridge Southern locomotives feature the distinctive black-and-yellow WAMX paint scheme, complemented by colorful circular railroad logos along the locomotive sides. These locomotives are recognizable examples of modern regional railroad motive power.

Electro-Motive Division manufactured the GP39-2 between 1974 and 1984. Powered by a turbocharged 12-cylinder EMD 645E3 diesel engine producing approximately 2,300 horsepower, the four-axle GP39-2 provided fuel-efficient performance for local freight, road-switching, and regional railroad assignments.

Athearn Genesis recreates WAMX #3932 with its early Phase I body and Blue Ridge Southern-specific modifications, making it an excellent addition to a contemporary shortline railroad layout.

Blue Ridge Southern WAMX #3932 Prototype-Specific Features

• Authentic WAMX black-and-yellow locomotive paint scheme
• Colorful Blue Ridge Southern circular railroad logos
• Early Phase I EMD GP39-2 locomotive body
• Newly tooled revised D&H-style walkway and fuel tank
• Roof-mounted air conditioning unit
• Nathan 3-chime locomotive horn
• Front and rear ditch lights
• Small EMD front plow only
• No yellow pilot stripes, matching WAMX #3932
• Prototype-appropriate fuel tank and underbody equipment
• Detailed Blomberg trucks with appropriate bearing caps
• Illuminated locomotive number boards
• Accurate WAMX lettering and road number

Factory-Installed SoundTraxx Tsunami2 DCC/Sound

The Athearn Genesis Blue Ridge Southern GP39-2 #3932 comes factory-equipped with a SoundTraxx Tsunami2 sound decoder and dual cube speakers, providing realistic diesel locomotive audio and advanced digital control.

Unlike the separate DCC Ready release of WAMX #3932, this model includes the sound system already installed. It operates on both conventional DC and DCC layouts, with full digital sound and lighting functions available when operated using a compatible DCC system.

• Factory-installed SoundTraxx Tsunami2 DCC/Sound decoder
• Dual cube speakers for clear, detailed locomotive audio
• Compatible with conventional DC and DCC operation
• Diesel engine, horn, and bell sounds available on DC
• Full DCC sound and lighting functions in DCC mode
• NMRA-compatible DCC functionality
• Precision slow-speed motor control
• Configurable sound, lighting, and operating functions through CV programming
• Support for multiple-unit locomotive consists
• Lead-unit-only horn, bell, and lighting configuration for MU operations
• Factory-installed LED locomotive lighting
• Illuminated number boards

The Tsunami2 sound system enhances switching and local freight operations with realistic locomotive audio, while its programmable features allow model railroaders to customize operation to match their layout preferences.

Premium Athearn Genesis HO Scale GP39-2 Features

Athearn Genesis locomotives combine extensive prototype detailing with precision mechanical engineering for realistic HO scale model railroad operation.

• Highly detailed HO scale (1:87) diesel locomotive
• Five-pole skew-wound motor with precision-machined flywheels
• Multi-link drivetrain with all-wheel drive
• All-wheel electrical pickup for dependable current collection
• Heavy die-cast frame for improved traction and pulling power
• Realistic LED locomotive lighting
• Illuminated number boards
• Factory-installed wire grab irons, lift rings, and windshield wipers
• Fine-scale Celcon handrails
• Detailed walkway tread and drop steps
• Etched metal fan grilles
• See-through cab windows with detailed interior
• Detailed fuel tank fillers, gauges, and breather pipes
• Trainline hoses, MU hoses, and coupler cut levers
• Body-mounted McHenry scale knuckle couplers compatible with Kadee couplers
• RP25 wheel contours for popular HO scale track systems
• Minimum recommended operating radius of 18 inches

Model Modern Blue Ridge Southern Shortline Railroad Operations

The EMD GP39-2 is an excellent choice for HO scale layouts depicting modern regional and shortline freight service. Its four-axle configuration and efficient diesel engine make it well suited for local freight trains, industrial switching, interchange movements, and mountain railroad operations.

Blue Ridge Southern WAMX #3932 is particularly appealing to model railroaders recreating western North Carolina railroading, former Norfolk Southern branch lines, or modern Watco-operated shortline railroads.

With factory-installed Tsunami2 DCC/Sound, WAMX #3932 brings realistic diesel engine, horn, and bell audio to switching and freight operations while retaining the prototype-specific exterior features of this distinctive Blue Ridge Southern locomotive.

Explore additional Athearn Genesis HO Scale EMD GP39-2 locomotives for more WAMX, Union Pacific, BNSF, Santa Fe, and other railroad paint schemes in available DCC Ready and DCC/Sound configurations.

Browse our premium Athearn Genesis collection for highly detailed locomotives and rolling stock, or discover additional Athearn model trains at Fusion Scale Hobbies.

Athearn Genesis GP39-2 Blue Ridge Southern WAMX #3932 Specifications

• Manufacturer: Athearn Genesis
• SKU: ATHG-1988
• Scale: HO Scale (1:87)
• Locomotive: EMD GP39-2
• Railroad: Blue Ridge Southern Railroad
• Reporting Mark: WAMX
• Road Number: 3932
• Paint Scheme: WAMX Black and Yellow
• Body Configuration: Early Phase I
• Walkway and Fuel Tank: Revised D&H Style
• Horn: Nathan 3-Chime
• Roof Equipment: Air Conditioning Unit
• Ditch Lights: Front and Rear
• Plow: Front Small EMD Plow Only
• Pilot Stripes: No Yellow Pilot Stripes
• Control: DC / DCC
• Sound Decoder: SoundTraxx Tsunami2
• Speakers: Dual Cube Speakers
• Lighting: LED
• Wheel Arrangement: B-B
• Trucks: Blomberg
• Minimum Radius: 18 Inches
• Era: 2010–Present

Shop Athearn Genesis HO Scale Diesel Locomotives at Fusion Scale Hobbies

Add the Athearn Genesis HO Scale EMD GP39-2 Blue Ridge Southern WAMX #3932 DCC/Sound locomotive to your model railroad fleet. Discover additional diesel locomotives, freight cars, and railroad equipment in our complete model trains collection at Fusion Scale Hobbies.